Edward Bede Clancy

Edward Bede Clancy, AC (born 13 December 1923) is an Australian ecclesiastic. He was the seventh Roman Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Australia, from 1983 to 2001. He was made Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria in Vallicella in 1988.
==Early life and ordination==
Clancy was born in Lithgow. He has stated that he wanted to be a priest from an early age, and that he celebrated his first Mass while still a child, to the amusement of his brother and sisters. After completing his studies at Marist Brothers' College, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1949, the same year as Australian Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy. 
==Priest and bishop==
He continued his education, eventually earning his Doctorate in Theology in 1965. He then started as a teacher, and later accepting the position of Chaplain at the University of Sydney. He also served as the official spokesperson for the archdiocese at this time, and became very well known on that basis.
On 19 January 1974, he was ordained titular Bishop of Árd Carna, and Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney. On 24 November 1978, he was appointed Archbishop of Canberra (and Goulburn). In the little over four years that he was Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn, Archbishop Clancy was respected by the people of Canberra Goulburn as a very friendly and approachable Archbishop who was also very suppotive of his people and his Priests. He had a great rapport with young people in the Archdiocese.
==Archbishop and Cardinal==
On 12 February 1983 he was appointed Archbishop of Sydney, and on 28 June 1988 he was elevated to Cardinal. He also continued his education career throughout this time, becoming the Chancellor of Australian Catholic University in 1992.
Major work on St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney took place under his episcopacy. In 1999 a substantial new pipe organ was built by Orgues Létourneau Ltée of Montreal, Québec. In the year 2000 the spires of the Cathedral were finally completed.
It was also under his watch that the tridentine neo-Gothic diocesan seminary of St Patrick at Manly (founded by Cardinal Patrick Moran in 1889) was closed, and a new modern seminary, called "Good Shepherd Seminary" built to replace it.
==Abuse scandal==
His tenure was not without controversy because of allegations surrounding the abuse scandal within his diocese.
==Retirement==
After his retirement as Archbishop, in the period from 21 October (when George Pell was made Cardinal) until his own 80th birthday on 13 December 2003, there were three Australian Cardinal electors (had a Papal election become necessary) including George Pell and Edward Idris Cassidy.
==References==
*"Edward Bede Clancy", Biography Resource Center Online. Gale Group, 2001.
==External links==
* Cardinal Clancy on Catholic hierarchy.org
* Cardinal Clancy on "What the Cardinals believe"
* Cardinal Clancy bio on the Sydney Archdiocesan website
* article on the closure of St Patrick's Seminary
* the new Sydney based Seminary of the Good Shepherd
* Létourneau Organ Opus 64
Category:1923 births
Category:Living people
Category:Roman Catholic archbishops in Australia
Category:Australians of Irish descent
Category:Australian cardinals
Category:Companions of the Order of Australia
Category:Cardinals created by Pope John Paul II
de:Edward Bede Clancy
fr:Edward Bede Clancy
it:Edward Bede Clancy
no:Edward Bede Clancy
pl:Edward Bede Clancy
pt:Edward Bede Clancy
ru:Клэнси, Эдуард Бид
fi:Edward Bede Clancy