Denis Nulty

Denis Nulty KC*HS is the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, Ireland.[1]

The Most Reverend Denis Nulty KC*HS
Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin
Church	Catholic Church
Diocese	Kildare and Leighlin
Appointed	7 May 2013
Installed	4 August 2013
Predecessor	James Moriarty
Orders
Ordination	12 June 1988 by Michael Smith
Consecration	4 August 2013 by Diarmuid Martin
Personal details
Born	7 June 1963 Slane, County Meath, Republic of Ireland
Alma mater	Saint Patrick's College All Hallows College Dublin City University
Motto	Serve the Lord with Gladness
Coat of arms

Early Life and Priestly Ministry

Denis Nulty was born in Slane, County Meath 7 June 1963, the youngest of five children. He was educated locally at St. Patrick's National School, Slane and St. Patrick's Classical School, Navan, County Meath, from where he went to St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, obtaining a BA in 1984 and BD in 1987, he was ordained in 1988 for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Meath.[2] Fr. Nulty took further studies in All Hallows College Dublin, in 2006 and was awarded an MA in Management for the Pastoral and Voluntary Services by Dublin City University.

He served as a curate in Mullingar for ten years until being appointed Parish Priest of Saint Mary’s, Drogheda in 1998 (the youngest parish priest at the time).[3]

Episcopal Ministry

In May 2013, Pope Francis named Fr. Nulty as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin.[4]

He was ordained on 4 August 2013 by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. Upon his ordination, Nulty became the youngest bishop in Ireland, succeeding Archbishop Eamon Martin by two years. In light of the Government decision to hold a referendum on gay marriage in 2015, Bishop Nulty said in November 2013 said there is always a necessity to treat homosexuals with compassion. He added that the very nature of marriage and children and their importance to society is worth protecting. He said: "The Catholic Church will continue to hold that the differences between a man and woman are not accidental to marriage but fundamental to it and that children have a natural right to a mother and a father and that this is the best environment for them where possible."[5]

In May 2019 he issued a statement ahead of the referendum on the question of lowering the threshold for divorce suggesting "the objective of the proposed referendum is not to support marriage, rather to liberalise divorce.... tt is imperative that we continue to work together to promote marriage and family.”[6]

He is active on social media, one of the few Irish bishops to tweet regularly and engage more widely with his diocese - @BishopDNulty

References

1. "Rinunce E Nomine: Nomina de Vescovo di Kildare e Leighlin" [Resignations and Appointments: Appointment of the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin] (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 7 May 2013. Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
2. "Our New Bishop" (PDF). Tullow, Grange & Ardattin Newsletter. 19 May 2013. Archived from the original (pdf) on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
3. "Statement by Bishop Smith on appointment of Father Denis Nulty as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin" (Press release). Irish Conference of Catholic Bishops. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
4. "Fr. Denis Nulty appointed Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin". Kildare & Leighlin Diocese. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
5. "Govt will 'actively support' same-sex marriage referendum in 2015". RTÉ News. 6 November 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
6. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/catholics-urged-to-reflect-deeply-before-voting-in-divorce-referendum-1.3897288