Raymond Field

Raymond W. Field KC*HS (born 24 May 1944) is an Irish former Roman Catholic prelate who served as auxiliary bishop of Dublin between 1997 and 2019.

Early life and education Field was born in Drumcondra, Dublin on 24 May 1944. He attended primary and secondary school at O'Connell School before studying for the priesthood at Holy Cross College.

Field was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Dublin on 17 May 1970.

Field also served as a teacher at Plunket College of Further Education and as chaplain at Mountjoy Prison and St Patrick's Institution. He was also appointed head chaplain to the Defence Forces, and was assistant diocesan director of the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council (now Accord) for thirteen years.

Episcopal ministry Field was appointed auxiliary bishop-elect of Dublin and titular bishop-elect of Árd Mór, with responsibility for the deaneries of Blanchardstown, Fingal North and Maynooth, by Pope John Paul II on 28 May 1997. He was consecrated by the Archbishop of Dublin, Desmond Connell, on 21 September in St Andrew's Church, Westland Row, Dublin.

Following his appointment as archdiocesan health care representative, Field co-ordinated local preparations for World Day of the Sick celebrations since 2002, while on a national level, he chaired the Council for Justice and Peace and the Council for Immigrants of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference.

During Midnight Mass in St Mary's Pro-Cathedral on 24 December, Field and fellow auxiliary bishop Éamonn Walsh offered their apologies to victims of clerical sexual abuse and announced that they had tendered their resignations as auxiliary bishops of Dublin to Pope Benedict XVI. In a joint statement, Field and Walsh expressed their hope that their resignations "may help to bring the peace and reconciliation of Jesus Christ to the victims (and) survivors of child sexual abuse". This followed the resignations of two former auxiliary bishops of Dublin, James Moriarty and Donal Murray, from their roles as Bishops of Kildare and Leighlin and Limerick respectively.

The Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, had initially called for Field and Walsh to resign, but both initially refused. In his homily at Midnight Mass, Martin remarked that the Church had placed its self-interest above the rights of its parishioners, particularly innocent children, for too long, adding that they, as well as the dedicated majority of priests, had been betrayed by their leaders.

Return to ministry It was announced on 11 August 2010 that Field's letter of resignation had not been accepted by Pope Benedict XVI.

It was subsequently announced that he would remain as an auxiliary bishop with "revised responsibilities within the diocese".

It was subsequently announced on 27 June that his resignation has been accepted by Pope Francis.