New Cardinal has Drogheda connection
Saturday, January 28th, 2012

While Ireland may not be getting a new member of the College of Cardinals next February, a Canadian Archbishop who is due to be appointed to the rank of Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI next month has revealed that he is proud of his Irish lineage. 

The Archbishop of Toronto, Thomas Collins, will be among 22 new appointees to the College of Cardinals on February 18.

Speaking to the Drogheda Independent newspaper, the Archbishop revealed that his family had strong connections in the town of Drogheda.  Although he is a native of Guelph in Ontario, his relatives left Drogheda in 1827 although he is unsure from what part of the town they came. 

He said, “The Collins family, who owned the hardware store in the town, is the same family.” 

He said that although he does not have connections with his Drogheda relations these days, he did visit the town in 2008 on a brief visit while passing through Ireland.

Speaking about his elevation to the College of Cardinals he said, “to be a member of the College of Cardinals, really is a great honour and I’m very grateful for it.”  

Archbishop Collins who became Archbishop of Canada's largest Catholic Diocese in 2007 was widely tipped for elevation to the College of Cardinals in 2010 but was passed over on that occasion because it was felt that, at 63, he was too young. 

He is one of Canada's most respected Bishop's and drew much comment and respect when speaking about abuse scandals in recent years.  He was also one of the nine Bishops who visited Ireland to help investigate the church's response to the sexual abuse crisis.

by Sean Ryan