Robert MacCarthy
The Very Revd Dr Robert Brian MacCarthy was Dean of Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin until his retirement in January 2012.
Born in 1940, Dean MacCarthy was educated at St. Columba's College in Rathfarnham, Dublin. He continued his studies in Trinity College Dublin, St John's College Cambridge, Trinity College, Oxford and Cuddesdon Theological College.
He received a Ph.D. in 19th century Irish history from Trinity College in 1983. Prior to his ordination in 1979, he spent twelve years in university administration at Reading University, Queen's University Belfast and Trinity College Dublin, where he became Assistant Secretary. He became curate of Carlow in 1979, a post he held until 1981 when he was appointed Librarian of Pusey House, Oxford and Fellow of St Cross College. In 1982 he was appointed Team Vicar in Bracknell New Town.
From 1986 to 1988 he was Bishop's Vicar in St. Canices Cathedral, Kilkenny. He became Rector of Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny in 1988. From 1995–9 he was Rector of St Nicholas' Collegiate Church, Galway and Provost of Tuam. He has been a member of the chapter since 1994, as the Prebendary of Monmohenock. His publications include The Estates of Trinity College Dublin (Dundalgan Press, 1992) and Ancient and Modern: A short History of the Church of Ireland (Four Courts Press, 1995). More recently he has written a biography of John Henry Bernard (Linden Publishing, 2008).
Renowned for his controversial opinions and liberal ideologies. After expressing doubts concerning the validity of some New Testament verses in our modern world, questions were raised over Dr. MacCarthy's claimed orthodoxy.[1]
In October 2005 he gave a sermon which appeared in an abridged form in The Irish Times on October 13, 2005. It proved controversial, with one commentator in the The Brandsma Review[2] dubbing it The rubber-stamping of buggery
In April 2008 in a Letter to the Irish Times he referred to Muslims and Hindus as indoctrinating their children into 'a cult'.[3]
In St Patrick's he has been censured by both board and chapter.
Robert MacCarthy retired from his position as Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral on the 25th of January 2012.
[edit] References
- ^ "Religions, Spirituality Religion Collectibles with cheap Religions, Spirituality". Irishangle.net. http://www.irishangle.net/nuacht/?q=node/329. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
- ^ The Brandsma Review
- ^ Faith teaching in schools
in December 2011, he announced his decision to retire on 25 January 2012.
