Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Bishop Vincent Logan  of Dunkeld on health grounds with immediate effect. The appointment of Mgr Basil O’Sullivan, parish priest of Holy Family Church, Dunblane, as administrator—chosen by senior priests of the diocese—was made after the SCO went to press.

Bishop Logan, 71, who celebrated 30 years as Bishop of Dunkeld last March, said in December 2010 that he ‘deeply regretted’ having to offer his resignation but felt he had ‘no choice.’

 Health grounds

“My health means I am no longer able to give 100 per cent and I feel the Church deserves no less,” Bishop Logan (below) said. “I owe it to the priests and people of Dunkeld to step aside and let someone else give them new leadership. It has been an honour, a privilege and a pleasure to serve the priests and people of Dunkeld Diocese as their bishop for 30 years. I am immensely grateful to countless people who have supported me loyally throughout my ministry.”

Bishop Logan said that ‘God willing,’ he hoped to be able to continue to serve the Church.

“I will still be able to make a contribution to the life of the Church in Scotland, both at national and diocesan level, albeit in a less public role,” he said. “Once again I offer my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has worked with me over the last 30 years and I pray that everyone will understand why I, very reluctantly, have had to come to this decision.”

Tribute

Cardinal Keith O’Brien led the tributes to his brother bishop and said it was with ‘a certain sadness’ that he heard the news.

“Sadly, ill health afflicted Bishop Vincent in recent years and he was unable to fulfill his pastoral obligations as he would have wished and, after careful thought and prayer, he tendered his resignation as Bishop of Dunkeld to Pope Benedict XVI,” the cardinal said. “It is now my wish and, I am sure, the wish of the Bishops of Scotland, as well as, of course, the priests and people of the Diocese of Dunkeld, that he will have a long and happy retirement from his arduous role as Bishop of Dunkeld and be able to give more time to practical pastoral initiatives at which he excels in his ministry.”

The cardinal said, having known Bishop Logan since they were students together at St Andrew’s College, Drygrange, he recalled a moment of ‘great joy’ when ‘I learned of his appointment as Bishop of Dunkeld on January 26, 1981.’

The cardinal was himself ordained a bishop a month later.

“He had been a very popular priest in the [Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh] and engaged in a wonderful apostolate, especially in the field of education,” he said.

“He obviously brought his gifts and talents with him to the Diocese of Dunkeld and moulded priests and people into one enthusiastic body, moving forward in every aspect of pastoral activity and giving a wonderful example to everyone in Scotland.”

Cardinal O’Brien said as a bishop, Bishop Logan was ‘recognised by the members of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland as one of our ‘organisers’ and produced ‘magnificent background materials and drafts of documents on which we could work together.’

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Pic: Paul McSherry