The Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, has said the manner of leadership employed by bishops is "very much a monarchy style in some ways". The effect of this was that it was also "fraught with dangers: loneliness, out-of-touchness".
He was speaking at the launch of a book entitled Spirituality of Leadership, by author and missionary Fr Donal Dorr, in Dublin yesterday. The book proposes a spirituality that supports authentic leadership in church and State.
Bishop Walsh continued, however, that many in the media who criticised bishops for being out of touch would meet far fewer people in a week than he did himself.
He said bishops were also in danger of surrounding themselves with people who agreed with everything they said.
"Thankfully, there's less and less of that style of person around any more. The style of person who is prepared to tell you exactly what is wrong is very precious," he said.
He told the story of a priest who had been sick and who, six months into Dr Walsh's period as bishop, had sent him "a very harsh letter" because Dr Walsh had not even picked up a phone to inquire how he was. "I was deeply grateful to that priest. He taught me a lesson," he said. As a bishop "there is a great need to be who you are, rather than someone you think you should be."
But above all Christian leadership had to be about love. "If leadership in a Christian context is not based on love, then it doesn't really fit the Christian pattern," he said.
Speaking to The Irish Times later, he said: "All of us [ bishops] need to look at how we lead."
The job had become so multitasked, with so many issues demanding attention, whether in education, the care of priests, finance, property, pastoral matters, and which were being dealt with, for the most part, under the same staff levels as 20 years ago.
Personally he found that he becomes more energised when out with people.
On the return of Bishop Eamonn Casey to Ireland, he said he was "delighted, and delighted at the attitude of the people of Shanaglish.
"I think, at heart, people are understanding and generous. All of us are flawed people and no doubt he has suffered a great deal personally over the years," the bishop said.
"Forgiveness, we all need it. It is a very Christian thing. It would have been desperately sad if he had died outside the country. It would have been a reflection on all of us," he said.
