Eamon Casey
Encyclopedia
Eamon Casey is Roman Catholic Bishop
Emeritus
of Galway and Kilmacduagh, Ireland
.
on 17 June 1951 and appointed Bishop of Kerry on 17 July 1969.
He held this position until 1976, when he was appointed Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh
and apostolic administrator of Kilfenora. While in Galway, Casey was seen as a progressive
. It was a significant change in a diocese that had been led for nearly forty years by the very conservative Michael Browne
(Bishop from 1937 to 1976).
Casey was highly influential in the Irish Catholic hierarchy, and served as bishop until his resignation in 1992. He was friends and colleague of another highly prominent Irish priest, Father Michael Cleary
. Although they both represented a liberal trend in the Church, they continued to support doctrine for priestly celibacy, and against pre-marital sex, abortion, and similar issues.
' staff, who were locked out from 1982 to 1986 for refusing to sell goods from apartheid South Africa
.
of the murdered Archbishop of San Salvador, Monsignor
Oscar Romero
. He witnessed first hand the massacre of those attending the funeral by government forces. He then became a vocal opponent of United States
foreign policy in Central America
, and, as a result, opposed the 1984 visit of President
Ronald Reagan
to Ireland, refusing to meet him when he came to Galway.
divorcée
. Together they had a son, Peter, born in 1974 in Dublin. Murphy later claimed that, during the pregnancy, Casey had attempted to persuade her to give the child up for adoption at birth. She chose not to do so and raised him with the help of her parents. When Murphy decided to go public about the relationship and informed The Irish Times
, Casey tendered his resignation and left the country. She later published a book, Forbidden Fruit, in 1993 revealing details of their relationship.
Casey then chose to embrace the life of a foreign missionary
in South America. He worked with members of the Missionary Society of St. James
to work in a rural parish in Ecuador
, despite his lack of knowledge of the Spanish language
. During this time, he would travel long distances to reach the widely scattered members of his parish
. After his missionary stint was up, instead of returning to Ireland, Casey chose to work in a parish in England.
Casey's resignation is widely regarded as a pivotal moment when the Roman Catholic hierarchy
began to lose its considerable influence over the society and politics of the Republic of Ireland
. Casey was succeeded by his Secretary Bishop James McLoughlin, who served in the post until his own retirement on 3 July 2005. The following year, weeks after the death of Irish priest
Father Michael Cleary, The Phoenix broke a story about his nearly 30-year-relationship with Phyllis Hamilton, with whom he had two sons. They allowed their first son to be adopted, but raised the second together in their household. Hamilton ostensibly was Cleary's housekeeper during the years of their relationship.
In subsequent years, serious sexual crimes involving other Irish
priests have become known. Because they involved the sexual abuse of children, the scandal around these exceeded that around Casey's and Cleary's cases.
He is the subject of Martin Egan's song "Casey", sung by Christy Moore
. He is also the subject of the Saw Doctors
song "Howya Julia".
On 20 January 2006, newspapers announced that Casey would be returning to Ireland.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
of Galway and Kilmacduagh, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
Priest and bishop
Casey was ordained a priest for the Diocese of KerryRoman Catholic Diocese of Kerry
The Diocese of Kerry is a Roman Catholic diocese in south-western Ireland. It is one of six suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Cashel and is subject to the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
on 17 June 1951 and appointed Bishop of Kerry on 17 July 1969.
He held this position until 1976, when he was appointed Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh
Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora is a Roman Catholic diocese in the western part of Ireland. It is in the Metropolitan Province of Tuam and is subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tuam...
and apostolic administrator of Kilfenora. While in Galway, Casey was seen as a progressive
Progressive Christianity
Progressive Christianity is the name given to a movement within contemporary Christianity characterized by willingness to question tradition, acceptance of human diversity with a strong emphasis on social justice or care for the poor and the oppressed and environmental stewardship of the Earth...
. It was a significant change in a diocese that had been led for nearly forty years by the very conservative Michael Browne
Michael Browne (bishop)
Michael Browne was an Irish prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh from 1937 to 1976....
(Bishop from 1937 to 1976).
Casey was highly influential in the Irish Catholic hierarchy, and served as bishop until his resignation in 1992. He was friends and colleague of another highly prominent Irish priest, Father Michael Cleary
Michael Cleary
Michael Cleary may refer to:*Michael Cleary , Australian politician and dual-code rugby player*Michael J. Cleary , Irish bishop*Michael Cleary , former Irish hurler for Nenagh Éire Óg and Tipperary...
. Although they both represented a liberal trend in the Church, they continued to support doctrine for priestly celibacy, and against pre-marital sex, abortion, and similar issues.
Irish emigrants
Casey was well-known for his work to aid Irish emigrants in Britain. In addition, he supported the Dunnes StoresDunnes Stores
Dunnes Stores, also known as Dunnes, is a supermarket and clothing retail chain, that is based in Dublin, Ireland.The chain primarily sells food, clothes and household wares. In addition to its main customer base in Ireland, the chain has operations in Great Britain and Spain...
' staff, who were locked out from 1982 to 1986 for refusing to sell goods from apartheid South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
US foreign policy
Casey attended the funeralFuneral
A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor...
of the murdered Archbishop of San Salvador, Monsignor
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
Oscar Romero
Óscar Romero
Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez was a bishop of the Catholic Church in El Salvador. He became the fourth Archbishop of San Salvador, succeeding Luis Chávez. He was assassinated on 24 March 1980....
. He witnessed first hand the massacre of those attending the funeral by government forces. He then became a vocal opponent of United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
foreign policy in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, and, as a result, opposed the 1984 visit of President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
to Ireland, refusing to meet him when he came to Galway.
Disgrace
In 1992 newspapers discovered that Casey had had a sexual relationship with Annie Murphy, an AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
divorcée
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
. Together they had a son, Peter, born in 1974 in Dublin. Murphy later claimed that, during the pregnancy, Casey had attempted to persuade her to give the child up for adoption at birth. She chose not to do so and raised him with the help of her parents. When Murphy decided to go public about the relationship and informed The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
, Casey tendered his resignation and left the country. She later published a book, Forbidden Fruit, in 1993 revealing details of their relationship.
Casey then chose to embrace the life of a foreign missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
in South America. He worked with members of the Missionary Society of St. James
Missionary Society of St. James
The Missionary Society of St. James the Apostle, founded by Cardinal Richard Cushing in 1958, is an international organization of diocesan missionary priests who volunteer a minimum of five years of their priestly lives to service in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador...
to work in a rural parish in Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, despite his lack of knowledge of the Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
. During this time, he would travel long distances to reach the widely scattered members of his parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
. After his missionary stint was up, instead of returning to Ireland, Casey chose to work in a parish in England.
Casey's resignation is widely regarded as a pivotal moment when the Roman Catholic hierarchy
Hierarchy
A hierarchy is an arrangement of items in which the items are represented as being "above," "below," or "at the same level as" one another...
began to lose its considerable influence over the society and politics of the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. Casey was succeeded by his Secretary Bishop James McLoughlin, who served in the post until his own retirement on 3 July 2005. The following year, weeks after the death of Irish priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
Father Michael Cleary, The Phoenix broke a story about his nearly 30-year-relationship with Phyllis Hamilton, with whom he had two sons. They allowed their first son to be adopted, but raised the second together in their household. Hamilton ostensibly was Cleary's housekeeper during the years of their relationship.
In subsequent years, serious sexual crimes involving other Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
priests have become known. Because they involved the sexual abuse of children, the scandal around these exceeded that around Casey's and Cleary's cases.
He is the subject of Martin Egan's song "Casey", sung by Christy Moore
Christy Moore
Christopher Andrew "Christy" Moore is a popular Irish folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is well known as one of the founding members of Planxty and Moving Hearts...
. He is also the subject of the Saw Doctors
The Saw Doctors
The Saw Doctors are an Irish rock band. Formed in 1986 in Tuam, County Galway, they have achieved eighteen Top 30 singles in Ireland, including three number ones. Their first number one, "I Useta Lover," topped the Irish charts for nine consecutive weeks in 1990, and still holds the record for the...
song "Howya Julia".
On 20 January 2006, newspapers announced that Casey would be returning to Ireland.