Over at Whispers, Rocco reports on what may be the first of several resignations of bishops in Ireland following the recent release of the Murphy Report:
Three weeks after his conduct was termed "inexcusable" in the devastating report on sex-abuse and cover-up in the archdiocese of Dublin, this morning Pope Benedict accepted the resignation of Bishop Donal Murray of Limerick, who served as an auxiliary in the Irish capital from 1981-96.
Said by the state inquiry to have "not deal[t] properly with the suspicions and concerns that were expressed to him" over one priest alleged of abusing over 20 children (and twice convicted on abuse charges), Murray made the following statement on his departure:
“I have heard the views of many survivors, especially in the days following the publication of the Murphy Report. Some expressed the wish that I should resign; others asked me not to do so. I know full well that my resignation cannot undo the pain that survivors of abuse have suffered in the past and continue to suffer each day. I humbly apologise once again to all who were abused as little children. To all survivors of abuse I repeat that my primary concern is to assist in every way that I can, on their journey towards finding closure and serenity.
“A bishop is meant to be a person who seeks to lead and inspire all the people of the diocese in living as a community united in the truth and love of Christ. I asked the Holy Father to allow me to resign and to appoint a new bishop to the Diocese because I believe that my presence will create difficulties for some of the survivors who must have first place in our thoughts and prayers.
“Let my last words as Bishop of Limerick be those I spoke in St. Joseph's on 29th November last: ‘We are people who believe that God’s mercy and God’s healing are without limit. We are meant to be bearers of that hope to one another and especially to people whose trust was betrayed when they were just little children and who endured the terror, helplessness and suffering inflicted by a frightening and dominant adult. They should always have a special place in our prayers’."
(read Rocco's complete post here)
This is a small step in the direction of accountability. The complicit American bishops should take notice, and follow suit, beginning with the President and vice-president of the USCCB.
ReplyDeleteCheers to Ireland's Catholics for speaking out so forcefully. I remember Fr. Scahill saying "until you've been challenged by an Irish woman, you haven't been challenged."
Michael: I appreciate your comment and I know that for you to see in this news "a small step in the direction of accountability" is a significant acknowledgment. It seems that other resignations will follow - more steps in the direction of accountability.
ReplyDeleteWhere the wound is, the healing will be. As Michael says and as you echo, it is the start of some kind of accountability and at some point - healing.
ReplyDeleteIt will take a long time.
Acccountability is an interesting concept. For me, I find it amazing that Massachusetts is about to elect as Senator the woman who declined to hold the actual perpetrators accountable for their actions. Isn't this the moral equivelent of the "looking the other way" we identify with the bishops that were involved?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, you may wish to go to Boston.com to read a November 23,2009 article by Michael Rezendes about Martha Coakley's handling of child abuse cases. Less than factual comments by people who comment anonymously are not particularly helpful in discussing issues.
ReplyDeleteRosemary
Well, Tom Reilly was actually the AG who was in charge of the investigation and issued the report.
ReplyDeleteIt found that there was insufficient evidence to charge the Archdiocese of Boston, or its leaders with crimes under the applicable laws.
Part of this problem is the statute of limitations had expired on these actions (or inactions).
The report also states, "Vigilant oversight from the public and its officials as well as from members of the Church, including priests and the laity, will be necessary to assure that the Archdiocese does indeed act to protect children."
see the report summary at
www.bishop-accountability.org/resource-files/reports/ReillyExecSum.pdf
Thanks, Michael, for the clarification. I believe another issue was that legislation establishing "mandated reporters" came only after these actions/inactions occurred.
ReplyDeleteNone of that is to excuse or make light of what was done, what was not done.