Michael Cox (clergyman)
Encyclopedia
Michael Patrick O'Connor Cox is a bishop in the Irish Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church, an independent Catholic denomination in Ireland
. He attracted attention for ordaining the singer Sinéad O'Connor
.
as a bishop from the Palmarian Catholic Church
through the episcopal lineage of Pierre Martin Ngô Đình Thục, the former Roman Catholic Archbishop of Huế
in Vietnam.
In April 1999, Cox ordained female rock singer Sinéad O'Connor as a priest
. Her ordination ceremony, after six weeks of theological study, was held in a Lourdes
hotel bedroom. O'Connor then assumed the name of "Mother Bernadette Mary". In 1992, O'Connor had torn up a photo of Pope John Paul II
on live television during a performance on Saturday Night Live
, leading to hundreds of complaints to the TV show. In 1997, she apologized to the Pope for that action.
In 2004, Cox again made headlines when he commissioned an old trawler, consecrated it and renamed it "The Little Bishop" in order to protest against the abortion
ship being sailed into Ireland by the pro-choice feminist group Women on Waves
.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He attracted attention for ordaining the singer Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U"....
.
Ministry
Cox claims apostolic successionApostolic Succession
Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...
as a bishop from the Palmarian Catholic Church
Palmarian Catholic Church
The Christian Palmarian Church of the Carmelites of the Holy Face , commonly called the Palmarian Catholic Church , is a schismatic Catholic church with its own pope, Gregory XVIII.-Origins:...
through the episcopal lineage of Pierre Martin Ngô Đình Thục, the former Roman Catholic Archbishop of Huế
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hue
Archdiocese of Huế is a Roman Catholic Archdiocese in central Vietnam.The creation of the diocese in present form was declared November 24, 1960...
in Vietnam.
In April 1999, Cox ordained female rock singer Sinéad O'Connor as a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
. Her ordination ceremony, after six weeks of theological study, was held in a Lourdes
Lourdes
Lourdes is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in south-western France.Lourdes is a small market town lying in the foothills of the Pyrenees, famous for the Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes occurred in 1858 to Bernadette Soubirous...
hotel bedroom. O'Connor then assumed the name of "Mother Bernadette Mary". In 1992, O'Connor had torn up a photo of Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
on live television during a performance on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
, leading to hundreds of complaints to the TV show. In 1997, she apologized to the Pope for that action.
In 2004, Cox again made headlines when he commissioned an old trawler, consecrated it and renamed it "The Little Bishop" in order to protest against the abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
ship being sailed into Ireland by the pro-choice feminist group Women on Waves
Women on Waves
Women on Waves is a Dutch pro-choice non-profit organization created in 1999 by Dutch physician Rebecca Gomperts, in order to bring reproductive health services, particularly non-surgical abortion services, to women in countries with restrictive abortion laws. Other services offered by WoW include...
.