False accusation against Irish priest illustrates new development in abuse saga

December 02, 2011

John Allen of the National Catholic Reporter sees Father Kevin Reynolds—the Irish priest who was falsely identified as a rapist in a television report, and forced an apology from the network—as the “poster boy” for a new development in the sex-abuse crisis. He notes that most Irish observers believe that the RTE network’s willingness to accuse the priest without any documentation “reflected a general climate in Ireland in which priests are now seen as fair game.” The situation is complicated by the fact that Irish bishops did not lead the defense against the false accusation, Allen remarks.

 

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Further information:

• A new symbol of false sex abuse allegations (National Catholic Reporter)