Priests unhappy with way of picking bishop

An announcement naming the new Catholic Bishop of Killala is expected soon but many in the diocese are unhappy at the manner in which consultations prior to the appointment have been conducted by the new Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Guiseppe Lazarotto.

The bishop will succeed Dr Thomas Finnegan, who was due to retire last year. Among those currently thought likely to succeed are Father Maurice Hogan of St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Monsignor John Fleming, former Rector of the Irish College, Rome, and Canon Niall Ahern, Administrator at St Mary's Cathedral, Sligo. None is from Killala.

Father Kevin Loftus, parish priest at Easkey, Co Sligo and a former Mayoman of the Year, was nominated in 1999 by the priests of Killala as their choice for bishop. It is understood he has never been contacted by the Papal Nuncio in that connection.

In 1987, prior to Bishop Finnegan's appointment, the priests of Killala requested that a local man be appointed. They were ignored. Bishop Finnegan is a priest of Elphin diocese.

To avoid a recurrence of this the priests held the June 1999 meeting and nominated just one name for the post, though they could have nominated three. Some felt Rome would conclude it was being presented with an ultimatum.

Last February Archbishop Lazarotto contacted the parish priests and some senior curates in Killala about who should be the new bishop. Sources say that no priest under 40, of which there are many in the diocese, was contacted.

Later, in a round of "second consultations", it is believed the Nuncio contacted just three priests in the diocese, two of them retired and all in their 70s. Two of the names being considered then were from outside the diocese, as well as one local man, Father Edward Rogan, doctor of canon law and parish priest in Ballycroy.

Senior priests in Killala called a special meeting in Ballina for June 20th last and a letter was sent to Archbishop Lazarotto requesting a meeting. Three Killala priests represented their colleagues.

The Nuncio expressed unhappiness at their selection of just one man as their choice.