Michael Malone (bishop)

Michael Malone (born 23 October 1939) is the bishop emeritus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. He was previously coadjutor bishop of the diocese and prior to that, had been a priest for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney. He retired in 2011, saying he had been emotionally drained by the raft of sexual abuse within the diocese.[1]

The Most Reverend

Michael Malone
Bishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle
DioceseMaitland-Newcastle
Appointed12 December 1994
Installed3 November 1995
Term ended4 April 2011
PredecessorLeo Clarke
SuccessorWilliam Wright
Orders
Ordination18 July 1964
by Cardinal Norman Gilroy
Consecration15 February 1995
by Bishop Leo Clarke
Personal details
Born
Michael John Malone

(1939-10-23) 23 October 1939
Willoughby, Sydney, Australia
NationalityAustralian
DenominationRoman Catholic
MottoLux et Veritas (Light and Truth)
Styles of
Michael Malone
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleMy Lord
Religious styleBishop

Early life

Malone was born in Willoughby on Sydney's North Shore in 1939. He entered seminary as an 18-year-old and was ordained to the diaconate in 1963. On 18 July 1964, he was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Norman Gilroy at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, alongside future Bishop of Wollongong, Peter Ingham.[2][3]

Priesthood

Malone's first appointment was as an assistant priest in Annandale parish in 1965. His appointment came as the first documents following the Second Vatican Council were released and spearheading the transformation of the liturgy and practices within his parish during this time formed a key part of his early ministry.[4]

Episcopacy

On 12 December 1994, Pope John Paul II appointed Malone as the coadjutor bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. He was consecrated on 15 February 1995 and succeeded Bishop Leo Clarke on 3 November 1995, following his retirement.[5]

In March 2009, Malone was barred from performing a joint Catholic-Anglican confirmation rite after the Holy See intervened. The Congregation for Divine Worship said the proposed service could result in "confusing messages being given to the people".[6]

Response to sexual abuse

In 2008, Malone made a public apology to victims of sexual abuse at the hands of clergy,[7] however his handling of paedophile priests during his time as Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle has been criticised.

In 2002, Malone moved Father James Fletcher, who was being investigated by police of paedophilia, to a parish with a primary and secondary school without revealing any of the allegations against him. He told the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry's investigation into sexual abuse in 2013, "we had none-else to put in".[8]

During the 2013 NSW Special Commission of Inquiry's investigation into sexual abuse, Malone admitted he was out of his depth in dealing with matters of child protection during his 16 years as Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle. He said he turned a blind eye to decades of complaints against Father Dennis McAlinden, a priest in the diocese, because "the whole area of sexual abuse is so distasteful that I would have found it unpalatable".[9]

Retirement

In September 2009, Malone revealed he had asked the Vatican to appoint a coadjutor bishop so he could depart after "15 difficult years", five years short of the normative retirement age of 75.[10] On 4 April 2011, Pope Benedict XVI accepted his resignation and appointed William Wright to succeed him as Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle.[11]

Following his resignation, Malone said: "I'm proud that I have confronted the issues as strongly as I have, the issues of sexual abuse."[12]

References
  1. "These victims in this diocese have defeated the church's cover-up". Broken Rites. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  2. "Bishop Michael John Malone". catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  3. "Bishop Peter William Ingham". catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  4. Malone, Michael. "31 Bishop Michael; Malone Vatican II – Seen but not Heard". Catalyst for Renewal. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  5. "Bishop Michael John Malone". catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  6. Wingate-Pearse, Gabriel (27 February 2009). "Vatican halts bishops' joint church service". The Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  7. Lobb, Paul (8 August 2008). "BISHOP APOLOGISES TO ABUSE VICTIMS". NBN News. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  8. "NSW priest under investigation promoted". 9News. Nine Entertainment. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  9. Harvey, Eliza (13 July 2013). "Retired Bishop Michael Malone admits he ignored abuse allegations, says he felt compelled to defend Church". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  10. "Australian bishop seeks coadjutor, eyes early retirement". Catholic Culture. 21 September 2009.
  11. "Pope accepts Aust bishop's resignation". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 4 April 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  12. McMahon, Jeannette (5 April 2011). "Retiring Bishop proud of his strong stance on sexual abuse". ABC Local. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
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