Anyone who heard Bishop John Crowley preach at the funeral of Cardinal Basil Hume will feel a twinge of sadness at the news that the bishop is retiring 10 years early. On that grand occasion he delivered a homily marked by deep insight and spirituality.
His departure is a loss for Middlesbrough diocese and the wider Church in England and Wales. But we hope that, now that the burden of office is lifted, his health will recover and he will have many more years of happy and fruitful priestly ministry.
