THE new Archbishop of Dublin, Most Rev Walton Empey, is a popular choice among the laity of the Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough, according to many observers.
For the past 15 years he has been a popular and out going bishop, first in Limerick and Killaloe, and later in Meath and Kildare. He has a reputation for taking a strong interest in the pastoral needs of his clergy and laity, and there had been some talk recently that he was interested in returning to parochial ministry.
"He is a very fine pastor," said one prominent clergyman. "He couldn't be a better pastor, counsellor and friend." In his career, he has succeeded Dr Donald Caird successively as Bishop of Limerick, Bishop of Meath, and now as Archbishop of Dublin.
Bishop Empey acquired his pastoral skills in childhood. The Rev Frank Empey was curate of St James's, Dublin, when his eldest son, Walton Newcombe Francis, was born on October, 26th, 1934. Six months later, the family moved to the Glen of Imaal in Co Wicklow, and then, with successive parochial appointments, to Fenagh, Co Carlow and Enniscorthy.
Frank Empey died at the early age of 53, but two of his four sons were to follow in his footsteps: the new archbishop's youngest brother, the Rev Dr Adrian Empey, is Vicar of St Anne's in Dublin. They have two other brothers: Paul, who is in the motor industry in Ashford, Co Wicklow, and Michael, who lives in England.
Walton Empey went to school in Avoca, Co Wicklow, and Portora Royal School in Enniskillen. As a student he played rugby for both Trinity College, Dublin and his home club in Enniscorthy; shocked parishioners were given the quick brush off by Frank Empey when they raised the fact that his son played rugby on a Sunday and had joined the FCA in Enniscorthy.
After ordination in 1958 he spent two years as a curate in St Paul's, Glenageary and six years in parochial ministry in Canada before returning to Ireland in 1966.
In 1971, he became Dean of Limerick. By then he had a reputation for ecumenism, but he was shunned by the late Bishop Jeremiah Newman, who refused to invite him to a service during Church Unity Week. Dean Empey accused Dr Newman of being "mischievous" in one Church Unity Week address, saying it was tantamount to encouraging Northern violence. Later they clashed again over divorce.
Bishop Empey has spoken regularly on the importance of Church of Ireland involvement in the Defence Forces and the Garda. As Bishop of Meath and Kildare he has visited the Curragh regularly and met the troops in Lebanon on four occasions. He described the 1988 Nobel Peace Prize for the UN peacekeeping forces as "a source of great joy and pride . . . to all Irish people."
His nationalism may explain the surprise with which some Northerners reacted to his election. In the past he has criticised the behaviour of Orange marchers, called on the Church of Ireland to review its attitudes to the Orange Order, criticised Rev Ian Paisley on many occasions, and rebuked the Unionist MP, Mr John Taylor, for a "crude and vitriolic" attack on Cardinal O Fiaich. But he has been quick to attack the Provisional IRA too, pointing out that while demanding human rights for its imprisoned members, the IRA tortured, knee capped, bombed and brutally shot its victims.
Theologically, he is said to be moderately high, with relatively liberal views on divorce and abortion. In 1978 he resigned from a select committee on the ordination of women to the priesthood. But he has accepted the ordination of women, and today there is a relatively high proportion of women priests with parochial responsibility in Meath and Kildare.
When he was younger, Bishop Empey took part in a number of marathon charity walks. Now, he enjoys fishing, walking and bird watching. In the past he has enjoyed holidays in Connemara and Clare, and has led pilgrimages to the Holy Land.
Bishop Empey met his wife, Louie Hall, through their shared interest in the Mission to Seamen. They are strongly committed to their family, and have travelled to the US to visit their son, Karl, in Seattle.
The Empeys have two other sons - Patrick, an APSO volunteer in Malawi, and Kevin, who is in business in Dublin - and a daughter, Sheila, who works in Galway Airport.