Robert MacCarthy
Encyclopedia
The Very Revd Dr Robert MacCarthy is Dean of Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.
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.
In October 2005 he gave a sermon which appeared in an abridged form in
The Irish Times on October 13th 2005. It proved controversial, with one commentator in the The Brandsma Review
dubbing it The rubber-stamping of buggery
Many throughout his career have commented upon the fact that he is a difficult man to work with.
In April 2008 in a Letter to the Irish Times he referred to Muslims and Hindus as indoctrinating their children into 'a cult'.
In St Patrick's he has been censured by both board and chapter. As of October 2010 he remains in post.
Born in 1940, Dean MacCarthy was educated at St. Columba's College
St. Columba's College, Dublin
St Columba's College is a co-educational boarding school founded in 1843 located in Whitechurch, Dublin, Ireland. Among the founders of the college are Edwin Richard W. W. Quin, Lord Adare , the Right Hon. William Monsell , Dr...
in Rathfarnham
Rathfarnham
Rathfarnham or Rathfarnam is a Southside suburb of Dublin, Ireland. It is south of Terenure, east of Templeogue, and is in the postal districts of Dublin 14 and 16. It is within the administrative areas of both Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and South Dublin County Councils.The area of Rathfarnham...
, Dublin. He continued his studies in Trinity College Dublin, St John's College Cambridge, Trinity College, Oxford
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
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
Pusey House, Oxford
Pusey House is a religious institution located in St Giles', Oxford, immediately to the south of Pusey Street. It is firmly rooted in the Anglo-Catholic tradition of the Church of England...
and Fellow of St Cross College
St Cross College, Oxford
St Cross College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is an all-graduate college, sharing attractive, traditional-style buildings on a central site in St Giles', just south of Pusey Street...
. 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
St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church
The Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas is the largest medieval parish church in Ireland in continuous use as a place of worship. It is located in Galway in the Republic of Ireland and was founded in 1320, dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of seafarers...
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.
In October 2005 he gave a sermon which appeared in an abridged form in
The Irish Times on October 13th 2005. It proved controversial, with one commentator in the The Brandsma Review
The Brandsma Review
The Brandsma Review is a bi-monthly magazine of conservative Catholic opinion in circulation in Ireland. Its Latin masthead is Pro Vita, Pro Ecclesia Dei et Pro Hibernia 'for life, for the Church of God and for Ireland'...
dubbing it The rubber-stamping of buggery
Many throughout his career have commented upon the fact that he is a difficult man to work with.
In April 2008 in a Letter to the Irish Times he referred to Muslims and Hindus as indoctrinating their children into 'a cult'.
In St Patrick's he has been censured by both board and chapter. As of October 2010 he remains in post.