Irish bishops resisting Vatican plan to downsize Irish hierarchy

April 23, 2012

The Vatican plans to slash the size of the Catholic hierarchy in Ireland, but the Irish bishops are resisting the plan, according to a report in the Irish Catholic.

The Irish Catholic reports that the Vatican intends to cut the number of dioceses in Ireland from 26 to 11, and the plan is likely to move forward in spite of the opposition from Irish bishops.

The downsizing of the Irish hierarchy is said to be one of the principal recommendations to emerge from an apostolic visitation of the Church in Ireland, commissioned by Pope Benedict XVI in response to the sex-abuse scandal there.

 

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Further information:

• Bishops resisting diocesan shake-up (Irish Catholic)