New bishop pays tribute to Kieran Conry

BISHOP Richard Moth was due to thank his predecessor Kieran Conry and call his contribution to the diocese “very signif­icant” during his installation as bishop of Arundel and Brighton on Thursday, writes Joanna Moorhead.

Bishop Emeritus Conry resigned last year after admitting that he had broken his vow of celibacy and had a sexual relationship with a woman.

In his homily at Arundel Cathedral, Bishop Moth was expected to pay tribute to Conry for his “contribution in the field of evangelisation”.

Bishop Moth was also to allude to the crisis surrounding Bishop Conry, saying there were times in all our lives when we experience difficulties as individuals and as families, and there were also times of “weakness and pain as a diocese too”.

He was due to be installed by the Archbishop of Southwark, Peter Smith, with Cardinal Vincent Nichols concelebrating.