Pope Benedict is said to be planning some dramatic, even radical changes for the Irish Catholic Church according to an Irish Catholic newspaper columnist, David Quinn, and leading Irish theologian Fr Vincent Twomey.
According to Quinn rumours are circulating around the Vatican that in light of the sex-abuse scandal, Pope Benedict is planning a “radical restructure” of the Irish hierarchy.
Quinn says that the next appointment as Archbishop of Armagh is critical because incumbent, Cardinal Sean Brady has been deeply compromised by the scandal.
Twomey, emeritus professor of moral theology at Maynooth seminary says that with a shrinking catholic population, 26 dioceses is too many and is suggesting 12 as an absolute maximum.
With each bishop fearing to tread on the does of the others, the size and nature of the Bishops’ Conference works against effective leadership at both a local and national level, he says.
Twomey also recently suggested that all bishops appointed before Archbishop Diarmuid Martin should offer their resignations.
Sources