Leonard Faulkner
Encyclopedia
Leonard Anthony Faulkner (born 5 December 1926) is an Australian Roman Catholic clergyman, and was the seventh Archbishop
of Adelaide
. Born in rural South Australia
, Faulkner served as an Adelaide
parish priest and Bishop of Townsville
before being appointed Archbishop of Adelaide in 1985. He is currently Archbishop Emeritus of Adelaide.
on 4 December 1926. The son of a farm labourer and eldest of ten children, Faulkner did not begin to attend school until he was seven years old, as until then he was considered too young to walk the four kilometres from his house to the local school.
Faulkner was ordained on New Year's Day
, 1950 in Rome, along with twelve other priests from around the world. His first posting was to the parish of Woodville, Seaton, Royal Park and Albert Park in Adelaide, South Australia. He also served as a chaplain
within the Young Christian Workers
movement until his consecration as Bishop of Townsville
.
in Queensland
. In 1983 he returned to Adelaide to assist the ailing Archbishop James Gleeson
, and in 1985 he was installed as Gleeson's successor. During his tenure as Archbishop, Faulkner declined to live in the bishop's quarters, instead choosing to reside in a plain house in the Adelaide suburb of Netley
.
, where a priest may grant absolution
without hearing individual confessions. Following a meeting with Australian bishops in late 1998, Pope John Paul II
sent a letter to all Australian bishops outlining concerns with the relaxed nature of Australian Catholicism. In particular, he formally requested that the bishops eliminate the use of communal confession. While the dioceses of most other capital cities in the country abandoned the practice, Faulkner refused, allowing communal confession during Lent
of 1999. In June 1999, Faulkner sent a pastoral message to all parishes in the Archdiocese of Adelaide allowing communal confession, but requiring prior approval from the Archbishop. This made Adelaide one of the few places in Australia where communal confession was still practised.
, Philip Wilson to the position of coadjutor Archbishop
of Adelaide, in doing so naming him as Faulkner's successor. On 3 December 2001, two days before his seventy-fifth birthday, Faulkner retired as Archbishop, and Wilson was installed as his successor. As a retired Archbishop, Faulkner retains the title of Archbishop Emeritus.
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Adelaide
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide is a Latin rite metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Australia located in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia....
. Born in rural South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, Faulkner served as an Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
parish priest and Bishop of Townsville
Roman Catholic Diocese of Townsville
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Townsville is a suffragan Latin rite diocese of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, erected in 1930, covering North Queensland, Australia.-Ordinaries:...
before being appointed Archbishop of Adelaide in 1985. He is currently Archbishop Emeritus of Adelaide.
Early life
Leonard Faulkner was born in Booleroo Centre, South AustraliaBooleroo Centre, South Australia
Booleroo Centre is a town in the southern Flinders Ranges region of South Australia. The town is located in the Mount Remarkable District Council Local Government Area, north of the state capital, Adelaide. At the 2006 census, Booleroo Centre had a population of 331.The Hundred of Booleroo was...
on 4 December 1926. The son of a farm labourer and eldest of ten children, Faulkner did not begin to attend school until he was seven years old, as until then he was considered too young to walk the four kilometres from his house to the local school.
Faulkner was ordained on New Year's Day
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
, 1950 in Rome, along with twelve other priests from around the world. His first posting was to the parish of Woodville, Seaton, Royal Park and Albert Park in Adelaide, South Australia. He also served as a chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
within the Young Christian Workers
Young Christian Workers
The Young Christian Workers is an international organization founded by Rev. Joseph Cardijn in Belgium as the Young Trade Unionists; the organization adopted its present name in 1924. Its French acronym, JOC, gave rise to the then widely-used terms Jocism and Jocist...
movement until his consecration as Bishop of Townsville
Roman Catholic Diocese of Townsville
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Townsville is a suffragan Latin rite diocese of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, erected in 1930, covering North Queensland, Australia.-Ordinaries:...
.
Episcopacy
On 28 November 1967, Faulkner was consecrated as the Bishop of TownsvilleRoman Catholic Diocese of Townsville
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Townsville is a suffragan Latin rite diocese of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, erected in 1930, covering North Queensland, Australia.-Ordinaries:...
in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. In 1983 he returned to Adelaide to assist the ailing Archbishop James Gleeson
James William Gleeson
James William Gleeson was an Australian clergyman and the sixth Archbishop of Adelaide. He was the first South Australian priest to become Archbishop of Adelaide.- Early life :...
, and in 1985 he was installed as Gleeson's successor. During his tenure as Archbishop, Faulkner declined to live in the bishop's quarters, instead choosing to reside in a plain house in the Adelaide suburb of Netley
Netley, South Australia
-External links:* -References and notes:...
.
Controversy regarding communal confession
In 1999, Faulkner caused controversy when he defied Vatican pressure to cease the practice of communal confessionSacrament of Penance (Catholic Church)
In the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is the method by which individual men and women may be freed from sins committed after receiving the sacrament of Baptism...
, where a priest may grant absolution
Absolution
Absolution is a traditional theological term for the forgiveness experienced in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This concept is found in the Roman Catholic Church, as well as the Eastern Orthodox churches, the Anglican churches, and most Lutheran churches....
without hearing individual confessions. Following a meeting with Australian bishops in late 1998, Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
sent a letter to all Australian bishops outlining concerns with the relaxed nature of Australian Catholicism. In particular, he formally requested that the bishops eliminate the use of communal confession. While the dioceses of most other capital cities in the country abandoned the practice, Faulkner refused, allowing communal confession during Lent
Lent
In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
of 1999. In June 1999, Faulkner sent a pastoral message to all parishes in the Archdiocese of Adelaide allowing communal confession, but requiring prior approval from the Archbishop. This made Adelaide one of the few places in Australia where communal confession was still practised.
Retirement
In November 2000, Pope John Paul II appointed the Bishop of WollongongRoman Catholic Diocese of Wollongong
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wollongong is a suffragan Latin rite diocese of the Archdiocese of Sydney, established in 1951, covering the Illawarra and Southern Highlands regions of New South Wales, Australia.-History:...
, Philip Wilson to the position of coadjutor Archbishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
of Adelaide, in doing so naming him as Faulkner's successor. On 3 December 2001, two days before his seventy-fifth birthday, Faulkner retired as Archbishop, and Wilson was installed as his successor. As a retired Archbishop, Faulkner retains the title of Archbishop Emeritus.