Concern grows over lack of bishop appointments

Concern is growing in the British Church over the large number of dioceses in need of new bishops.

Senior figures are anxious that the lack of appointments is demoral­ising and affecting the work of dioceses.

Nine of the 30 dioceses in mainland Britain are waiting for new bishops, with some holding on for an appointment for more than a year.

When Bishop Terence Brain of Salford turns 75 next month – the episcopal retirement age – it will mean that a third of British dioceses need new bishops – and this does not include the two auxiliaries required in the Archdiocese of Westminster.

In the Diocese of Brentwood, for example, Bishop Thomas McMahon held his farewell Mass almost a year ago. The bishop, 77, who has led the diocese for 33 years, turned 75 in June 2011.

Similarly, in the Diocese of Dunkeld, Bishop Vincent Logan decided to hand his resignation on grounds of ill health towards the end of 2010 – this was accepted in June 2012. Meanwhile, the Diocese of Leeds has been without a bishop for more than 16 months.

Mgr John Armitage, the vicar general of the Diocese of Brentwood, said he had no idea why there hadn’t been an appointment, adding: “Bishops are being appointed around the world, so why not in Brentwood? We run on bishops, bishops are an integral part to what we do. Inevitably things can’t get done until we have a new bishop, so the sooner the better for an appointment. It is not helpful that we are having to wait.”

He said that the use of a co-­adjutor bishop – where an individual serves alongside the current bishop and eventually succeeds him – should be more widely used.

Bishop Christopher Budd of Plymouth, who reached retirement age almost 18 months ago, said he felt a “a bit in limbo”, adding: “I don’t think things are happening very quickly. People are keen to know who is their new bishop.”

Bishop Budd explained: “I often say I should be gone by now, but while I am still there I try to get on with what I should be doing. However, the energy levels are not what they were 10 or 15 years ago. In January I shall complete 28 years [as bishop].”

Stressing that he was continuing his pastoral duties including parish visitations as much as possible, Bishop Budd questioned the role of the Roman Curia in making episcopal appointments, saying: “Historically bishops have been appointed in all sorts of different ways. Hopefully that sort of question might come on to the agenda one day.”

The process of appointing ­bishops is initially overseen by the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Antonio Mennini. For each diocese he submits a report and a list of three names, or terna, to the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops. After discussion, their recommendation then goes to the Pope for a final decision. It is understood that the nunciature is working hard on producing ternas and that appointments to dioceses are in the pipeline. The nuncio recently said that an appointment to the Diocese of Dunkeld would be made before Christmas.

Apart from Leeds, Brentwood, Plymouth and Dunkeld, dioceses needing new bishops include Liverpool, Hallam, Galloway, Paisley and Motherwell.