Report on Bishop Casey post dismissed

A spokesman for Cardinal Basil Hume at the Archdiocese of Westminster said yesterday that there were many reasons it would not be appropriate for Bishop Eamonn Casey to go to London on his return from South America. The spokesman was responding to a report in the Irish Catholic newspaper headlined "Bishop Casey looks set for post in England".

The report quoted a senior source at Westminster Cathedral as confirming that Bishop Casey could be bound for London and "would probably report to one of the Cardinal's auxiliary bishops in a chaplaincy role". It quotes the source as saying: "He [Dr Casey] has an awful lot of friends here and excellent contacts. Whatever job he is given, it would be a very quiet brief with a very low profile." The article goes on to speculate that a hospital chaplaincy was one possibility under discussion.

In a terse response to the report, Cardinal Hume's spokesman said: "The Cardinal would always wish to help anyone in need, pastorally, but there are many reasons why it would be inappropriate for Bishop Casey to be in London."

Dr Casey served in London for a number of years before his appointment as bishop of Kerry in 1969. He assisted in housing Irish emigrants before becoming involved in the foundation of Shelter, the housing action agency, and serving as its first president.

It is understood that Dr Casey has concluded his work in Ecuador and is in the US. Meanwhile, discussions concerning his future continue. These involve the Irish bishops, who have indicated unequivocal support for his return to Ireland, and the Congregation of Bishops in Rome.