New Irish primate promises vigilance on abuse, peace in Northern Ireland

September 09, 2014

Archbishop Eamon Martin told Vatican Radio that he is "a little bit nervous and fearful for the future" as he takes up his new responsibilities as Archbishop of Armah and Primate of All Ireland.

Archbishop Martin, who succeeds Cardinal Sean Brady after the latter's retirement, reflected on the state of the Church in the wake of the abuse scandal:

In some ways, the Church has become a little bit focused in on ourselves because we’re been going through a very tough time here in Ireland with all the scandals of the abuse and also with increasing secularism and fewer vocations.

The archbishop emphasized the need "to be vigilant, to have robust procedures and guidelines," in handling the sex-abuse problem. He also said that a high priority would be working to safeguard the peace agreement in Northern Ireland. “We have to not be complacent because there are still those that would bring us back to those awful days," he said.

 

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Further information:

• New Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin talks about challenges facing him (Vatican Radio)