Internationally respected canon law expert, the Bishop of Toowoomba, Most Reverend Robert McGuckin says he is looking forward to working more closely with BBI – The Australian Institute of Theological Education as a newly-appointed Director.
Bishop McGuckin, who has been Bishop of the Queensland diocese since 2012, is an accredited Ecclesiastical Judge, a former lecturer in canon law and has represented the Catholic Bishops of Oceania at international Canon Law conferences.
Bishop McGuckin will take up his new role with BBI following the recent retirement of long-standing BBI Member, the Director of Schools in the Diocese of Broken Bay, Mr Peter Hamill.
Bishop McGuckin is a strong admirer of BBI’s canon law courses, particularly the partnership with Saint Paul University in Canada, allowing Australian students to obtain a pontifically recognised degree in this area without having to travel overseas.
The Toowoomba Bishop is himself a graduate of the Master’s program in canon law at Saint Paul University and he believes the skills gained through these courses are more critical than ever for Church administrators in Australia.
“Whether you are an administrator in Catholic education, healthcare or social services, you need to have a firm understanding of that complex interface between secular or corporate governance and canon law and BBI is helping Church administrators meet this challenge”, Bishop Robert explained.
“As the Church has faced declining vocations to religious life over recent decades, laypeople have increasingly taken up key leadership roles in Catholic institutions and it is our responsibility to equip them with the formation they need to perform these pivotal roles”, he added.
BBI’s Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Gerard Goldman said Bishop McGuckin will be an asset to the Institute’s board.
“Bishop Robert brings with him decades of experience not only in church administration, but also in the fields of ecumenism, finance and professional standards which will greatly enhance our work”, Dr Goldman said.
Bishop McGuckin is a member of the Committee promoting a National Dialogue between the Catholic and Uniting Churches and also chairs the Professional Standards Office for the Catholic Church in Queensland.