Séamus Freeman
Encyclopedia
Séamus Freeman, S.A.C.
(23 February 1944) is the Roman Catholic Bishop
of the Diocese of Ossory
who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI
on 14 September 2007.
where he attended school. After his education he entered the Pallottines
in Thurles
, County Tipperary. He was ordained to the priesthood on 12 June 1971. He continued his education in the Catholic University of America where he studied psychology
.
He then went to Rome
where he worked for his Religious Society. In 1981 he was appointed as rector and director of formation of the Pallottines in Thurles. He remained in Thurles until 1989 when he was appointed as the Vicar General of the Society, becoming its Rector General in 1992, in this capacity he served two six year terms. In October 2004 he was appointed parish priest in Rome. In December 2005 he was elected President of the General Coordination Council of the Union of Catholic Apostolate
.
On hearing the news of the appointment of Freeman, Archbishop Martin said that:"He is an exceptionally warm and kind man who I'm sure will quickly win the affection of the diocese
. His genuine humility hides a deep spirituality and the breath of his pastoral experience".
He was ordained to the episcopate and installed on 2 December 2007. The Principal Consecrator was the Metropolitan Archbishop
Diarmuid Martin
, while the principal Co-Consecrators were Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto
, Apostolic Nuncio and Bishop Laurence Forristal the Bishop Emeritus of Ossory.
In December 2010 Bishop Freeman said of the Pastoral Letter of Pope Benedict XVI to the Catholics of Ireland
that "There was widespread disappointment among the faithful that in the pope’s and that "sex abuse was not seen as a symptom of shortcomings in church structure". He noted that there was "disappointment that child sex abuse was not seen as a symptom of shortcomings in church structure and function in the Pope’s letter" and that people "observed there was no critique of the role of the Vatican, and little or no acknowledgment of the exclusion of lay people from roles in which they can contribute".
Pallottines
The Society of the Catholic Apostolate , better known as the Pallottines, are a Society of Apostolic Life within the Roman Catholic Church, founded in 1835 by the Roman priest Saint Vincent Pallotti. Pallottines are part of the Union of Catholic Apostolate and are present in 45 countries on six...
(23 February 1944) is the Roman Catholic Bishop
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...
of the Diocese of Ossory
Roman Catholic Diocese of Ossory
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ossory is a Roman Catholic diocese in eastern Ireland. It is one of six suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin and is subject to the Archdiocese of Dublin...
who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on 14 September 2007.
Biography
Freeman is the eldest of eight children, his family moved to Callan, County KilkennyCounty Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
where he attended school. After his education he entered the Pallottines
Pallottines
The Society of the Catholic Apostolate , better known as the Pallottines, are a Society of Apostolic Life within the Roman Catholic Church, founded in 1835 by the Roman priest Saint Vincent Pallotti. Pallottines are part of the Union of Catholic Apostolate and are present in 45 countries on six...
in Thurles
Thurles
Thurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
, County Tipperary. He was ordained to the priesthood on 12 June 1971. He continued his education in the Catholic University of America where he studied psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
.
He then went to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
where he worked for his Religious Society. In 1981 he was appointed as rector and director of formation of the Pallottines in Thurles. He remained in Thurles until 1989 when he was appointed as the Vicar General of the Society, becoming its Rector General in 1992, in this capacity he served two six year terms. In October 2004 he was appointed parish priest in Rome. In December 2005 he was elected President of the General Coordination Council of the Union of Catholic Apostolate
Union of Catholic Apostolate
Union of Catholic Apostolate is a Catholic association established by a Roman priest St. Vincent Pallotti in 1835. Its main task is to revive faith, rekindle love and unite efforts of all the faithful for the salvation of souls. A characteristic feature of the Union is the equality of rights and...
.
On hearing the news of the appointment of Freeman, Archbishop Martin said that:"He is an exceptionally warm and kind man who I'm sure will quickly win the affection of the diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
. His genuine humility hides a deep spirituality and the breath of his pastoral experience".
He was ordained to the episcopate and installed on 2 December 2007. The Principal Consecrator was the Metropolitan Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Diarmuid Martin
Diarmuid Martin
Diarmuid Martin is the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland. He was born in Dublin.-Early life and education:...
, while the principal Co-Consecrators were Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto
Giuseppe Lazzarotto
Giuseppe Lazzarotto JCD was born in Carpanè, Italy on 24 May 1942. He studied for the priesthood in the Diocese of Padua, being ordained a priest on 1 April 1967. He undertook post-graduate studies in diplomacy at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome, while at the same time completing his...
, Apostolic Nuncio and Bishop Laurence Forristal the Bishop Emeritus of Ossory.
In December 2010 Bishop Freeman said of the Pastoral Letter of Pope Benedict XVI to the Catholics of Ireland
Apostolic visitation to Ireland
The Apostolic visitation to Ireland was announced on 20 March 2010 in the pastoral letter written by Pope Benedict XVI to Irish Catholics after the publication of the Ryan and Murphy Reports in 2009...
that "There was widespread disappointment among the faithful that in the pope’s and that "sex abuse was not seen as a symptom of shortcomings in church structure". He noted that there was "disappointment that child sex abuse was not seen as a symptom of shortcomings in church structure and function in the Pope’s letter" and that people "observed there was no critique of the role of the Vatican, and little or no acknowledgment of the exclusion of lay people from roles in which they can contribute".