The Leinster Leader has learned that the process of appointing a replacement for Bishop James Moriarty is such that it will probably take a considerable amount of time.
According to the communications officer for the diocese, Fr. Micheal Murphy, t
he Pope has yet to accept the resignation of Bishop Moriarty who resigned before Christmas in the wake of the Ryan report into child sex abuse in the Dublin archdiocese.
Bishop Moriarty served as an auxiliary bishop there prior to being appointed to Kildare and Leighlin.
"At the moment we're waiting for Rome to accept the resignation, and as of this moment, Bishop Moriarty remains Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin."
Fr. Murphy explained that many expected an announcement on the matter during a scheduled meeting of all the Irish bishops with the Pope on February 15 and 16.
"The Pope has asked to meet all of the Irish bishops, and it may be that there is an announcement at that point," he said,
Once that is done, although it is at least theoretically possible that the Pope will not accept the offer of resignation, the process is that a group known as the 'College of Consultors' will be asked to elect an interim or caretaker Diocesan Administrator.
The College of Consultors is a group of seven priests from all across the Diocese, including Fr. Murphy, who advise the bishop. There is such a body in each diocese.
Alternatively the Pope may decide to appoint a Diocesan Administrator themselves, "although following the practice in Limerick, our guess is that we'll be asked to do the same," Fr. Murphy said. "And then once that person is in place, the process then rests with the Papal Nuncio, who is expected to consult widely throughout the diocese with priests and lay people, and maybe even with neighbouring bishops before making a recommendation to Rome. And then the Pope will appoint the new bishop," he explained.
He agreed that the process could take a while, even up to a year.
And considering that there have been a number of resignations of bishops it is likely to take the Papal Nuncio to Ireland, his Excellency Most Reverend Dr Giuseppe Leanza, even longer than normal to find a replacement for Bishop Moriarty.
Fr. Murphy would not speculate on a possible successor.
