Irish bishops at odds over calls for resignations
December 18, 2009
An Irish bishop has protested the suggestion of Dublin’s Archbishop Diarmuid Martin that the bishops mentioned in the Murphy Commission report on sexual abuse should re-examine their own status. The archbishop’s letter strongly hinted that some Irish bishops should resign, following the example set by Bishop Donal Murray of Limerick. But Bishop Martin Drennan of Galway rejected that option, insisting that he had done nothing wrong in his own handling of sex-abuse complaints. Bishop Drennan expressed resentment that the public stand taken by Archbishop Martin has led to public calls for his resignation. “I don’t know if Archbishop Martin intended that or not, but it has put a question mark over my integrity,” he complained. He said that he was not aware of any sex-abuse complaints that he had failed to address.
“What happened was appalling but taking the route of revenge and forcing resignations is not necessarily going to bring any healing,” Bishop Drennan said.
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Posted by: -
Dec. 23, 2009 11:37 AM ET USA
Bishop Drennan was appointed as an Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin in 1997.In 1996 new policies had been implemented which meant that all allegations HAD to be reported to the police and the health boards.This crucial point which makes Bishop Drennan's situation different to the others.Cases brought to his attention were related to the archbishop and committee(mostly laypersons)to decide what would happen-the bishop acted on the advice of the committee.I believe Bishop Drennan did what he could.
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Posted by: -
Dec. 18, 2009 10:07 PM ET USA
How can one be a superior and not also carry the burden of having failed to know what was going on - to man it does not matter much if they resign since our LORD will not accept I didn't know from those in positions of authority. Shame
