Ten diocesan merger proposals put forward for Munster

Bishops of the Cashel province have circulated ten proposals for merging dioceses across Munster. These configurations involve the seven dioceses of Cashel and Emly, Cloyne, Cork and Ross, Killaloe, Limerick, Kerry, and Waterford and Lismore.

The document states that the Papal Nuncio has ruled out maintaining current diocesan structures, though no final decisions have been made. Fr. Tim Hazelwood of the Association of Catholic Priests questioned the lack of consultation with clergy and parishioners.

Separately, discussions regarding a merger between the Clogher and Kilmore dioceses have continued for two years. Some clergy in Clogher have expressed a preference for a merger with Armagh, but no final decision has been reached.