Michael KellyPriest resigned from Mater Hospital over abortion stance
Pope Francis has appointed Dublin-based priest Fr Kevin Doran as the new Bishop of Elphin.
Fr Doran, known for his strong pro-life advocacy and his stewardship of the 2012 International Eucharistic Congress, will take over from Dr Christopher Jones.
The Vatican made the announcement this morning (Wednesday) while a simultaneous announcement was made at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sligo Town.
Fr Doran (60) sensationally resigned from the board of Dublin’s Mater Hospital after the Catholic-run institution agreed to comply with the Government’s controversial abortion law.
In October 2013, Fr Doran told The Irish Catholic that he could not in conscience remain either a member of the Mater Hospital Board of Directors or Board of Governors as a result of the move.
“I can confirm that I have resigned because I can’t reconcile my own conscience personally with the statement, largely because I feel a Catholic hospital has to bear witness,” Fr Doran said.
The promotion of Fr Doran is likely to focus greater attention on the Mater Hospital’s decision to back the Government’s abortion law. Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin has consistently pledged to seek clarity from the Mater. Earlier this month he said he was still in discussions with hospital authorities and the Sisters of Mercy.
Addressing parishioners in Sligo this morning, Fr Doran said that the primary purpose of the Church must always be to witness to the Gospel. “In keeping with that Gospel, there are a number of principles that should be at the heart of everything we do.
“These include a love of preference for the poor, the safeguarding of children, support for marriage and the family and an unambiguous respect for human life from its origins to its natural end. We need never apologise for these,” Fr Doran said.
He said “it is the role of the bishop to be the servant of Communion” within the diocese. “For all sorts of reasons, a diocese these days has administrative structures which can make it look like a cross between a business and a government department. The Church certainly needs to be organised and business-like but we must never lose sight of the fact that, first and foremost, it is a community of faith,” Fr Doran said.
He also said that a primary part of his ministry will be trying to affirm communities. “Much of the energy of Jesus went into gathering people and forming community. Much of our energy today seems to go into organising people. It sometimes seems that, while there is an enormous amount of contact, there isn’t that much real communication.
“Many people, both in the city and in the countryside remain lonely and isolated; the elderly; the homeless and even young people. We cannot, as St Paul wrote, celebrate the “Lord’s Supper” and then ignore the everyday challenge of being the body of Christ,” he said.
A native of Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, Fr Kevin entered seminary at the age of 17 and has served in various parishes as well as National Vocations Director and Director of Vocations for the Dublin Archdiocese. He is a noted bioethicist and has advised the Irish bishops’ conference on controversial issues related to abortion, euthanasia and end-of-life care.
When Pope Benedict XVI announced that Dublin would be the venue for the 2012 International Eucharistic Congress, it was to Fr Doan that Church authorities turned. As Secretary General, Fr Doran worked to build enthusiasm and interest at a time when many people, including within Church leadership, were lukewarm about the event.
He has also staunchly defended the Church’s teaching in the media and spoken passionately about the value of priestly celibacy.
Fr Doran is a former Chaplain to University College Dublin (UCD) and Spiritual Director of the Pontifical Irish College, Rome. Additionally, he has worked extensively in healthcare ethics. He holds a doctorate in philosophical anthropology with a particular focus on the philosophy of St John Paul II.
He has also taught philosophy and theology in Mater Dei and in the Milltown Institute. He has served as Parish Priest at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook, Dublin since June 2013.
Bishop Christopher Jones steps down after almost 20 years at the helm of the Elphin diocese which includes parts of counties Roscommon, Sligo, Westmeath and Galway. According to latest statistics, Elphin has 70,300 Catholics and 46 active diocesan priests spread across 37 parishes. Bishop Jones submitted his resignation in 2011 having reached the mandatory retirement age of 75.
With the appointment of Bishop-elect Doran to Elphin, Irish dioceses awaiting the appointment of a new bishop are now: Waterford & Lismore (Bishop William Lee retired due to ill health in 2013), Clonfert (Bishop John Kirby turned 75 last year) and Cashel & Emly (Archbishop Dermot Clifford turned 75 last year).
In coming months, Archbishop of Armagh Cardinal Seán Brady, Bishop of Cork & Ross Dr John Buckley and Raphoe Bishop Dr Philip Boyce are all expected to submit their retirements as they turn 75.