Pat Power

Australian Catholic bishop (born 1942)

For other people named Patrick Power, see Patrick Power (disambiguation).

The Most Reverend

Pat Power

DCL

Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus
Diocese| Archdiocese of Canberra–Goulburn
Installed| 8 March 1986
Other post(s)| Titular Bishop of Oreto
Orders
Ordination| 17 July 1965 (Priest) in
St Gregory's Church, Queanbeyan
Consecration| 8 March 1986 (Bishop)[1] in
St Christopher's Cathedral, Canberra
Personal details
Born|

Patrick Percival Power

(1942-02-11) 11 February 1942 (age 82)

Cooma, New South Wales

Nationality| Australian
Denomination| Catholic Church
Occupation| Retired Catholic bishop
Alma mater| St Patrick's College, Manly;
Propaganda Fide College, Rome

Patrick Percival "Pat" Power (born 11 February 1942 in Cooma, New South Wales) is a retired Australian bishop of the Catholic Church.

## Early life

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Power grew up in Queanbeyan and was educated at St Christopher's School and St Edmund's College in Canberra and completed his schooling at Chevalier College, Bowral. After leaving school, he trained for the priesthood at St Columba's College in Springwood and St Patrick's College, Manly.[2]

Power was ordained to the priesthood in Queanbeyan on 17 July 1965 and served in the parishes of Braidwood, Canberra and Goulburn before being asked by Archbishop Thomas Cahill to undertake a doctorate in canon law in 1972 at the Propaganda Fide College, Rome. On the completion of his studies in 1975, Power returned to Canberra and for 10 years served as archbishop's secretary (to three archbishops) and director of the marriage tribunal.[2]

In February 1985, Power became parish priest of his home parish of Queanbeyan.

## Episcopate

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On 18 April 1986, he was consecrated bishop by Archbishop Francis Carroll in St Christopher's Cathedral, Canberra, becoming the fifth Auxiliary Bishop of Canberra–Goulburn.[2]

Since that time he served on bishops' committees for laity, ecumenism, canon law, family and life, social welfare and media. He has also been the Secretary of the Committee for Justice, Development, Ecology and Peace and a member of the Australian Social Justice Council.[2]

Much of his ministry has been in the field of ecumenical and inter-faith relations. He was the first Catholic co-chairman of AUSTARC, the national Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue. He served a number of terms as chair of the ACT Churches Council.[2]

At the 1998 Oceania Synod of Bishops in Rome, Power spoke on marginalised people in society and in the church. Much of his efforts have been directed in this area through Catholic Welfare Australia and through local community organizations in Canberra. He has been a strong advocate for the East Timorese and the Palestinian people, for Aboriginal people, for racial respect, for the unemployed and in opposition to abortion and assisted suicide.[2]

In 2000, Power chaired a major enquiry into poverty in the Australian Capital Territory. He supported the move to have the South Sydney Rabbitohs restored to the national rugby league competition.[2]

Power has said that the church has "retreated from the promising outcomes" of the Second Vatican Council. In a 2010 article, he said that issues such as priestly celibacy, church teaching on sexuality and the role of women in the church must be discussed with Catholic lay people.[3][4] He often expressed support for the ordination of married men.

His early resignation, at age 70, as auxiliary bishop of Canberra and Goulburn was effective from 7 June 2012. He stated that the Vatican's "inability to listen" and the problems of clergy sex abuse and the shortage of priests are the "most vexing issues" facing the church.[5]

## External links

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Wikiquote has quotations related to Patrick Percival Power.

* Australian Catholic Directory

## References

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1. ^ "Bishop Patrick Percival Power". The Hierarchy of the Catholic Church. 7 June 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
2. ^ a b c d e f g "Bishop Power: Biographical Information". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra–Goulburn. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
3. ^ Downie, Graham (8 March 2011). "Bishop's last-chance letter to Pope". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
4. ^ "Patrick Power, Australian Bishop Who Wants Church Reform, Resigns". HuffPost. AP. 8 June 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
5. ^ Zwartz, Barney (13 June 2012). "Sex abuse crisis, lack of priests top issues: bishop". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 13 June 2012.