Malcolm Patrick McMahon
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Patrick McMahon, OP
(born 14 June 1949) is an English
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He is the ninth and current Bishop of Nottingham
.
, and studied mechanical engineering
at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology before working for Daimler Motor Company
and London Transport
. In 1976, he decided upon an ecclesiastical career and joined the Dominican Order
. Making his religious profession
in December 1977, McMahon studied philosophy
at Blackfriars, Oxford
and theology
at Heythrop College
. He was ordained
to the priesthood
by Basil Cardinal Hume on 26 June 1982.
He served as chaplain
of Leicester Polytechnic
from 1984 to 1985, whence he was named pastor
for a London parish
. McMahon later became pastor of St. Dominic's Church in Newcastle-upon-Tyne
(1989), and of St. Dominic's Church in Haverstock Hill (1990). He was elected prior
provincial
of the Dominicans' English province
in both 1992 and 1996. In 2000, he was made prior of Blackfriars at Oxford
.
by Pope John Paul II
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following 8 December from Bishop James McGuinness
, with Bishops Victor Guazzelli
and Patrick O'Donoghue serving as co-consecrators
, in the Cathedral Church of St. Barnabas
.
McMahon's name had been mentioned as a possible successor to Cormac Murphy-O'Connor as Archbishop of Westminster
and to Kevin MacDonald as Archbishop of Southwark
.
priests. He said there is no doctrinal reason preventing them from having wives:
He also supports increasing the role of women in Catholic Church, however he is against ordination of women as priests:
at Hollinwell every Tuesday. In his free time he likes to listen to live music at the Lakeside and Opera North at the Theatre Royal but also admits to being a fan of Nora Jones. He enjoys eating out at one of his two favourite restaurants in Nottingham
, Turkish restaurant Antalya and Dolche, an Italian opposite the Broadway Cinema, which he also likes to frequent.
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
(born 14 June 1949) is an English
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He is the ninth and current Bishop of Nottingham
Bishop of Nottingham (Roman Catholic)
The Bishop of Nottingham is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nottingham in the Province of Westminster.The diocese covers an area of and spans the counties of Derbyshire , Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and North Lincolnshire...
.
Early life and ministry
Malcolm McMahon was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and studied mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology before working for Daimler Motor Company
Daimler Motor Company
The Daimler Motor Company Limited was an independent British motor vehicle manufacturer founded in London by H J Lawson in 1896, which set up its manufacturing base in Coventry. The right to the use of the name Daimler had been purchased simultaneously from Gottlieb Daimler and Daimler Motoren...
and London Transport
London Transport Board
The London Transport Board was the organisation responsible for public transport in London, UK, and its environs from 1963-1969. In common with all London transport authorities from 1933 to 2000, the public name and operational brand of the organisation was London Transport.-History:The...
. In 1976, he decided upon an ecclesiastical career and joined the Dominican Order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
. Making his religious profession
Profession (religious)
The term religious profession is defined in the 1983 Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church in relation to members of religious institutes as follows:By religious profession members make a public vow to observe the three evangelical counsels...
in December 1977, McMahon studied philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at Blackfriars, Oxford
Blackfriars, Oxford
Blackfriars, Oxford houses three distinct institutions: the Priory of the Holy Spirit, the religious house of the friars, whose current prior is John O'Connor OP; Blackfriars Studium, the centre of Theological studies of the English Province of the Dominican Friars ; and Blackfriars...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Heythrop College
Heythrop College
Heythrop College is the specialist philosophy and theology constituent college of the University of London situated in Kensington Square, Kensington, London. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in philosophy, theology and psychology, as well as research in related fields.It was founded...
. He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by Basil Cardinal Hume on 26 June 1982.
He served as 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...
of Leicester Polytechnic
De Montfort University
De Montfort University is a public research and teaching university situated in the medieval Old Town of Leicester, England, adjacent to the River Soar and the Leicester Castle Gardens...
from 1984 to 1985, whence he was named pastor
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
for a London parish
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
. McMahon later became pastor of St. Dominic's Church in Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
(1989), and of St. Dominic's Church in Haverstock Hill (1990). He was elected prior
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
provincial
Provincial superior
A Provincial Superior is a major superior of a religious order acting under the order's Superior General and exercising a general supervision over all the members of that order in a territorial division of the order called a province--similar to but not to be confused with an ecclesiastical...
of the Dominicans' English province
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government, so named by analogy with a secular province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian churches, especially in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion...
in both 1992 and 1996. In 2000, he was made prior of Blackfriars at Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
.
Bishop of Nottingham
On 7 November 2000, McMahon was appointed Bishop of NottinghamBishop of Nottingham (Roman Catholic)
The Bishop of Nottingham is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nottingham in the Province of Westminster.The diocese covers an area of and spans the counties of Derbyshire , Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and North Lincolnshire...
by 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 ...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following 8 December from Bishop James McGuinness
James McGuinness (Roman Catholic Bishop)
James Joseph McGuinness was Bishop of the Diocese of Nottingham.He was born in Derry City, Northern Ireland, and was ordained a priest on 3 June 1950, aged 24, for the Diocese of Nottingham, by Bishop Edward Ellis....
, with Bishops Victor Guazzelli
Victor Guazzelli
Victor Guazzelli was a Roman Catholic priest who served as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Westminster. He was known as a devoted supporter of social justice.-Biography:...
and Patrick O'Donoghue serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
, in the Cathedral Church of St. Barnabas
Nottingham Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of St. Barnabas in the city of Nottingham, England, is a cathedral of the Roman Catholic church. It is the mother church of the Diocese of Nottingham and seat of the Bishop of Nottingham.-Location:...
.
McMahon's name had been mentioned as a possible successor to Cormac Murphy-O'Connor as Archbishop of Westminster
Archbishop of Westminster
The Archbishop of Westminster heads the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster, in England. The incumbent is the Metropolitan of the Province of Westminster and, as a matter of custom, is elected President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, and therefore de facto spokesman...
and to Kevin MacDonald as Archbishop of Southwark
Archbishop of Southwark
The Archbishop of Southwark is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark in England. As such he is the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Province of Southwark....
.
Views
Malcolm McMahon supports the idea of marriage of CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
priests. He said there is no doctrinal reason preventing them from having wives:
"There is no reason why priests shouldn't be allowed to marry.It has always been a matter of discipline rather than doctrine[...]It is a question of justice for those men who want to be priests and to have a wife. Marriage should not bar them from their vocation but they must be married before they are ordained. The justice issue also applies to communities which could be deprived of the Eucharist because there aren’t enough priests."
He also supports increasing the role of women in Catholic Church, however he is against ordination of women as priests:
"I look forward to the day when women play a greater role in ministry and take up more of a place in the Church, but not in sacred orders."
Personal info
The Bishop is one of a dozen clerics who play golfGolf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
at Hollinwell every Tuesday. In his free time he likes to listen to live music at the Lakeside and Opera North at the Theatre Royal but also admits to being a fan of Nora Jones. He enjoys eating out at one of his two favourite restaurants in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, Turkish restaurant Antalya and Dolche, an Italian opposite the Broadway Cinema, which he also likes to frequent.