Scottish Catholic Observer

Bishop Vincent Logan is stepping down as Bishop of Dunkeld after almost 30 years of service in that role.

Bishop Logan has tendered his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI on health grounds. The bishop (above) was unable to take part in the Papal Visit to Scotland in September for health reasons.

“I deeply regret having to make this decision, but I have no choice,” Bishop Logan said today in a statement. “My health means I am no longer able to give 100 per cent and I feel the Church deserves no less.

“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 be 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.

“I pay tribute to my priests and deacons who labour tirelessly on behalf of our Lord and His Church in an increasingly secular world, to the Religious for their enormous contribution to diocesan life, and I thank God for the lay people who witness to the values of the Gospel in their daily lives.”

The bishop acknowleded the working relationship he has  enjoyed with the wider community throughout the diocese and thanked ‘ them all of them for their courtesy and friendship over the years.’

“It will take some time before my successor is appointed, but I felt it was only fair to make my decision known so that the priests and people of the Diocese of Dunkeld can plan for the future,” he said.

Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muñoz, the Vatican’s Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, last month announced his retirement because of his own ill health at a thanksgiving Mass for the Papal visit at St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh. Archbishop Sainz Muño is expected to return to Spain on Sunday. The nuncio traditionally plays a significant role in the process of installing new bishops. Neither a successor for the nuncio or for Bishop Logan has been named at this time.

Bishop Logan added: “My hope is that, God willing, 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.

“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.”

Paying tribute to Bishop Logan, Mgr Ken McCaffrey, vicar general of Dunkeld Diocese, said: “On behalf of the priests and people, I thank Bishop Vincent for his dedicated ministry as our Bishop and shepherd over 30 years.

“Since his appointment in 1981, at the age of 39, he has given outstanding leadership to the priests and people of Dunkeld. He has been responsible for many initiatives over the years that have encouraged our people to live by the values of the Gospel.

“He has helped to give the Catholic Community a prominent place in the life, not only of Dundee, our Cathedral City, but throughout our country.

“We are deeply sorry that his recent ill health has forced this decision, but we fully understand why he has had to make it.”