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Roman Catholic Diocese of Clogher

Coordinates: 54°14′41″N 6°57′29″W / 54.2447°N 6.9580°W / 54.2447; -6.9580
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For the Anglican diocese, see Diocese of Clogher (Church of Ireland).

Diocese of Clogher

Dioecesis Clogheriensis

Deoise Chlochair
St Macartan's Cathedral, Monaghan
Location
CountryNorthern Ireland
Republic of Ireland
TerritoryCounty Monaghan, most of County Fermanagh and parts of counties Tyrone, Donegal, Louth and Cavan; partly in the Republic of Ireland and partly in Northern Ireland
Ecclesiastical provinceProvince of Armagh
Statistics
Area3,456 sq mi (8,950 km2)
Population
- Total
- Catholics		(as of 2019)
111,650
84,400 (75.6%)
Information
DenominationRoman Catholic
RiteLatin Rite
CathedralSt Macartan's Cathedral, Monaghan
Patron saintSt Macartan
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopLawrence Duffy
Metropolitan ArchbishopEamon Martin
Bishops emeritusJoseph Duffy,
Bishop Emeritus of Clogher
Map
Website
clogherdiocese.ie

The Diocese of Clogher (Latin: Dioecesis Clogheriensis, Irish: Deoise Chlochair; /ˈklɔː.ər/,[1] /ˈklɒ.hər/[2]) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in Ireland. It was formed in 1111 at the Synod of Rathbreasail as the see for the Kingdom of Uí Chremthainn. It is part of the Province of Armagh.

The original cathedral was in the village of Clogher in County Tyrone, site of a monastery founded in 454 by St. Macartan, who was appointed bishop by St. Patrick in the 5th century. Following the Reformation, Henry VIII confiscated Clogher Cathedral for his Church of Ireland and the Roman Catholic diocese was without a permanent see until 1851 when a decision was made to move to the larger town of Monaghan, 32 kilometres south east of Clogher village. The foundation stone of a St Macartan's Cathedral was laid in Monaghan in June 1861.[3] The cathedral was dedicated in August 1892.

Today the diocese has a faithful of over 100,000 parishioners spread across 37 parishes. The current bishop is the Most Reverend Lawrence Duffy, who was appointed by the Holy See on 8 December 2018 and ordained bishop on 10 February 2019.[4][5]

Geography

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The Diocese straddles the Irish border, consisting of County Monaghan, much of County Fermanagh and parts of Counties Tyrone and Donegal. The main towns are Clones, Enniskillen and Monaghan.[6]

Domnach Airgid

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Main article: Domnach Airgid

The shrine of the diocese, known as the Domnach Airgid originally housed a copy of the Gospels and the Cross of the Clogher Diocese. According to tradition, these were originally given to St. Macartan by St. Patrick, although the manuscript as it exists today dates from the eighth century.[7] Today these relics of ecclesiastical art held are at the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.[8]

Principal Saints of the Diocese

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  • St Macartan of Clogher
  • St Tiarnach of Clones
  • St Molaise of Devenish
  • St Davóg of Lough Derg
  • St Davnet of Sliabh Beagh
  • St Maoldoid of Muckno
  • St Fanchea of Rossory

Parishes of the Diocese

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Number Name Location
1 Pettigo Donegal
2 Culmaine Fermanagh
3 Dromore Tyrone
4 Magh Ene Donegal
5 Inis Muighe Samh Fermanagh
6 Botha Fermanagh
7 Devenish Fermanagh
8 Kilskeery Fermanagh/Tyrone
9 Donacavey Tyrone
10 Eskra Tyrone
11 Clogher Tyrone
12 Aghavea-Aughintaine Fermanagh/Tyrone
13 Pobal Fermanagh
14 Enniskillen Fermanagh
15 Cleenish Fermanagh
16 Aghalurcher Fermanagh
17 Galloon Fermanagh
18 Clones Fermanagh/Monaghan
19 Roslea Fermanagh/Monaghan
20 Tydavnet Monaghan
21 Errigal Truagh Monaghan
22 Donagh Monaghan
23 Tyholland Monaghan
24 Monaghan & Rackwallace Monaghan
25 Kilmore & Drumsnat Monaghan
26 Currin, Killeevan & Aghabog Monaghan
27 Ematris Monaghan
28 Tullycorbet Monaghan
29 Clontibret Monaghan
30 Aughnamullan West Monaghan
31 Aughnamullan East Monaghan
32 Muckno Monaghan
33 Donaghmoyne Monaghan
34 Inniskeen Monaghan/Louth
35 Machaire Rois Monaghan
36 Killanny Monaghan/Louth
37 Magheracloone Monaghan

Sexual abuse

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In 2011 London-based law firm Jeff Anderson-Ann Olivarius Law (now AO Advocates) said they were to take action in Minnesota against a retired priest from the Clogher diocese who was moved to the US in the 1980s.[9] Also in 2011 a Nevada clerical abuse survivor sued the diocese, claiming that Father Francis Markey, who had been suspended three times by the diocese of Clogher between the years 1964 and 1974 due to allegations of sexually abusing children. According to the lawsuit he was sent for treatment each time and then reinstated into the priesthood, before eventually being moved to Nevada.[10][11] In that same year the Sunday Business Post newspaper reported that the Bishop, Joseph Duffy, had admitted both to failing to pass abuse claims to police in 1989, and to being party to victims and families being made to sign oaths of non-disclosure.[12] A separate case in the 1970s and 1980s involved Bishop Duffy's uncle, Canon Peter Joe Duffy, who abused at least three victims. The abuse came to light in 2013 and the diocese paid compensation.[13] Other priests of the diocese involved in abuse of children include Fr. Eugene Lewis (jailed for four years on eleven counts of indecent assault);[14] Fr. John McCabe (20 months imprisonment on abuse charges)[15] and Fr Jeremiah McGrath, described by the Belfast Telegraph as "the very antithesis of what a priest should be. A lying, manipulative facilitator for a vicious paedophile": jailed for five years in 2007 for indecently assaulting a 12-year-old girl and facilitating another person to rape her whilst working in North West England after spending time in the diocese of Clogher.[16][17][18]

In 2013 a report from the Church's own investigatory body reported a total of 45 allegations against 13 priests in the diocese between 1975 and 2012, and identified unsatisfactory responses to complaints, failure to address risky behaviour and the missing of preventative opportunities. Retired bishop Joseph Duffy accepted the criticism.[19] However, the Report did acknowledge that current procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse in the diocese had improved significantly and it praised Bishop MacDaid's approach to the issue.

Clerical Shortage

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As with many Irish Catholic Dioceses, Clogher has suffered from a severe clerical shortage in the 21st-century. In December 2023 Bishop Duffy announced that the diocese would start training 40 laymen and laywomen to preside over funerals given the few number of priests. In 2022 the diocese had 72 priests and deacons but it is estimated that by 2040 that number could be as low as 10.[20]

Ordinaries

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Main article: Bishop of Clogher

The following is a list of the ten most recent appointments.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Live, Belfast (15 August 2024). "Northern Irish place names that confuse tourists and locals alike". Belfast Live.
  2. ^ Sullivan, R. (2023:393). Geography Generalized. Outlook Verlag.
  3. ^ Peter Galloway, The Cathedrals of Ireland, Belfast, 1992
  4. ^ "St. Macartan's Cathedral (Monaghan)". Parish of Monaghan and Rackwallace. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  5. ^ "St. Macartin's Cathedral, Monaghan". ARCHiSEEK. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  6. ^ St Macartan – 1500 years of faith (Diocese of Clogher) Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Repair of the Domhnach Airgid, Heritage Council Grants Programme
  8. ^ Diringer, David. The Book Before Printing: Ancient, Medieval and Oriental. Dover Publications Inc., 1986. p. 464. ISBN 978-0-4862-4243-9
  9. ^ BBC News – Abuse inquiry panel moving to Armagh. bbc.co.uk (12 January 2011). Retrieved on 23 July 2013.
  10. ^ Nevada clerical abuse survivor sues diocese who knew Irish priest’s past | Irish News. IrishCentral. Retrieved on 23 July 2013.
  11. ^ Irish priest accused of rape fights extradition, wants bail | Irish News. IrishCentral. Retrieved on 23 July 2013.
  12. ^ Clerical Whispers: Bishop of Clogher did not report abuse to Gardai. Clericalwhispers.blogspot.co.uk (21 March 2010). Retrieved on 23 July 2013.
  13. ^ Fowler, Julian. (11 April 2013) BBC News – Parish priest involved in Donagh abuse case. Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved on 23 July 2013.
  14. ^ BBC News – Abusing priest Fr Eugene Lewis jailed for four years. bbc.co.uk (2 September 2010). Retrieved on 23 July 2013.
  15. ^ Fr. John McCabe. Catholicabusesurvivorsni.com (1 September 2012). Retrieved on 23 July 2013.
  16. ^ Category:Diocese of Clogher – Eurêka. Eurekaencyclopedia.com. Retrieved on 23 July 2013.
  17. ^ Disgraced priest is released from prison / Impartial Reporter / News / Roundup. Impartialreporter.com. Retrieved on 23 July 2013.
  18. ^ McKimm, Mike. (14 June 2007) UK | Northern Ireland | Priest who adored rapist friend. BBC News. Retrieved on 23 July 2013.
  19. ^ Ex-bishop accepts mistakes after watchdog criticises poor judgement in dealing with paedophile priests. BelfastTelegraph.co.uk (24 April 2013). Retrieved on 23 July 2013.
  20. ^ Bukuras, Joe (19 December 2023). "Irish Diocese to Rely on Laity to Preside Over Funerals Amid Shortage of Priests". CNA. National Catholic Register. Retrieved 22 December 2023.

Bibliography

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54°14′41″N 6°57′29″W / 54.2447°N 6.9580°W / 54.2447; -6.9580

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