Priest’s resignation a blow to archdiocese in crisis

A SENIOR priest who recently warned that the Dublin diocese could face bankruptcy unless it tackled its financial crisis has resigned as chairman of the Priests’ Council.

Fr Aquinas Duffy told the Irish Catholic newspaper he had resigned and that the morale of the clergy was now “at an all-time low”. The council is a senior advisory body.

Fr Duffy said that, while his resignation just three months into the three-year job was because of “time constraints”, there was a large degree of frustration at the failure in Dublin to move away from a hierarchical structure. The priest also added that the lack of planning in Dublin was causing “disillusionment” among clergy.