Cardinal Connell refuses to resign

Cardinal Desmond Connell has rejected calls for him to resign from his position following his comments about the intelligence of Church of Ireland Archbishop Walton Empey.

In an interview, Cardinal Connell said his Church of Ireland counterpart “wouldn’t have much theological competence”.

In a subsequent editorial for Ceide magazine, Fr Kevin Hegarty described Connell as out of touch and called on him to resign and make way for a younger, more “pastorally orientated”person.

However, speaking today, the Cardinal refused to step down and said he will continue in his position as long as the Pope requires him.