Denis Hart

Denis James Hart, DD (born 16 May 1941 in East Melbourne, Australia) is a Roman Catholic bishop, elected as the 8th Archbishop of Archdiocese of Melbourne, since 2001.

Early years and background

Hart is the eldest of three children of Kevin James Hart and Annie Eileen Larkan. Educated at St John's Marist Brothers, in Hawthorn and at Xavier College, in Kew, he commenced study for the priesthood at Corpus Christi College between 1960 and 1967. Ordained at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne on 22 July 1967, Hart served as a hospital chaplain, an assistant parish priest and then Master of Ceremonies at St Patrick's Cathedral. He supervised the preparation of the books used in worship, including the lectionary for liturgical mass. He was Liturgy Director and Assistant Master of Ceremonies for the 1996 Papal Visit to Australia.^[1]

In 1987 Hart became a parish priest and in 1996 he became Vicar General and Moderator of the curia. He has served in the parishes of North Balwyn, North Richmond and West Brunswick. In 1997 Hart was consecrated a bishop and made an auxiliary bishop to the Archdiocese of Melbourne.^[1]

Archbishop of Melbourne

In 2001 Hart was appointed Archbishop of Melbourne, replacing George Pell, who became Archbishop of Sydney. On 29 June 2001 he received the pallium from Pope John Paul II in St Peter's Square.^[1]

In a 2009 court case, Hart was accused of having told a woman to "Go to hell, bitch" after she had knocked on his door in middle of the night in 2004.^[2][3]

References