Bishops forced to shelve new diocese plans

by Christopher Howse
PLANS by the bishops in Northeast England to set up two new dioceses based on Cleveland and Beverley have been shelved after strong opposition by Catholics in the areas. A new diocese will, however, be set up though in South Yorkshire.
The idea of a new Beverley diocese was dropped in the face of objections that there was no real link between North and South Humberside, nor could one be guaranteed even after the opening of the Humber bridge. Doubts were raised over the wisdom of a diocese with only 52,000 people, even if South Humberside could be brought in.
The decision not to proceed with the scheme was taken during recent meetings of the bishops of Leeds, Nottingham, Hexham and Newcastle, and Middlesborough, with their auxiliaries under the chairmanship of Archbishop Warlock of Liverpool.
They explained that a new Clevelend diocese was being put on ice following divisions among the deaneries in the present diocese of Hexham and Newcastle over proposals to bring them in with areas included in the present Middlesborough diocese. Opposition was particularly strong in the Hartlepool deanery.
The bishops issued a statement which said: "While the difficulties at this stage appeared to be psychological as much as pastoral, they were sufficiently extensive to indicate that, at least as yet, the time was not ripe to recommend the implementation of these two sets ot proposals.
In their place, the bishops are to propose to the Holy See the appointment of an auxiliary bishop in Middleborough diocese to have responsibility for its southern part. He would also have the care of the two parishes in York, the English Martyrs and St Mary's, Acomb, at present in the Leeds diocese.
The only proposal of the bishops remaining from July is the setting up of a new diocese based on Sheffield and its commuter belt, including Chesterfield. The new diocese will have about 75,000 Catholics and will be called Hallam, as there is already an Anglican diocese of Sheffield. Proposals for its establishment will be put to the Holy See as soon as possible.
The last effort at diocesan reorganisation came to grief with the collapse of the 'Groundplan' scheme in 1974. The major changes made to the bishops' proposals of July, which were intended to "bring uncertainty to an end", show the seriousness of objections to them at the deanery level.