# William Crean > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/William_Crean > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/William_Crean.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Crean > Source revision: 1302412052 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Irish Roman Catholic prelate (born 1951) The Most Reverend William Crean STL STM Bishop of Cloyne Church Roman Catholic Diocese Cloyne Appointed 25 November 2012 Predecessor John Magee Other post Chairperson of Trócaire Previous posts Parish priest of Cahersiveen and Castlegregory Chairperson of the Adult Religious Education National Association Director of the John Paul II Pastoral Centre, Killarney Advisor to Post-Primary Schools and Director of Adult Religious Education for the Diocese of Kerry Chaplain at Tarbert Comprehensive School Orders Ordination 20 June 1976 by Eamonn Casey Consecration 27 January 2013 by Charles John Brown Personal details Born (1951-12-16) 16 December 1951 (age 74) Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland Parents Patrick and Margaret Crean Alma mater Weston School of Theology Mount Oliver Institute of Education Pontifical Gregorian University St Patrick’s College, Maynooth Motto Croí le brí nua (Heart with new vitality) Coat of arms Styles of William Crean Reference style The Most Reverend Spoken style Your Grace Religious style Bishop **William Crean** (born 16 December 1951) is an [Irish](/source/Republic_of_Ireland) [Roman Catholic](/source/Catholic_Church) [prelate](/source/Prelate) who has served as [Bishop of Cloyne](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Cloyne) and chairperson of [Trócaire](/source/Tr%C3%B3caire) since 2013. ## Early life and education Crean was born in [Tralee](/source/Tralee), [County Kerry](/source/County_Kerry) on 16 December 1951, one of eight children to Patrick Crean and his wife Margaret (née O’Donnell).[1] He attended primary and secondary school in Tralee and at [St Brendan's College](/source/St_Brendan's_College%2C_Killarney), [Killarney](/source/Killarney), before studying for the priesthood at [St Patrick's College, Maynooth](/source/St_Patrick's_College%2C_Maynooth), where he completed a [Bachelor of Arts](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) in philosophy, and at the [Pontifical Irish College](/source/Pontifical_Irish_College), where he completed a [Bachelor of Divinity](/source/Bachelor_of_Divinity) at the [Pontifical Gregorian University](/source/Pontifical_Gregorian_University).[2] Crean was [ordained to the priesthood](/source/Holy_orders_in_the_Catholic_Church) for the [Diocese of Kerry](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Kerry) on 20 June 1976.[2] ## Presbyteral ministry Following ordination, Crean returned to Rome for further studies at the [Pontifical Gregorian University](/source/Pontifical_Gregorian_University), completing a [Licentiate of Sacred Theology](/source/Licentiate_of_Sacred_Theology) in 1977. He returned to the [Diocese of Kerry](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Kerry) in 1977 for his first pastoral appointment, as [catechist](/source/Catechesis) and [chaplain](/source/Chaplain) in [Killorglin](/source/Killorglin).[2] Creane was appointed curate in [Glenbeigh](/source/Glenbeigh) in 1980, and subsequently chaplain to the [comprehensive school](/source/Comprehensive_school) in [Tarbert](/source/Tarbert%2C_County_Kerry) in 1983. He completed a [diploma](/source/Diploma) in [religious education](/source/Religious_education) at [Mount Oliver Institute of Education](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mount_Oliver_Institute_of_Education&action=edit&redlink=1), Dundalk, in 1987, before he was appointed director of the John Paul II Pastoral Centre in [Killarney](/source/Killarney), as well as diocesan advisor to secondary schools and director of adult religious education. It was during this time that Crean also served as a founding director of [Radio Kerry](/source/Radio_Kerry), representing the [Ardfert Christian Media Trust](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ardfert_Christian_Media_Trust&action=edit&redlink=1), a joint shareholding by the Catholic Church and the [Church of Ireland](/source/Church_of_Ireland), as well as chairperson of the [Adult Religious Education National Association](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adult_Religious_Education_National_Association&action=edit&redlink=1) (ARENA) and on the national executive of the [National Conference of Priests of Ireland](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_Conference_of_Priests_of_Ireland&action=edit&redlink=1).[2] Crean returned to pastoral ministry in 1996, when he was appointed curate in Killorglin for two years, before undertaking [sabbatical](/source/Sabbatical) studies at [Weston School of Theology](/source/Boston_College_School_of_Theology_and_Ministry) in [Boston](/source/Boston), [Massachusetts](/source/Massachusetts), completing a [Master of Sacred Theology](/source/Master_of_Sacred_Theology). He returned to the Diocese of Kerry in 1999, where he was appointed parish priest in [Castlegregory](/source/Castlegregory), and subsequently in [Cahersiveen](/source/Cahersiveen) in 2006.[2] ## Episcopal ministry Crean was appointed [Bishop-elect of Cloyne](/source/Bishop_of_Cloyne) by [Pope Benedict XVI](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI) on 24 November 2012.[2][3][4] He was consecrated by the [Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland](/source/Apostolic_Nunciature_to_Ireland) and [titular archbishop](/source/Titular_bishop) of [Aquileia](/source/Aquileia), [Charles John Brown](/source/Charles_John_Brown), on 27 January 2013 in [St Colman's Cathedral](/source/St_Colman's_Cathedral%2C_Cobh), [Cobh](/source/Cobh).[1][5][6] Crean was appointed chairperson of [Trócaire](/source/Tr%C3%B3caire) on 22 June 2013.[7] In his Christmas message in 2013, he warned that despite the recent departure of the [EU/IMF troika](/source/Troika_(European_group)), great hardship continues to be inflicted on vulnerable families and schools in Ireland. Crean called on political leaders to redress austerity measures taken during the [European debt crisis](/source/European_debt_crisis) or risk of reaping "a very negative social harvest in Irish society".[8] In advance of a [referendum](/source/Thirty-sixth_Amendment_of_the_Constitution_of_Ireland) on [liberalising abortion laws](/source/Abortion_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland) on 25 May 2018, Crean said in a [pastoral letter](/source/Pastoral_letter) that while he believed that individual personal experiences faced by women and their partners can be "sad and painful", he described the prospect of a "culture of abortion as a routine medical procedure” developing in Ireland as "horrendous".[9] In a homily for the church's Day for Life in October 2020, he criticised the timing of a bill introduced to the [Oireachtas](/source/Oireachtas) legislating for the legalisation of [assisted suicide](/source/Assisted_suicide) and [euthanasia](/source/Euthanasia), calling it "disingenuous and unnecessary", adding that assisting in suicide would not only be "a false exercise of compassion", but also that tolerating its practice would be "flawed in its moral judgement".[10][11] In an interview with *The Irish Times* on 13 March 2023 reflecting on the tenth anniversary of the [election of Pope Francis](/source/2013_papal_conclave), Crean described him as "a disrupter in the interest of renewal", adding that Francis will be seen in future as a "prophetic figure".[12] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_1-1) ["Episcopal Ordination of Canon William Crean as Bishop of Cloyne"](https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2013/01/28/episcopal-ordination-canon-william-crean-bishop-cloyne/). *Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference*. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2023. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:0_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:0_2-5) ["Pope Benedict XVI appoints Canon William Crean as Bishop of Cloyne"](https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2012/11/24/pope-benedict-xvi-appoints-canon-william-crean-bishop-cloyne/). *Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference*. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Canon William Crean appointed Bishop of Cloyne"](https://www.rte.ie/news/2012/1124/354586-kerry-pp-appointed-bishop-of-cloyne/). *RTÉ*. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Canon William Crean bishop of Cloyne"](https://www.dioceseofkerry.ie/2016/01/canon-william-crean-bishop-of-cloyne/). *Diocese of Kerry*. Retrieved 13 March 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["William Crean appointed as Bishop of Cloyne"](https://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0127/364726-bishop-john-crean-cloyne/). *RTÉ*. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["'Heart with new vitality' vows Bishop Crean"](https://www.independent.ie/regionals/corkman/news/heart-with-new-vitality-vows-bishop-crean-29028982.html). *The Corkman*. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Bishop Crean appointed chair of Trocaire"](https://avondhupress.ie/bishop-crean-appointed-chair-of-trocaire/). *The Avondhu Newspaper*. 22 June 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Mac Donald, Sarah (24 December 2013). ["Bishop Crean hits out at Troika's unjust austerity"](https://www.catholicireland.net/bishop-crean/). *Catholicireland.net*. Retrieved 13 March 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Roche, Barry (7 May 2018). ["Bishop says 'culture of abortion' would be 'horrendous'"](https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/bishop-says-culture-of-abortion-would-be-horrendous-1.3487083). *The Irish Times*. Retrieved 13 March 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Homily of Bishop William Crean for 'Day for Life'"](https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2020/10/06/homily-of-bishop-william-crean-for-day-for-life/). *Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference*. Retrieved 13 March 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Discussing assisted suicide during pandemic 'disingenuous'"](https://www.irishcatholic.com/discussing-assisted-suicide-during-pandemic-disingenuous/). *The Irish Catholic*. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Capplis, Conor (13 March 2023). ["Ten years of Pope Francis, the disrupter"](https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/social-affairs/2023/03/13/ten-years-of-pope-francis-the-disrupter/). *The Irish Times*. Retrieved 13 March 2023. ## External links - [Bishop William Crean](https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bcrean.html) on [Catholic-Hierarchy.org](/source/Catholic-Hierarchy.org) - [Bishop William Crean](http://gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/cloy0.htm?focus) on GCatholic - [Bishop William Crean](https://cloynediocese.ie/about-the-diocese/bishop-william-crean/) on [Diocese of Cloyne](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Cloyne) Catholic Church titles Preceded by John Magee Bishop of Cloyne since 2013 Succeeded by incumbent v t e Catholic Church in Ireland Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference Dioceses Province of Armagh: Archdiocese of Armagh Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise Diocese of Clogher Diocese of Derry Diocese of Down and Connor Diocese of Dromore Diocese of Kilmore Diocese of Meath Diocese of Raphoe Province of Cashel: Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly Diocese of Cloyne Cork and Ross Diocese of Kerry Diocese of Killaloe Diocese of Limerick Diocese of Waterford and Lismore Diocese of Kilfenora Province of Dublin: Archdiocese of Dublin Diocese of Ferns Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin Diocese of Ossory Province of Tuam: Archdiocese of Tuam Diocese of Achonry Diocese of Clonfert Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh Diocese of Elphin Diocese of Killala Bishops Archbishop of Armagh (Eamon Martin) Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise (Paul Connell) Bishop of Clogher (Lawrence Duffy) Bishop of Derry (Donal McKeown) Bishop of Down and Connor (Noel Treanor) Bishop of Dromore (sede vacante) Bishop of Kilmore (Martin Hayes) Bishop of Meath (Thomas Deenihan) Bishop of Raphoe (Alan McGuckian) Archbishop of Cashel and Emly (Kieran O'Reilly) Bishop of Cloyne (William Crean) Bishop of Cork and Ross (Fintan Gavin) Bishop of Kerry (Raymond Browne) Bishop of Killaloe (Fintan Monahan) Bishop of Limerick (Brendan Leahy) Bishop of Waterford and Lismore (Alphonsus Cullinan) Archbishop of Dublin (Dermot Farrell) Bishop of Ferns (Gerard Nash) Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin (Denis Nulty) Bishop of Ossory (Niall Coll) Archbishop of Tuam and Bishop of Killala (Francis Duffy) Bishop of Clonfert and Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora (Michael Duignan) Bishop of Achonry and Bishop of Elphin (Kevin Doran) Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Apostolic Visitor (Kenneth Nowakowski) Churches Armagh Cathedral Belfast Cathedral Cavan Cathedral Derry Cathedral Letterkenny Cathedral Longford Cathedral Monaghan Cathedral Mullingar Cathedral Newry Cathedral Cobh Cathedral Cork Cathedral Ennis Cathedral Killarney Cathedral Limerick Cathedral Skibbereen Cathedral Thurles Cathedral Waterford Cathedral Carlow Cathedral Dublin Cathedral Enniscorthy Cathedral Kilkenny Cathedral Ballaghaderreen Cathedral Ballina Cathedral Galway Cathedral Loughrea Cathedral Sligo Cathedral Tuam Cathedral List of Catholic churches in Ireland See also Knock Shrine St Patrick's Purgatory St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth List of monastic houses in Ireland List of Catholic schools in Ireland by religious order List of saints of Ireland Apostolic Nunciature to Ireland Holy See–Ireland relations Catholicism portal Ireland portal v t e Roman Catholic bishops of Cork or Cloyne or of Ross 1540–1693 Cork and Cloyne Lewis Macnamara John O'Heyne Dominic Tirrey Roger Skiddy Nicholas Landes Edmund Tanner Dermot McCraghe James Miagh Robert Miagh William Tirry Robert Barry Peter Creagh Ross Maurice O'Hea Thomas O'Herlahy Bonaventura Naughton Eugene Egan Florence MacCarthy Robert Barry Boetius MacEgan Eugene Egan 1693–1747 Cork and Cloyne† John Sleyne Donagh MacCarthy Thaddeus McCarthy 1747–1850 Cork Richard Walsh John Butler Francis Moylan John Murphy William Delany Cloyne and Ross John O'Brien Matthew McKenna William Coppinger Michael Collins Bartholomew Crotty David Walsh Timothy Murphy 1850–1958 Cork William Delany Thomas Alphonsus O'Callaghan Daniel Cohalan Cornelius Lucey Cloyne Timothy Murphy William Keane John McCarthy Robert Browne James Roche John Ahern Ross William Keane Micheal O'Hea William Fitzgerald Denis Kelly James Roche Patrick Casey Denis Moynihan Cornelius Lucey 1958–present Cloyne John Ahern John Magee William Crean Cork and Ross Cornelius Lucey Michael Murphy John Buckley Fintan Gavin †During this period the bishops were also apostolic administrators of Ross --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [William Crean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Crean) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Crean?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.