New Bishop ‘well known’

Press, 4 April 1987, Page 9

New Bishop ‘well known’

Christchurch’s new Catholic Bishop, Monsignor Basil Meeting, will be looked upon as a “local boy” by the city’s Catholic community, says the Bishop’s brother, Mr lan Meeting. '■ Mr Meeting said that in spite of his brother’s absence from Christchurch for almost 18 years, Monsignor Meeting was well known among the Catholic community. “He will definitely be accepted as a local because he is well known in the parishes from Methven to Christchurch — he’s been well known for years. “I would say they will identify with him. People will also have knowledge of his work in Rome,” Mr Meeting said. Mr Meeting said that Monsignor Meeting was

deeply involved tn ecumenical work and had published pamphlets and discussion papers on this topic. Even if younger church people did not know Monsignor Meeting peretnally, they would have heard of his work, he said. ■: Mr Meeting had spoken to his brother in Rome last evening and stid he was “quite delighted” about the appointment “He said he was looking forward to coming home because he’s been away for some years now. I think he's ready — and wanting — to come home." Mr Meeting said his brother was a “straight shooter” and that not much would get past him and he would do an excellent job.