Few priests attend meeting to support Cardinal Brady

May 18, 2012

Only 20 priests attended a May 18 meeting called by the Archdiocese of Armagh, Ireland, in support of embattled Cardinal Sean Brady.

The archdiocese had asked nearly 150 priests to join in a "prayer gathering of support for Cardinal Brady" at the city’s cathedral. But few priests chose to attend, and several, speaking anonymously, told reporters that the clergy has severe reservations about the cardinal’s continued leadership.

Cardinal Brady has faced calls for his resignation from Irish government leaders since the airing of a televised report that revealed new details about the prelate’s handling of a sex-abuse investigation. Although the cardinal has said that he will not step down, informed Church officials expect the Vatican to appoint a coadjutor archbishop who would soon take over the leadership of the Armagh archdiocese: the See of St. Patrick.

Officials of the archdiocese said that the low attendance at the Friday meeting might be attributable to inadequate advance notice about the event.

 

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Further information:

• Under-fire cardinal suffers snub from his own priests (Independent)
• Low number of priests turnout to support Cardinal Sean Brady (BBC)
• Vatican moving quickly to find successor for Ireland's embattled Cardinal Brady? (CWN, 5/9)