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{{Short description|Catholic archbishop of Melbourne, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2011}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2011}}
{{Infobox Archbishop
{{Infobox Christian leader
| honorific-prefix = The Most Reverend
| honorific-prefix = The Most Reverend Sir
| name = Sir Frank Little
| name = Frank Little
| archbishop_of = 6th [[Archbishop]] [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne|of Melbourne]]
| archbishop_of = 6th [[Archbishop]] [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne|of Melbourne]]
| honorific-suffix = [[Order of the British Empire|KBE]]
| honorific-suffix = [[Order of the British Empire|KBE]]
| image =
| image = Frank Little 2 b.jpg
| caption =
| image_size = 180px
| caption = Little in 2006
| ordination = 3 October 1950 ([[Catholic priest|Priest]]) in [[Propaganda Fide|Propaganda Fide College]], [[Rome]],
| ordination = 3 October 1950 ([[Catholic priest|Priest]]) in [[Propaganda Fide|Propaganda Fide College]], [[Rome]],
| ordained_by = [[Pietro Fumasoni Biondi|Pietro Fumasoni Cardinal Biondi]]
| ordained_by = [[Pietro Fumasoni Biondi]]
| consecration = 21 February 1973 ([[Roman Catholic bishop|Bishop]]) in Melbourne
| consecration = 21 February 1973
| consecrated_by = [[James Knox]]
| consecrated_by = [[James Knox]]
| enthroned = 1 July 1974
| enthroned = 1 July 1974
Line 18: Line 20:
| diocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne|Melbourne]]
| diocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne|Melbourne]]
| see =
| see =
| predecessor = [[James Cardinal Knox]]
| predecessor = [[James Knox]]
| successor = [[George Pell]]
| successor = [[George Pell]]
| birth_name = Thomas Francis Little
| birth_name = Thomas Francis Little
| birth_date = {{birth date|1925|11|30|df=yes}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1925|11|30|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Australia]]
| birth_place = [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Australia]]
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| occupation = Cleric
| occupation = Cleric
| profession = Roman Catholic bishop
| profession = Roman Catholic bishop
| alma_mater = [[Corpus Christi College, Melbourne]];<br>[[Propaganda Fide]], Rome;<br>[[Pontifical Urban University]]
| alma_mater = [[Corpus Christi College, Melbourne]];<br />[[Propaganda Fide]], Rome;<br />[[Pontifical Urban University]]
| signature =
| signature =
}}
}}
{{infobox bishopstyles
{{Infobox bishopstyles
|name=Sir Frank Little
|name=Sir Frank Little
|dipstyle=[[The Most Reverend]]
|dipstyle=[[The Most Reverend]]
|offstyle=[[Your Grace]]
|offstyle=[[Your Grace]]
|relstyle=[[Archbishop]]
|relstyle=[[Archbishop]]
|deathstyle= |}}
|deathstyle=
}}
⚫
'''[[The Most Reverend|The Most Rev.]] Sir Thomas Francis "Frank" Little''',<ref name="Sir Frank">Commonly known as "Sir Frank" as in this story here {{cite news|last=Hannan|first=Ewin|title=Archbishop Frank Little dies at 82|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/news/archbishop-frank-little-dies-at-82/story-e6frg6of-1111116011488|accessdate=20 March 2014|newspaper=The Australian|date=9 April 2008}}</ref> [[Order of the British Empire|KBE]] (30 November 1925 – 7 April 2008<ref>{{Harvnb|Brolly|2008}} and {{Harvnb|Zwartz|2008}} both say Little died on 7 April. Note that a death notice placed in ''The Age'' newspaper by "the Bishops, Priests and people of the Archdiocese of Melbourne" claimed that Little "died peacefully at home on the [morning of] 8 April 2008" (''The Age'', 10 April 2008, page 13).</ref>), was an Australian bishop. He was the sixth [[Roman Catholic]] [[Archbishop]] [[Archdiocese of Melbourne|of Melbourne]]. He was appointed by [[Pope]] [[Paul VI]] on 1 July 1974 and retired in 1996; he was succeeded by [[The Most Reverend|The Most Rev.]] [[Doctor (title)|Dr]] [[George Pell]] (as he was [[Style (manner of address)|styled]] at the time). On retirement he was styled [[Bishop Emeritus|Archbishop Emeritus]] in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/blittle.html |title=Archbishop Thomas Francis Little |work=The Catholic Hierarchy |date=19 February 2011 |accessdate=27 January 2012 }}</ref> The [[Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse]] found that Archbishop Little had led a culture of secrecy in the Melbourne archdiocese designed to hide complaints against several priests and protect the church's reputation from scandal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/little-legacy-lost-after-school-wipes-former-archbishops-name-from-its-history-20171206-gzzr9f.html|title=Little legacy lost after school wipes former archbishop's name from school building|last=Cunningham|first=Melissa|date=2017-12-06|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=2018-11-08}}</ref>


⚫
'''Sir Thomas Francis Little'''<ref name="Sir Frank">Commonly known as "Sir Frank" as in this story here {{cite news |last=Hannan |first=Ewin |title=Archbishop Frank Little dies at 82 |url = http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/news/archbishop-frank-little-dies-at-82/story-e6frg6of-1111116011488 |access-date=20 March 2014 |newspaper = The Australian |date=9 April 2008 }}</ref> [[Order of the British Empire|KBE]] (30 November 1925 – 7 April 2008{{NoteTag|{{Harvnb|Brolly|2008}} and {{Harvnb|Zwartz|2008}} both say Little died on 7 April. Note that a death notice placed in ''The Age'' newspaper by "the Bishops, Priests and people of the Archdiocese of Melbourne" stated that Little "died peacefully at home on the [morning of] 8 April 2008" (''The Age'', 10 April 2008, page 13).}}) was an Australian bishop. He was the sixth [[Roman Catholic]] [[Archbishop]] [[Archdiocese of Melbourne|of Melbourne]]. He was appointed by [[Pope]] [[Paul VI]] on 1 July 1974 and retired in 1996; he was succeeded by [[the Most Reverend]] [[George Pell]] (as he was [[Style (manner of address)|styled]] at the time). On retirement he was styled [[Bishop Emeritus|Archbishop Emeritus]] in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/blittle.html |title=Archbishop Thomas Francis Little |website=The Catholic Hierarchy |date=19 February 2011 |access-date=27 January 2012 }}</ref> The [[Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse]] found that Little had led a culture of secrecy in the Melbourne archdiocese designed to hide complaints against several priests and protect the church's reputation from scandal.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/little-legacy-lost-after-school-wipes-former-archbishops-name-from-its-history-20171206-gzzr9f.html |title = Little legacy lost after school wipes former archbishop's name from school building |last=Cunningham |first=Melissa |date=6 December 2017 |website=The Age|language=en-AU |access-date=8 November 2018 }}</ref>
⚫
==Life and career==


⚫
==Life and career==
===Early life and background===
===Early life and background===
Little's father, Gerald Thompson Little, was a [[surveyor]] and [[engineer]] and his mother was the former Kathleen Annie McCormack. Both were from metropolitan [[Melbourne]]. Little was educated at St Columba's School, [[Essendon, Victoria|Essendon]], then at [[Congregation of Christian Brothers|St Monica's Christian Brothers College]], [[Moonee Ponds]]. He completed his [[secondary education]] as a [[boarding school|boarder]] at [[St Patrick's College, Ballarat]].<ref name=obit/>
Little's father, Gerald Thompson Little, was a [[surveyor]] and [[engineer]] and his mother was Kathleen Annie McCormack. Both were from metropolitan [[Melbourne]]. Little was educated at St Columba's School, [[Essendon, Victoria|Essendon]], then at [[Congregation of Christian Brothers|St Monica's Christian Brothers College]], [[Moonee Ponds]]. He completed his [[secondary education]] as a [[boarding school|boarder]] at [[St Patrick's College, Ballarat]].<ref name=obit/>


===Early priesthood===
===Early priesthood===
Little commenced training for the [[priesthood]] in 1943. In that year he entered [[Corpus Christi College, Melbourne|Corpus Christi College]], a [[seminary]] at [[Werribee]]. Little went to [[Rome]] in 1947 to study at the [[Propaganda Fide]] College. He was [[ordination|ordained]] by [[His Eminence]] [[Pietro Fumasoni Biondi|Pietro Fumasoni Cardinal Biondi]], [[Prefect]] of the [[Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith]], on 3 October 1950 in the chapel of the college. For the next three years he studied for a [[doctorate]] at the [[Pontifical Urban University]] in Rome. He was awarded a doctorate in 1953.<ref name=obit/>
Little commenced training for the [[priesthood]] in 1943. In that year he entered [[Corpus Christi College, Melbourne|Corpus Christi College]], a [[seminary]] at [[Werribee]]. Little went to [[Rome]] in 1947 to study at the [[Propaganda Fide]] College. He was [[ordination|ordained]] by Cardinal [[Pietro Fumasoni Biondi]], [[Prefect]] of the [[Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith]], on 3 October 1950 in the chapel of the college. For the next three years he studied for a [[doctorate]] at the [[Pontifical Urban University]] in Rome. He was awarded a doctorate in 1953.<ref name=obit/>


In 1953 Little returned to Melbourne. He was appointed assistant priest to [[Carlton, Victoria|Carlton]], then appointed assistant at [[St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne|St Patrick's Cathedral]] in 1955. From 1956 until 1959 he worked as secretary to the apostolic delegate, Archbishop Carboni, in [[Sydney]].<ref name=obit/> In 1959, Little again returned to Melbourne as assistant priest at St Patrick's Cathedral. In 1965 he became the [[dean (religion)|dean]] of the cathedral, and then in 1971 parish priest of St Ambrose's [[Brunswick, Victoria|Brunswick]].
In 1953, Little returned to Melbourne. He was appointed assistant priest to [[Carlton, Victoria|Carlton]], then appointed assistant at [[St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne]] in 1955. From 1956 until 1959 he worked as secretary to the apostolic delegate, Archbishop Carboni, in [[Sydney]].<ref name=obit/> In 1959, Little again returned to Melbourne as assistant priest at St Patrick's Cathedral. In 1965 he became the [[dean (religion)|dean]] of the cathedral and then, in 1971, parish priest of St Ambrose's [[Brunswick, Victoria|Brunswick]]. During these years he was involved in pastoral work with the large number of migrants finding a new home in Australia, especially within the Italian community. He was also a lecturer at the provincial seminary, a member of the Diocesan Ecumenical Affairs Commission, a member and chair of Victorian Action for World Development, a member of the organising committee for the Melbourne Eucharistic Congress and [[episcopal vicar]] for the apostolate of the laity.


===Episcopate===
During those years he was involved in pastoral work with the large number of migrants finding a new home in Australia, especially within the Italian community. He was also a lecturer in the provincial seminary, a member of the Diocesan Ecumenical Affairs Commission, a member and Chair of Victorian Action for World Development, a member of the organising committee for the Melbourne Eucharistic Congress, and [[Episcopal Vicar]] for the apostolate of the laity.
⚫
Little was consecrated a bishop on 21 February 1973 by [[the Most Reverend]] [[James Cardinal Knox|James Knox]], [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne|Archbishop of Melbourne]] (later created, in March 1973, [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] Knox), during the [[International Eucharistic Congress]] then being held in [[Melbourne]]. In 1973 he was appointed as an [[auxiliary bishop]] of Melbourne and Titular Bishop of [[Temuniana]]. He lived in Moonee Ponds as both a [[parish priest]] and a regional bishop with pastoral responsibility for the north-western region of Melbourne. In 1974, he succeeded Cardinal Knox as Archbishop of Melbourne upon Knox's appointment as [[Prefect]] of the [[Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments]].


⚫
In 1983, Little attended the Synod of Bishops in Rome, themed "Reconciliation". During his time as Archbishop of Melbourne his support of the education and renewal for the Catholic community expressed itself in such initiatives as the publication of the religious education guidelines, the launch of the RENEW program, the establishment of deaneries, and the "Tomorrow's Church" process. Little was committed to the continuing formation of [[laity]] and priests. He was known in Melbourne for his support for the [[Essendon Football Club]]. In July 1996 his resignation from the office of archbishop, for reasons of health, was accepted by the [[Pope]].<ref name=obit>{{cite news |last=Brolly |first=Mark |title = Gentle leader of flock in changing era |newspaper = The Age |date=10 April 2008 |page=14 |type = obituary |url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/gentle-leader-of-flock-in-changing-era/2008/04/09/1207420486495.html |access-date=14 November 2009 }}</ref>
===Bishopric===
⚫
He was consecrated a bishop on 21 February 1973 by [[His Grace]] [[The Most Reverend|The Most Rev.]] [[Doctor (title)|Dr]] [[James Cardinal Knox|James Knox]], [[Archbishop of Melbourne]] (later created, in March 1973, [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] Knox), during the [[International Eucharistic Congress]] then being held in [[Melbourne]]. In 1973 he was appointed as an [[auxiliary bishop]] of Melbourne and Titular Bishop of [[Temuniana]]. He lived in Moonee Ponds as both a [[parish priest]] and a regional bishop with pastoral responsibility for the north-western region of Melbourne. In 1974, he succeeded [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] Knox as [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne|Archbishop of Melbourne]] upon Knox's appointment as [[Prefect]] of the [[Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments]].

⚫
In 1983 he attended the Synod of Bishops in Rome, themed "Reconciliation". During his time as Archbishop of Melbourne his support of the education and renewal for the Catholic community expressed itself in such initiatives as the publication of the religious education guidelines, the launch of the RENEW program, the establishment of deaneries, and the "Tomorrow's Church" process. Little was committed to the continuing formation of [[laity]] and priests. He was known in Melbourne for his support for the [[Essendon Football Club]]. In July 1996 his resignation from the office of archbishop, for reasons of health, was accepted by the [[Pope]].<ref name=obit>{{cite news |last=Brolly |first=Mark |title=Gentle leader of flock in changing era |work=The Age |date=10 April 2008 |page=14|format=obituary |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/gentle-leader-of-flock-in-changing-era/2008/04/09/1207420486495.html |accessdate=14 November 2009}}</ref>


In the 1977 [[Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Silver Jubilee]] [[Commonwealth Realms orders and decorations|honours]] he was appointed a [[Order of the British Empire|Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (KBE).<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=47234|supp=y|page=7104|date=10 June 1977}}</ref> On 10 April 1992 he was awarded an honorary doctorate in [[theology]] by the [[Melbourne College of Divinity]], particularly for his work for [[ecumenism]] and theological education in the archdiocese.<ref name=obit/>
In the 1977 [[Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Silver Jubilee]] [[Commonwealth Realms orders and decorations|honours]] he was appointed a [[Order of the British Empire|Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (KBE).<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=47234|supp=y|page=7104|date=10 June 1977}}</ref> On 10 April 1992 he was awarded an honorary doctorate in [[theology]] by the [[Melbourne College of Divinity]], particularly for his work for [[ecumenism]] and theological education in the archdiocese.<ref name=obit/>


In 2002 there were media reports that Little failed to address issues associated with the [[sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic archdiocese of Melbourne]], specifically relating to Father Wilfred "Billy" Baker, of [[Gladstone Park, Victoria|Gladstone Park]], [[Eltham, Victoria|Eltham]] and [[North Richmond, Victoria|North Richmond]] parishes.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/05/03/1019441435037.html |title=Speak no evil |author=Ellingsen, Peter |date=4 May 2002 |work=The Age |accessdate=30 January 2012 }}</ref>
In 2002 there were media reports that Little failed to address issues associated with the [[sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic archdiocese of Melbourne]], specifically relating to Father Wilfred "Billy" Baker, of [[Gladstone Park, Victoria|Gladstone Park]], [[Eltham, Victoria|Eltham]] and [[North Richmond, Victoria|North Richmond]] parishes.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/05/03/1019441435037.html |title=Speak no evil |last=Ellingsen |first = Peter |date=4 May 2002 |newspaper = The Age |access-date=30 January 2012 }}</ref>


In 2013, the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into abuse of children was told by Archbishop [[Denis Hart]] that Little had covered up paedophile priests and moved them to other parishes where they would abuse again.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/the-man-in-the-big-chair-20130526-2n50u.html |title=The man in the big chair |author=Schwartz, Barney |date=27 May 2013 |work=The Age |accessdate=27 May 2013 }}</ref>
In 2013, the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into abuse of children was told by Archbishop [[Denis Hart]] that Little had covered up paedophile priests and moved them to other parishes where they would abuse again.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/the-man-in-the-big-chair-20130526-2n50u.html |title = The man in the big chair |last=Zwartz |first = Barney |date=27 May 2013 |newspaper = The Age |access-date=27 May 2013 }}</ref>


The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse concluded that Little had “dismissed or ignored serious allegations of child sexual abuse against a number of priests” between 1974 and 1996.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/5102536/royal-commission-slams-former-ballarat-bishop-in-melbourne-report/|title=Royal Commission slams former Ballarat Bishop in Melbourne report|last=Wrigley|first=Brendan|date=2017-12-05|work=The Courier|access-date=2017-12-20|language=en}}</ref>
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse concluded that Little had "dismissed or ignored serious allegations of child sexual abuse against a number of priests" between 1974 and 1996.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/5102536/royal-commission-slams-former-ballarat-bishop-in-melbourne-report/ |title = Royal Commission slams former Ballarat Bishop in Melbourne report |last=Wrigley |first=Brendan |date=5 December 2017 |newspaper=The Courier |access-date=20 December 2017 |language=en-AU }}</ref>


St Patrick's College in Ballarat has stated that it would remove Little's name from a building which had been named in his honour and revoke his status as an inducted "Legend of the College".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/5105161/little-legacy-lost-after-st-pats-wipes-former-archbishops-name/|title=Little legacy lost after St Pat’s wipes former archbishop's name|last=Cunningham|first=Melissa|date=2017-12-06|work=The Courier|access-date=2017-12-20|language=en}}</ref>
St Patrick's College in Ballarat has stated that it would remove Little's name from a building which had been named in his honour and revoke his status as an inducted "Legend of the College".<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/5105161/little-legacy-lost-after-st-pats-wipes-former-archbishops-name/ |title = Little legacy lost after St Pat's wipes former archbishop's name |last=Cunningham |first=Melissa |date=6 December 2017 |newspaper=The Courier |access-date=20 December 2017 |language=en-AU }}</ref>


==Death==
== Death ==
Archbishop Sir Frank Little died in April 2008 and was buried in the [[crypt]] of St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne.<ref name="Age2008">{{cite news |last=Zwartz |first=Barney |title=Mild-mannered Archbishop Little dead at 82 |work=The Age |date=9 April 2008 |page=4 |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/mildmannered-archbishop-little-dead-at-82/2008/04/08/1207420390706.html |accessdate=14 November 2009}}</ref>
Little died in April 2008 and was buried in the [[crypt]] of St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne.<ref name="Age2008">{{cite news |last=Zwartz |first=Barney |title = Mild-mannered Archbishop Little dead at 82 |newspaper = The Age |date=9 April 2008 |page = 4 |url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/mildmannered-archbishop-little-dead-at-82/2008/04/08/1207420390706.html |access-date = 14 November 2009 }}</ref>


==See also==
== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}
⚫
{{portal bar|Biography|Catholicism|Australia}}


==References==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
== External links ==
*[http://www.melbourne.catholic.org.au/bishops/aefranklittle.htm Profile]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060820090436/http://melbourne.catholic.org.au/bishops/aefranklittle.htm Profile]


{{Clear}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|ca}}
{{s-rel|ca}}
{{succession box|
{{succession box
title=[[Archdiocese of Melbourne|Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne]]|
|title=[[Archdiocese of Melbourne|Archbishop of Melbourne]]
before=[[James Knox]]|
|before=[[James Knox]]
after=[[George Pell]]|
|after=[[George Pell]]
years=1974–1996|
|years=1974–1996
}}
}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}

{{Roman Catholic Archbishops of Melbourne}}
{{Roman Catholic Archbishops of Melbourne}}
⚫
{{Portal bar|Biography|Catholicism|Australia}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


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[[Category:Australian Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Australian Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Religious leaders from Melbourne]]
[[Category:Religious leaders from Melbourne]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Archbishops of Melbourne]]
[[Category:Catholic Church sexual abuse scandals in Australia]]
[[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic archbishops of Melbourne]]
[[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops in Australia]]
[[Category:People educated at St Patrick's College, Ballarat]]
[[Category:People educated at St Patrick's College, Ballarat]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Melbourne]]
[[Category:Australian Roman Catholic archbishops]]

Latest revision as of 12:58, 11 April 2024

The Most Reverend Sir

Frank Little

KBE
6th Archbishop of Melbourne
Little in 2006
DioceseMelbourne
Installed1 July 1974
Term ended16 July 1996
PredecessorJames Knox
SuccessorGeorge Pell
Orders
Ordination3 October 1950 (Priest) in Propaganda Fide College, Rome,
by Pietro Fumasoni Biondi
Consecration21 February 1973
by James Knox
Personal details
Born
Thomas Francis Little

(1925-11-30)30 November 1925
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Died7 April 2008(2008-04-07) (aged 82)
Melbourne
BuriedSt Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne
NationalityAustralian
DenominationRoman Catholic
OccupationCleric
ProfessionRoman Catholic bishop
Alma materCorpus Christi College, Melbourne;
Propaganda Fide, Rome;
Pontifical Urban University
Styles of
Sir Frank Little
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Grace
Religious styleArchbishop

Sir Thomas Francis Little[1] KBE (30 November 1925 – 7 April 2008[note 1]) was an Australian bishop. He was the sixth Roman Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne. He was appointed by Pope Paul VI on 1 July 1974 and retired in 1996; he was succeeded by the Most Reverend George Pell (as he was styled at the time). On retirement he was styled Archbishop Emeritus in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.[2] The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found that Little had led a culture of secrecy in the Melbourne archdiocese designed to hide complaints against several priests and protect the church's reputation from scandal.[3]

Life and career

[edit]

Early life and background

[edit]

Little's father, Gerald Thompson Little, was a surveyor and engineer and his mother was Kathleen Annie McCormack. Both were from metropolitan Melbourne. Little was educated at St Columba's School, Essendon, then at St Monica's Christian Brothers College, Moonee Ponds. He completed his secondary education as a boarder at St Patrick's College, Ballarat.[4]

Early priesthood

[edit]

Little commenced training for the priesthood in 1943. In that year he entered Corpus Christi College, a seminary at Werribee. Little went to Rome in 1947 to study at the Propaganda Fide College. He was ordained by Cardinal Pietro Fumasoni Biondi, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, on 3 October 1950 in the chapel of the college. For the next three years he studied for a doctorate at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome. He was awarded a doctorate in 1953.[4]

In 1953, Little returned to Melbourne. He was appointed assistant priest to Carlton, then appointed assistant at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne in 1955. From 1956 until 1959 he worked as secretary to the apostolic delegate, Archbishop Carboni, in Sydney.[4] In 1959, Little again returned to Melbourne as assistant priest at St Patrick's Cathedral. In 1965 he became the dean of the cathedral and then, in 1971, parish priest of St Ambrose's Brunswick. During these years he was involved in pastoral work with the large number of migrants finding a new home in Australia, especially within the Italian community. He was also a lecturer at the provincial seminary, a member of the Diocesan Ecumenical Affairs Commission, a member and chair of Victorian Action for World Development, a member of the organising committee for the Melbourne Eucharistic Congress and episcopal vicar for the apostolate of the laity.

Episcopate

[edit]

Little was consecrated a bishop on 21 February 1973 by the Most Reverend James Knox, Archbishop of Melbourne (later created, in March 1973, Cardinal Knox), during the International Eucharistic Congress then being held in Melbourne. In 1973 he was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of Melbourne and Titular Bishop of Temuniana. He lived in Moonee Ponds as both a parish priest and a regional bishop with pastoral responsibility for the north-western region of Melbourne. In 1974, he succeeded Cardinal Knox as Archbishop of Melbourne upon Knox's appointment as Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

In 1983, Little attended the Synod of Bishops in Rome, themed "Reconciliation". During his time as Archbishop of Melbourne his support of the education and renewal for the Catholic community expressed itself in such initiatives as the publication of the religious education guidelines, the launch of the RENEW program, the establishment of deaneries, and the "Tomorrow's Church" process. Little was committed to the continuing formation of laity and priests. He was known in Melbourne for his support for the Essendon Football Club. In July 1996 his resignation from the office of archbishop, for reasons of health, was accepted by the Pope.[4]

In the 1977 Silver Jubilee honours he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).[5] On 10 April 1992 he was awarded an honorary doctorate in theology by the Melbourne College of Divinity, particularly for his work for ecumenism and theological education in the archdiocese.[4]

In 2002 there were media reports that Little failed to address issues associated with the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic archdiocese of Melbourne, specifically relating to Father Wilfred "Billy" Baker, of Gladstone Park, Eltham and North Richmond parishes.[6]

In 2013, the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into abuse of children was told by Archbishop Denis Hart that Little had covered up paedophile priests and moved them to other parishes where they would abuse again.[7]

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse concluded that Little had "dismissed or ignored serious allegations of child sexual abuse against a number of priests" between 1974 and 1996.[8]

St Patrick's College in Ballarat has stated that it would remove Little's name from a building which had been named in his honour and revoke his status as an inducted "Legend of the College".[9]

Death

[edit]

Little died in April 2008 and was buried in the crypt of St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne.[10]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Brolly 2008 and Zwartz 2008 both say Little died on 7 April. Note that a death notice placed in The Age newspaper by "the Bishops, Priests and people of the Archdiocese of Melbourne" stated that Little "died peacefully at home on the [morning of] 8 April 2008" (The Age, 10 April 2008, page 13).

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Commonly known as "Sir Frank" as in this story here Hannan, Ewin (9 April 2008). "Archbishop Frank Little dies at 82". The Australian. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  2. ^ "Archbishop Thomas Francis Little". The Catholic Hierarchy. 19 February 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  3. ^ Cunningham, Melissa (6 December 2017). "Little legacy lost after school wipes former archbishop's name from school building". The Age. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e Brolly, Mark (10 April 2008). "Gentle leader of flock in changing era". The Age (obituary). p. 14. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
  5. ^ "No. 47234". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 June 1977. p. 7104.
  6. ^ Ellingsen, Peter (4 May 2002). "Speak no evil". The Age. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  7. ^ Zwartz, Barney (27 May 2013). "The man in the big chair". The Age. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  8. ^ Wrigley, Brendan (5 December 2017). "Royal Commission slams former Ballarat Bishop in Melbourne report". The Courier. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  9. ^ Cunningham, Melissa (6 December 2017). "Little legacy lost after St Pat's wipes former archbishop's name". The Courier. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  10. ^ Zwartz, Barney (9 April 2008). "Mild-mannered Archbishop Little dead at 82". The Age. p. 4. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
[edit]
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Archbishop of Melbourne
1974–1996 		Succeeded by
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