Archbishop Leo Cushley, Edinburgh, Appointed to Vatican Dicastery for Evangelisation. Seriously.
From the Scottish Catholic Media Office…
25 April 2023
Pope appoints two Scottish members to Vatican’s Department for Evangelisation
Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, to a five-year term as a Member of the First Section of the Dicastery for Evangelisation and Mr. John Docherty, former head-teacher of St. Ninian’s High School in East Renfrewshire, to a five-year term as a Consultor of the same department, which deals with the ‘fundamental questions of evangelisation in the world’.
The Dicastery for Evangelization is a new department of the Roman Curia formed by the merger of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of New Evangelization in 2022.
The Dicastery is responsible for the fundamental questions of evangelization in the world and according to its Constitution, “is presided over directly by the Roman Pontiff.”
Reacting to his appointment, Archbishop Cushley said:
“I was surprised and honoured to be asked to become a member of the Dicastery for Evangelisation. As this dicastery is an important part of the recent curial reforms of the Holy Father, I look forward learning more and to contributing whatever I can to the fundamental questions of proposing the Good News in today’s world and its many contexts.”
Responding to his appointment, Mr Docherty said:
“I am both honoured and deeply humbled to be invited to serve the Church through the Dicastery of Evangelization. I hope that my experience of working within Catholic Education will be of value in assisting Pope Francis’ mission to put evangelisation at the centre of our lives. I look forward with great enthusiasm to the challenges that lie ahead.”
ENDS. Source – Scottish Catholic Media Office...
Editor writes…
I’m lost for words… Remember, on his appointment to the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh some years ago, in the wake of the Cardinal O’Brien scandal, Archbishop Cushley was quoted by media outlets saying that there was no crisis. Hardly “evangelisation” material. And I’d like to know more about the educational philosophy of the former Head Teacher before saying anything about that appointment. Just how “former” – i.e. recently retired? And sold to the “woke” agenda to sexualise children and turn them into anti-Catholic social justice warriors? Just asking the question. Your thoughts…
Comments (18)
N O T I C E . ..
Would readers and bloggers please be aware that, while I am doing my best to contribute to the blog as and when, I am extremely busy with other personal commitments this week. I would appreciate, therefore, if those of you in possession of my phone number would avoid using it! I just do not have the time to chat or text this week. In fact, one of the reasons we launched the blog in the first place was to put an end to the persistent calls from good souls wishing to discuss the crisis in the Church. That is what the blog is for, she said ungrammatically.
Today I had a texted question from someone who took offence at my short and to the point reply, so I need to make clear that, while I will try to keep up with the blog as best I can, I’m unable to run a public AND a private blog this week due to personal commitments. I just can’t give in-depth answers to questions by text – sorry. Use the blog.
I hope you will understand – thank you.
The Vatican have shoot themselves in the foot. Cos when I saw that priest of Knock shrine whose name was published alongside Cushley, cardinal Farrell, this morning. To me or you, the Vatican haven’t learned anything yet as the usual suspects were named.
Editor: I have deleted a reference to an impure relationship from this post. I know that you frequent another blog in your homeland of Ireland, where such talk is commonplace, but we do not do that here. Nor do we publish unfounded allegations or suspicions. So please avoid doing any of that on this blog. We do not need to know that. Being photographed alongside someone who has a certain reputation, does not necessarily mean anything. If there is public knowledge of a scandalous relationship, then that may be published here along with the source. Anything less is casual talk, hearsay and not admissible here.
Thank you for your co-operation, FDS 😀
I thought I’d check out the website of the school
https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/er/stninians/
Right there on first page, they’re wishing their Muslims friends a “happy Eid” and there’s mention of a Chinese Bridge Mandarin Speaking Competition.
LOL! Mention attending a Traditional Latin Mass and there would be screams of derision?
The devil hates Latin, so that’s always a tell-tale sign, I think, when people say they don’t like Latin.
I wonder if they picked Archbishop Cushley to take to Rome because he wanted out of Edinburgh – he came from Rome, if I remember right.
Also, who is likely to get appointed to Edinburgh? Any ideas?
Lily,
Edinburgh is not vacant. This appointment doesn’t take Archbishop Cushley away from Edinburgh. It’s quite common for bishops to serve on Vatican dicasteries whilst still being diocesan bishops.
Petrus,
Thanks for that information – I just assumed he would be going to Rome. Shows you what I know, LOL!
Lily,
With respect, we really don’t need to know anything about the school. That former head teacher wouldn’t be appointed to any Vatican post if he had the “wrong” reputation.
As for who will get Edinburgh? Another modernist, obviously. There’s nobody else!
My guess is they’ll pick someone from Galloway.
Doesn’t Galloway need someone themselves, I ask myself!!
Lady Letitia,
I’ve lost track, TBH. But when I went to the website just how I realised you’re right. I think they might appoint the Galloway Vicar General to Edinburgh, though because is a former seminary rector (Scotus seminary in Glasgow before it shut down) and then find someone from another diocese for Galloway. If they ask me, that’s what I’ll suggest, LOL!
Bernie,
Our newsletter reported on that particular Vicar General some years ago, when he gave a disgraceful address to the Assembly of Glasgow Clergy which was full of dissent from the Faith. A copy of his talk was sent to us and we quoted from it. We were asked to send a copy to the Vatican and were subsequently told that his name was always on the list of priests whom the Scottish Bishops wished to be considered for an episcopal vacancy, but that he would not be considered now.
Of course, that was then. This is now. One of the first things that Pope Francis did on his election, was to order that all the letters of “complaint” (i.e. concerns of the faithful) be deleted at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, so who knows – he may well be a candidate now for episcopal office again. After all, they’re well and truly running out of possible future bishops at this stage in the apostasy. Empty seminaries to match the empty churches.
However, as Petrus points out, it won’t be the vacancy in Edinburgh – apparently prelates can remain in their dioceses while holding Vatican office.
Laura
I know many colleagues who worked under this gentleman over the years during his tenure as HT.
The bullying etc etc by him us an open secret in my profession. He sounds eminently suited to the current bullying and dysfunctional culture within the Vatican.
The tree is known by its fruit
Every blessing
Michael 🙏
Laura
Another modernist, I agree, but which one, LOL?!
Surely even the most ardent Anti Latin N.O. supporter must question this Evangelization carry on . Anyone who is really serious of Real Catholic Evangelism must now know that probably around 1000 people are not allowed to attend Latin Mass Weekly due to this Terrible Pope. I doubt very much if after 5 Years that the Nominees of This Pope will bring in 20 People to the Church. Of course they will of course put out all of this Ecumenicism and Accompanying Garbage. Also if Mr Cushley tried to defend O Brian when the People in a Cardinals Street were complaining of late night parties He must have known.
Who is Mr Cushley?
Bernie,
I think this is FOOF’s way of showing disdain for a prelate – he’s done this before and I don’t like it. In future, I will correct such misnaming (!) but since you have drawn attention to it now, I will leave it this time. This week is a particularly busy week for me, so I am afraid some things are slipping through the net. Apologies – because such things do scandalise some of us.
Even those wannabe republicans who plan to protest the Coronation, do not call the King “Mr Windsor” – their slogan is “Not my King”. Another person who is a monarchist but not a fan of King Charles has written an article somewhere (I saw the headline when scanning MSM but didn’t read it) indicating that he will celebrate the monarchy on the day of the Coronation, not specifically the Coronation of King Charles.
Similarly, Catholics should be ever aware that we respect the office of the papacy and the episcopal office which is why we use the appropriate titles. It’s disappointing to see a Catholic who doesn’t understand that – it’s really very basic.
Lily,
To be fair, it’s an easy mistake to make. It’s announced like it’s a full time role!
Petrus,
And also to be fair, it wouldn’t matter who got Edinburgh – it’s gone to the dogs now anyway!
Laura,
Exactly!