Michael Neary (bishop)

Michael Neary was born in Castlebar, County Mayo, and received his early education at St. Patrick's Boys National School, Castlebar, and St. Jarlath's College, Tuam.[1] He studied at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth and was ordained to the priesthood on 15 June 1971.[2] Earning a doctorate in Divinity in 1975, he served as a curate in Belclare for one year before being appointed to the staff at the Presentation College, Headford.[1]

From 1978 to 1981, he furthered his studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, earning a licentiate of Sacred Scripture; during that time he was also spiritual director at the Pontifical Irish College.[1] On his return he joined the staff at Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew, and served as a curate in Moylough. In 1982 he was appointed lecturer in Sacred Scripture at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, becoming professor of New Testament in 1991[1] where he is remembered among students as a diligent and committed teacher, if rather dull and stilted in his lecturing style.

Styles of Michael Neary
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Grace
Religious style	Archbishop

On 20 May 1992, Neary was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Tuam and Titular Bishop of Quaestoriana by Pope John Paul II.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following 13 September from Archbishop Joseph Cassidy, with Archbishops Emanuele Gerada and Joseph Cunnane serving as co-consecrators.[2] Following Archbishop Cassidy's resignation, he was named Archbishop of Tuam on 17 January 1995.[2]

In May 2009, Neary described the Ryan Report as "sad and disturbing" and "apologise[d] unreservedly, on behalf of the Church, for our failure to protect children."[3]

Within the Irish Bishops Conference, Neary is the Chairman of the Doctrine Commission; a member of the Department of Catholic Education and Formation, Commission for Migrants, and Strategic Task Group for Education; and a trustee of Trócaire.[4]

Archbishop Neary said that if lay people had been more involved in the Catholic Church the response to clerical child sex abuse allegations "would have been different." In a reflection on the Irish bishops’ summit with Pope Benedict XVI from 15–16 February 2010, he also said that "in the discussions he asked for the forgiveness of the victims”. The archbishop said “the need for co-operation with civil authorities, HSE and gardaí, and the complete implementation of the church’s own norms and procedures were seen as central to the safeguarding of children".

At the meetings "it was acknowledged that while this is not a problem which is peculiar to Ireland or to the English-speaking world, or the church, nevertheless its impact is intensified in the church, damaging its credibility in a number of areas, for example, its teaching on marriage and the family, on sexual morality, and on the church’s role in education and Catholic schools" he said.[5]

On 6 July 2010, he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as a member of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in the Roman Curia.[6] Members not resident in Rome are invited to attend only the plenary meetings of the congregation, which in principle are held every year. The appointment is for five years and is renewable.

In August 2010 Archbishop Neary said "the truth of past pain is certainly coming to the surface. But this is good news. We should embrace the truth even though this can be a painful task." He continued "however, we should also be aware of the dangers contained in what some have called a ‘culture of blame’. We seek out the negligence of doctors, the health service, bankers, the Church or the school. Maybe this makes it easier to deal with our own shortcomings, the neglect and indifference of others and the tyranny of blind chance. Christ did not encourage us to imprison people by their human failings. Instead he taught us the way of forgiveness."[7]

Patron of the Catholic Grandparents Association.

President of Action Tuam