Desmond Connell

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Desmond Cardinal Connell
Image:Cardconnell.jpg
Church positions
See Dublin
Title Cardinal Archbishop of Dublin (Emeritus)
Period in office 6 March 1988 — 26 April 2004
Successor Diarmuid Martin
Previous post University lecturer in Philosophy
Created cardinal 21 February 2001
Personal
Date of birth March 24, 1926
Place of birth Dublin

Desmond Cardinal Connell (born 24 March 1926) is a cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church. He is a former Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland. He was born in Dublin.

Contents

[edit] Early life and education

Educated at St. Peters National School, Phibsboro and the Jesuit Fathers' second level school, Belvedere College, he studied for the priesthood at Holy Cross College, Clonliffe. Desmond Connell studied Arts at University College Dublin (UCD) and graduated with a BA in 1946; he was awarded an MA the following year. Between 1947 and 1951, Desmond Connell studied theology at St Patrick's College, Maynooth. This led to the award of a Bachelor of Divinity degree.

[edit] Ordination and early work

Cardinal Connell was ordained priest by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid on 19 May 1951 and continued his studies at the Pontifical University of Leuven, Belgium where he was awarded a doctorate in Philosophy in 1953.

Following this, Desmond Connell returned to Ireland, and took up a teaching post at the Department of Metaphysics in University College Dublin, where he was to enjoy a distinguished career. He was appointed Professor of General Metaphysics in 1972 and in 1983 became the Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Sociology. In 1981 he was awarded a D.Litt by the National University of Ireland. The College's Department of Metaphysics was abolished after Connell left it and merged into other departments.

[edit] Archbishop of Dublin

Styles of
Desmond Cardinal Connell
Reference style His Eminence
Spoken style Your Eminence
Informal style Cardinal
See Dublin (Emeritus


Connell was unexpectedly appointed Archbishop of Dublin by the Holy See in early 1988. The Papal Nuncio, Gaetano Alibrandi, had actively sought support for the appointment of Monsignor Miceál Ledwith the president of St Patrick's College Maynooth for this position. Connell was consecrated in the Pro-Cathedral, Dublin on 6 March 1988. He was created Cardinal by Pope John Paul II at the Consistory in Rome on 21 February 2001 with the Titulus S. Silvestri in Capite. The Archbishop of Armagh, who is ex officio Primate of All Ireland, was traditionally appointed Cardinal. The last Archbishop of Dublin to have been a cardinal was Cardinal Edward McCabe who was appointed in 1882.

[edit] Tenure tarnished by clerical sex abuse

Connell's tenure as Primate was marked by recurring and unchecked episodes of child sex abuse by priests and other religious personnel in the Archdiocese of Dublin. His oversight of this issue is being examined by the Commission of Investigation into Child Sexual Abuse in the Dublin Archdiocese set up by the Irish Government. Connell gave evidence to the Commission in late 2006.

On 31 January 2008, Cardinal Connell's legal team successfully sought an interim injuction in the High Court to prevent the Commission from examining some documents which were supplied to the Commission by the Cardinal's successor, Archbishop Martin. However, the Cardinal later dropped this legal action, it had received much adverse publicity.

[edit] Retirement as Archbishop

On 26 April 2004, Desmond Connell retired as archbishop, handing the diocese over to the co-adjutor Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. All bishops submit their resignation to the Pope on their 75th birthday. Connell's was accepted shortly after turning 78.

[edit] Connell and Benedict XVI

Connell was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI. Desmond Connell would be considered quite close to Pope Benedict, both theologically and personally, both having served together on a number of congregations.

Preceded by
Kevin McNamara		 Archbishop of Dublin
1988-26 April 2004		 Succeeded by
Diarmuid Martin

[edit] Published works

Cardinal Connell has had a number of works published on philosophical or pastoral issues.

These include:

  • Essays in metaphysics, Four Court Press, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, 1996 ISBN 1-85182-228-3
  • Christian integrity: does it matter? : pastoral letter for Lent 1992, Veritas, Dublin, 1992 ISBN 1-85390-205-5
  • Christ our life: pastoral letter 1993, Veritas Publications, 1993 ISBN 1-85390-286-1
  • Christ our life: pastoral letters, 1988-95, Four Courts Press, Blackrock, Co. Dublin ISBN 1-85182-207-0

There was also one work published in his honour:

  • At the heart of the real: philosophical essays in honour of Dr Desmond Connell, Archbishop of Dublin edited by Fran O'Rourke, Irish Academic Press, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, 1992 ISBN 0-7165-2464-3 .

[edit] Episcopal motto

His episcopal motto, Secundum Verbum Tuum (According to Thy Word) is taken from Mary's response to God's call at the Annunciation, "Be it done unto me according to thy word." (Luke 1:38.)

[edit] See also

[edit] External links