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Edward Bede Cardinal Clancy AC
Cardinal Priest of Santa Maria in Vallicella
7th Archbishop of Sydney (1983-2001)
 Edward Bede Clancy was born in Lithgow on 13 December 1923,
the son of John Bede Clancy and Ellen Lucy Edwards. He was educated at Holy
Camp Public School
(Grenfell), St Monica’s Primary School and Good Samaritan School, Richmond
and Marist Brothers’ College,
Parramatta.
After studying for the priesthood at St Columba’s College, Springwood,
and St Patrick’s College, Manly, he was ordained a priest in St Mary’s
Cathedral, Sydney, by Cardinal Sir Norman Gilroy, then Archbishop of Sydney,
on 23 July 1949. His first appointment was as assistant priest in Belmore in
December 1949.
Sent to study in Rome in 1951, Fr Clancy graduated with a Licentiate in Theology
(STL) from the Angelicum University and a Licentiate of Sacred Scripture
(LSS) from the Pontifical Biblical Institute. Returning in 1955, he served
as assistant
priest at the parishes of Elizabeth Bay and Liverpool before taking up his
appointment as Professor of Sacred Scripture at St Columba’s College,
Springwood in February 1958.
In 1961, he went abroad for further studies, obtaining his Doctorate in Sacred
Theology in 1965. On his return, he was appointed Chaplain at Sydney University
and
the Catholic Centre. He then joined the professorial staff at St Patrick’s
College, Manly teaching Sacred Scripture in the Faculty of Theology. He was
also involved in pastoral work, particularly in giving conferences and spiritual
retreats to priests and members of religious orders.
He was still at Manly when, on 15 November 1973, Pope Paul VI appointed him
Titular Bishop of Ard Carna and auxiliary to Cardinal Freeman. His Episcopal
Ordination took place in St Mary’s Cathedral on 19 January 1974. He took
charge of the outer western region, with headquarters at Blacktown, where he
was also parish priest. At this time he was well known to the media as official
spokesperson for the Archdiocese and also for the Australian Bishops’ Conference.
On 24 November 1978, Pope John Paul II appointed Bishop
Clancy to the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn. A little over four years
later, on 22 February
1983, Pope John Paul II announced Archbishop Clancy’s appointment
as seventh Archbishop of Sydney, in succession to retiring Cardinal Sir
James Freeman.
His reception and installation as Archbishop of Sydney
took place in St Mary’s
Cathedral on 27 April 1983. Cardinal Clancy was made a Member of the
Order of Australia (OAM) on 1 January 1984 and Officer of the Order of
Australia (AC) in 1992.
He was elevated to the Sacred College of Cardinals and
received his red biretta, the traditional sign of his office, from Pope John
Paul II at
a Vatican consistory
in Rome on 28 June 1988. His responsibilities have included being
a member of the Council of Cardinals and Bishops; President of the Australian
Bishops Conference, 1986-2000; Chancellor
of Australian Catholic University, 1991. He was a member
of the
Congregation for Bishops; the Pontifical Commission for Pastoral Care
for Health Workers;
the Council of Synod of Bishops, Pontifical Commission for Social Communication;
and the Council of Cardinals for the study of economic problems of
the Holy See.
Other achievements include the
renovation
and completion of St Mary’s Cathedral with the construction
of the two spires and the overseeing of the transition from St Patrick’s
College, Manly to the new Seminary of the Good Shepherd, Homebush.
On 26 March 2001 Cardinal Clancy’s resignation was accepted by Pope John
Paul II, having exceeded the age limit of 75 years, with his retirement from
office taking effect on 10 May 2001.
During his retirement, Cardinal Clancy wrote Come Back! – an appeal to
lapsed Catholics to return to church practice.
 Cardinal Edward Clancy’s Crest
On the left hand side of the shield are the established arms of the Archdiocese
of Sydney – the Southern Cross. On the right hand side are his own
personal arms. The lions are taken from the crest of the Clancy family, and
the circle and book represent the Host and the open Bible – symbolising
the Word of Scripture and the Word of the Eucharist. The motto “Fides
Mundum Vincit” translated from the Latin means “Faith conquers
the World.” (1 John 5, 4 )
The ideas were the Cardinal’s own and were provided to a professional
who presented them in their present form.
The Previous Archbishops of the Archdiocese of Sydney
The Predecessor Auxiliary and Co-adjutor Archbishops
of the Archdiocese of Sydney
- Charles Henry Davis OSB, 1848-1854. Also
Titular Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle.
- Joseph Higgins, 1889. (Appointed Bishop
of Rockhampton 1889).
- Michael Sheehan, Co-adjutor Archbishop
1922-1937.
- Eris Norman Michael O'Brien, 1948-1953.
(Appointed Bishop of Canberra-Goulburn 1953.)
- Patrick Francis Lyons, 1950-1956. (Appointed
Co-adjutor Bishop Sale 1956. Bishop 1957-1967.)
- James Patrick Carroll, 1954-1965.
Retired 1984. Died 1995.
- James Darcy Cardinal Freeman, 1957-1969
- Thomas William Muldoon, 1960-1986.
- Edward Francis Kelly MSC, 1969-1975.
(Appointed Bishop
of Toowoomba 1975.)
- Edward Bede Cardinal Clancy AC, 1973-1978.
(Appointed Archbishop
of Canberra-Goulburn, 1978-1983.)
- Patrick Laurence Murphy,
1977-1986. (Appointed Bishop
of Broken Bay 1986. Retired)
- Bede Vincent Heather,
1979-1986. (Appointed Bishop
of Parramatta 1986. Retired)
- John Edward Heaps, 1981-1992.
Retired 1992. Died 2004.
- Peter William Ingham, 1993-2001. (Appointed
Bishop of
Wollongong 2001.)
- Geoffrey James Robinson,
1984-2004. Retired.
- David Cremin, 1974-2005. Retired.
See also:
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