Roman Catholic Diocese of Ballarat
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ballarat is a suffragan
Latin rite diocese of the Archdiocese of Melbourne
, erected in 1874, covering the west, Wimmera
, and Mallee
regions of Victoria
, Australia.
. At the same time, the Diocese of Melbourne was made an archdiocese and the Diocese of Ballarat became one of its suffragan dioceses. Both are within the Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Melbourne.
n border (the Archdiocese of Adelaide
and the Diocese of Port Pirie
), the Murray River (the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes
) and the Southern Ocean. To the east is the Diocese of Sandhurst
and the Archdiocese of Melbourne
. The diocese has 52 parishes, 39 clergy and four parish leaders. The seat of the diocese is St Patrick's Cathedral, Ballarat
.
, which are a series of convictions, trials and ongoing investigations into allegations of sex crimes committed by Catholic priests and members of religious orders
. Notable cases include:
Suffragan Diocese
A suffragan diocese is a diocese in the Catholic Church that is overseen not only by its own diocesan bishop but also by a metropolitan bishop. The metropolitan is always an archbishop who governs his own archdiocese...
Latin rite diocese of the Archdiocese of Melbourne
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne is a Latin rite metropolitan archdiocese, located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Erected initially in 1847 as the Diocese of Melbourne, a suffragan diocese of Archdiocese of Sydney, the diocese was elevated in 1874 as an archdiocese of the...
, erected in 1874, covering the west, Wimmera
Wimmera
The Wimmera is a region in the west of the Australian state of Victoria.It covers the dryland farming area south of the range of Mallee scrub, east of the South Australia border and north of the Great Dividing Range...
, and Mallee
The Mallee
The Mallee is the most northwesterly district in the state of Victoria, and also encompasses the agricultural district of South Australia. Definitions vary, however all are based on the Victorian distribution of mallee eucalypts...
regions of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia.
History
The Diocese of Ballarat was established on 30 March 1874, from the Diocese of MelbourneRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne is a Latin rite metropolitan archdiocese, located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Erected initially in 1847 as the Diocese of Melbourne, a suffragan diocese of Archdiocese of Sydney, the diocese was elevated in 1874 as an archdiocese of the...
. At the same time, the Diocese of Melbourne was made an archdiocese and the Diocese of Ballarat became one of its suffragan dioceses. Both are within the Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Melbourne.
Ordinaries
The following individuals were elected as Roman Catholic Bishop of Ballarat:| Order | Name | Date enthroned | Reign ended | Term of office | Reason for term end |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael O'Connor † | 24 April 1874 | 14 February 1883 | Died in office | |
| 2 | James Moore † | 12 January 1884 | 26 June 1904 | Died in office | |
| 3 | Joseph Higgins † | 3 March 1905 | 16 September 1915 | Died in office | |
| 4 | Daniel Foley † | 12 April 1916 | 31 October 1941 | Died in office | |
| 5 | James O'Collins † | 23 December 1941 | 1 May 1971 | Resigned and appointed Bishop Emeritus of Ballarat | |
| 6 | Ronald Mulkearns | 1 May 1971 | 30 May 1997 | Resigned and appointed Bishop Emeritus of Ballarat | |
| 7 | Peter Connors | 30 May 1997 | incumbent | n/a | |
Other information
It is bounded by the South AustraliaSouth Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n border (the Archdiocese of Adelaide
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide is a Latin rite metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Australia located in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia....
and the Diocese of Port Pirie
Roman Catholic Diocese of Port Pirie
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Port Pirie is a suffragan Latin rite diocese of the Archdiocese of Adelaide, erected in 1887 covering the Yorke and Eyre Peninsulas, Flinders Ranges, Nullarbor Plain, and Mid and Far North regions of South Australia, Australia....
), the Murray River (the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes
Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes is a suffragan Latin rite diocese of the Archdiocese of Sydney, established in 1887, initially as the Diocese of Diocese of Wilcannia, and then changed to the current name in 1917...
) and the Southern Ocean. To the east is the Diocese of Sandhurst
Roman Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst is a suffragan Latin rite diocese of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, erected in 1874, covering the central and north-east regions of Victoria, Australia, including Bendigo.-History:...
and the Archdiocese of Melbourne
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne is a Latin rite metropolitan archdiocese, located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Erected initially in 1847 as the Diocese of Melbourne, a suffragan diocese of Archdiocese of Sydney, the diocese was elevated in 1874 as an archdiocese of the...
. The diocese has 52 parishes, 39 clergy and four parish leaders. The seat of the diocese is St Patrick's Cathedral, Ballarat
Ballarat, Victoria
Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
.
Controversies
The Diocese of Ballarat has been part of the Catholic sexual abuse scandalCatholic sexual abuse scandal in Australia
The Catholic sexual abuse scandal in Australia is part of the wider Catholic sexual abuse scandal which are a series of convictions, trials and ongoing investigations into allegations of sex crimes committed by Catholic priests and members of religious orders....
, which are a series of convictions, trials and ongoing investigations into allegations of sex crimes committed by Catholic priests and members of religious orders
Abuse by members of Roman Catholic orders
As distinct from abuse by some parish priests, who are subject to diocesan control, there has also been abuse by members of Roman Catholic orders, which often care for the sick or teach at school...
. Notable cases include:
- Gerry RidsdaleGerry Francis RidsdaleGerald Francis Ridsdale is a convicted child molester who abused children while working as a Catholic priest.-Early life:Gerald Francis Ridsdale was born at St Arnaud, Victoria, in western Victoria, the eldest of eight children...
, who pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting a total of 41 children (comprising 40 boys and one girl). - Robert Charles Best, a Christian Brother, was sentenced in the Victorian County Court for 27 offences involving sexual abuse of 11 boys.