- immigration expertise
- policy analysis
- extensive facts and figures
Irish-born bishop named head of Dallas Roman Catholic diocese
Matt Curry
The Associated Press
Dallas Morning News
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
DALLAS: Irish-born Bishop Kevin Farrell introduced himself Tuesday as the new head of the 1 million-member
Dallas diocese, replacing Bishop Charles Grahmann whose 17-year tenure was marked by rapid growth and a
scandal over sexual abuse by priests.
"At this particular moment, this is my dream job," Farrell, 59, said to applause from a small group of parishioners
at Cathedral Santuario de Guadalupe .
Farrell acknowledged the diversity of the Dallas diocese, 10th largest in the U.S., and spoke in Spanish several
times. About half the members of the diocese are Hispanic.
Grahmann offered his resignation in July when he turned 75, the normal retirement age for bishops, and it was
accepted Tuesday by Pope Benedict XVI.
Farrell was born in Dublin, Ireland, and first visited the United States in 1967. He was ordained into the
priesthood in 1978 and assigned to the Washington, D.C., archdiocese in 1983, where he was ordained as an
auxiliary bishop in 2002.
"Certainly I believe there is zero tolerance for anyone who harms a child. I cannot emphasize that more," Farrell
said. "I believe the church has done more than any other institution over the last few years to protect children."
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, which applauded the departure of Grahmann,
also was critical of Farrell, whose duties in the Washington archdiocese involved administering its sexual abuse
police for members of the clergy, employees and adult volunteers. Farrell has met with 84 people who have
alleged incidents of abuse.
"Unfortunately, Farrell's diocese has worked very hard to beat back efforts at legislative reform that would give
child sex victims the chance to expose predators in court," said a statement issued by David Clohessy, national
director of SNAP.
Grahmann's attention to the region's burgeoning Hispanic population has drawn praise. But his service was also
marked by criticism of his handling of priests accused of child sexual abuse.
In the 1997 civil trial of Rudolph Kos, who molested altar boys at three Dallas parishes, a Dallas County jury
decided that Grahmann and other church officials were "grossly negligent" and tried to cover up the abuse in its
aftermath.
The jury awarded $120 million to 11 victims, although the diocese later settled for about one-fourth of that. Kos
is now serving a life sentence.
Farrell, who served six years in Mexico, declined to announce any specific plans concerning his leadership. He
said he would first have to get to know the area and its people.
"It was a great surprise to me when I was informed I was going to come to Dallas," he said.
He has served as director of the Spanish Catholic Center, an agency of the Archdiocese of Washington that
provides assistance to immigrant communities, and has been assistant executive director and interim director of
Catholic Charities.
Farrell serves on the board of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network. His brother, Bishop Brian Farrell, is on
staff at the Vatican.
He will be officially installed during a May 1 service at the Cathedral Santuario de Guadalupe.
Matt Curry
The Associated Press
Dallas Morning News
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
DALLAS: Irish-born Bishop Kevin Farrell introduced himself Tuesday as the new head of the 1 million-member
Dallas diocese, replacing Bishop Charles Grahmann whose 17-year tenure was marked by rapid growth and a
scandal over sexual abuse by priests.
"At this particular moment, this is my dream job," Farrell, 59, said to applause from a small group of parishioners
at Cathedral Santuario de Guadalupe .
Farrell acknowledged the diversity of the Dallas diocese, 10th largest in the U.S., and spoke in Spanish several
times. About half the members of the diocese are Hispanic.
Grahmann offered his resignation in July when he turned 75, the normal retirement age for bishops, and it was
accepted Tuesday by Pope Benedict XVI.
Farrell was born in Dublin, Ireland, and first visited the United States in 1967. He was ordained into the
priesthood in 1978 and assigned to the Washington, D.C., archdiocese in 1983, where he was ordained as an
auxiliary bishop in 2002.
"Certainly I believe there is zero tolerance for anyone who harms a child. I cannot emphasize that more," Farrell
said. "I believe the church has done more than any other institution over the last few years to protect children."
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, which applauded the departure of Grahmann,
also was critical of Farrell, whose duties in the Washington archdiocese involved administering its sexual abuse
police for members of the clergy, employees and adult volunteers. Farrell has met with 84 people who have
alleged incidents of abuse.
"Unfortunately, Farrell's diocese has worked very hard to beat back efforts at legislative reform that would give
child sex victims the chance to expose predators in court," said a statement issued by David Clohessy, national
director of SNAP.
Grahmann's attention to the region's burgeoning Hispanic population has drawn praise. But his service was also
marked by criticism of his handling of priests accused of child sexual abuse.
In the 1997 civil trial of Rudolph Kos, who molested altar boys at three Dallas parishes, a Dallas County jury
decided that Grahmann and other church officials were "grossly negligent" and tried to cover up the abuse in its
aftermath.
The jury awarded $120 million to 11 victims, although the diocese later settled for about one-fourth of that. Kos
is now serving a life sentence.
Farrell, who served six years in Mexico, declined to announce any specific plans concerning his leadership. He
said he would first have to get to know the area and its people.
"It was a great surprise to me when I was informed I was going to come to Dallas," he said.
He has served as director of the Spanish Catholic Center, an agency of the Archdiocese of Washington that
provides assistance to immigrant communities, and has been assistant executive director and interim director of
Catholic Charities.
Farrell serves on the board of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network. His brother, Bishop Brian Farrell, is on
staff at the Vatican.
He will be officially installed during a May 1 service at the Cathedral Santuario de Guadalupe.
415 Michigan Ave., NE
Suite 150
Washington, DC 20017
202.635.2556
202.635.2649 fax
media inquiries:
e-mail me
(202) 635-5810
Suite 150
Washington, DC 20017
202.635.2556
202.635.2649 fax
media inquiries:
e-mail me
(202) 635-5810
media inquiries: Melissa Williams
Media Relations Coordinator
(202) 635-5810
Media Relations Coordinator
(202) 635-5810
NATIONAL PROGRAMS | LEGALIZATION | ADVOCACY | RELIGIOUS IMMIGRATION SERVICES | ADMINISTRATION & DEVELOPMENT | TRAINING & TECHNICAL SUPPORT
HOME | CONTACT US | E-MAIL LIST | DONATE NOW
