The moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Dr Trevor Morrow, has said the "theological conservatism" of the newly appointed cardinal, Dr Desmond Connell, has meant they agreed on some issues, but on others there was a "strong divergence of belief". In a statement on Dr Connell's appointment, Dr Morrow said he always found him to be a "gracious man of integrity". He added: "The full significance of hierarchical appointments such as this is sometimes lost on Presbyterians where authority resides in local congregations and their democratically expressed opinion through presbyteries and General Assembly."