Conry resignation ‘devastating’

The BISHOP of Portsmouth has spoken of his sadness and the importance of obedience while reflecting on the resignation of Kieran Conry, the former bishop of the neighbouring diocese of Arundel and Brighton, who stood down last month following a relationship with a female parishioner.

In a message to his diocese, Bishop Philip Egan said he had spoken to priests and people in Arundel and Brighton who are “devastated” by Bishop Conry’s departure.

Bishop Egan wrote: “Whenever we find out, unexpectedly, that someone has fallen from grace, our first reaction should be to ask God to have mercy upon us too for our own sins.”

Bishop Egan emphasised that chastity was a virtue to which all Christians were called. He said that priestly celibacy was “a demanding vocation”, but the most serious challenge bishops face is obedience. 

“Obedience is really problematic for many in today’s context, an era in which freedom is often taken to mean ‘freedom from’ and ‘doing what I want’.” He added: “we must put Jesus first. We must overcome any latent narcissism and become ‘other-centred’. ”