Desmond Connell
Desmond Connell KGCHS (24 March 1926 – 21 February 2017) was an Irish cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church. He was an Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland. Cardinal Connell was one of a number of senior clergy to have been heavily criticised for inaction, making misleading statements and covering up clerical sex abuse in Dublin.[1] He died on 21 February 2017, aged 90.
Desmond Connell
21 January 1988 (appointed)
26 April 2004 (retired)
19 May 1951 (Priest)
6 March 1988 (Archbishop)
21 February 2001
21 February 2017 (aged 90)
Dublin, Ireland
Irish
Early life[edit]
Connell was born in Dublin[2] on 24 March 1926,[3][4] the son of John, a civil servant and Mary Lacy, a telephone operator.[3] He was educated at St Peter's National School, Phibsboro and the Jesuit Fathers' second-level school, Belvedere College, and studied for the priesthood at Holy Cross College, Clonliffe.
He later 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, he studied theology at St Patrick's College, Maynooth for a Bachelor of Divinity. He continued his studies at the Pontifical University of Leuven, Belgium, where he was awarded a doctorate in Philosophy in 1953.[3] In 1981 he was awarded a D.Litt. degree by the National University of Ireland.[4]
Attitude to the Church of Ireland[edit]
Connell, in an interview, spoke of what he claimed were a series of snubs from historically-Anglican Trinity College Dublin. Notably, in 1988, he alleged the university had "insulted me and through me the Catholic people of Dublin" by inviting him to the award of a doctorate to the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Walton Empey.[25]
Connell was forced to issue an apology for saying that Dr. Empey did not "have much theological competence", and for describing his Church of Ireland counterpart as not being regarded as a "high flier".[26]
Connell has had a number of works published on philosophical or pastoral issues. These include:
There was also one work published in his honour:
Episcopal motto[edit]
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.)