Peter Smith (archbishop)

infobox bishopbiog
name = Peter Smith


religion = Roman Catholic Church
See = Cardiff
Title = Archbishop of Cardiff
Period = October 26, 2001—present
Predecessor = John Aloysius Ward
Successor = incumbent
date of birth = Birth date and age|1943|10|21|mf=y
place of birth = London, Great Britain|infobox bishopstyles
name=Peter Smith
dipstyle=The Most Reverend
offstyle=Your Grace
relstyle=Monsignor
deathstyle=not applicable |

Peter Smith (born October 21, 1943) is an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, currently serving as Metropolitan Archbishop of Cardiff.

Peter Smith was born in Battersea, he studied at Clapham College,and at Exeter University (where he earned his bachelor's degree in law), St. John's Seminary in Wonersh, and the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome (earning his Doctorate in Canon Law). He was ordained to the priesthood on July 5, 1972.

After doing pastoral work from 1972 to 1974, Father Smith began teaching canon law at his "alma mater" St. John's Seminary in 1977. He then served as a pastor in Thornton Heath (1984-1985), and as the rector of St. John's Seminary (1985-1995).

On March 21, 1995, Smith was appointed Bishop of East Anglia by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on the following May 21 from Basil Cardinal Hume, OSB, with Archbishop Michael Bowen and Bishop Alan Clark serving as co-consecrators. Smith was later named Archbishop of Cardiff on October 26, 2001, following the resignation of the Capuchin John Ward amid a controversy about paedophile priests in the archdiocese [BBC News. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/1691652.stm New Archbishop of Cardiff enthroned] December 4, 2001] [BBC News. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/3201568.stm Frail Pope sees Wales' archbishop] October 18, 2003] . In regard to these sexual abuse cases, he declared that he "wanted to help people bind up the wounds and bring healing..." [BBC News. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/1621594.stm New Archbishop's reconciliation call] October 26, 2001] Smith also voiced his opposition to living wills in 2004, fearing that "a proxy could make a decision to do away with someone for the motive of killing someone" [BBC News. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/uk_news/4095869.stm Living wills: 'My right to choose'] December 14, 2004] .

The Archbishop has chaired the Catholic Truth Society since 1993, and the Department for Christian Responsibility and Citizenship within the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales since 1998. He was also Chairman of the Central Religious Advisory Committee (CRAC) of the BBC and ITC from 2001 to 2004. In 2002 Smith was made a Sub-Prelate and Chaplain of the Venerable Order of Saint John, and later an Honorary Fellow of the University of Wales, Lampeter in 2004 and also of Cardiff University in 2006.

External links

* [http://www.rcadc.co.uk/archbishop_biographicaldetails.htm Archdiocese of Cardiff, "Archbishop, Biographical Details"]
* [http://www.catholic-ew.org.uk/dioc/biogs/smith.htm Catholic Church in England & Wales]
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bsmithpe.html Catholic-Hierarchy]

References