Irish bishop is first to quit over child sex abuse scandal

An Irish bishop flew to Rome yesterday to hand in his resignation after days of angry and intense pressure over his handling of cases of child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.

Donal Murray, Bishop of Limerick (pictured), gave every sign of acting with great reluctance, after spending some days apparently playing for time in the hope of keeping his post. But the wave of shock and horror which followed publication of a damning report, which revealed a systematic high-level church cover-up of the abuse of children by priests, is in effect sweeping him from office.

The report revealed that archbishops of Dublin had over a quarter of a century ensured that the activities of paedophile priests were kept secret. The result was that in many cases priests were left free to continue their abuse. The report concluded, and the Irish public has accepted, with dismay and sustained rage, that the church routinely placed its own image ahead of the protection of vulnerable children. In the case of Bishop Murray, pictured, the report concluded that he had acted “inexcusably” in one case, and that he had handled other complaints and suspicions badly.

One attempt at mitigation, pleading that he was a relatively inexperienced bishop, has been undermined by the fact that he was a professor of moral theology with a particular expertise in ethics.

The sense of outrage against the church is so strong that although he is the first clerical casualty of the affair he may not be the last. The report concluded that various other churchmen were also guilty of acts of both omission and commission.

Most unusually, criticism has not been confined to the Irish church but is also being made of the Vatican itself.

Rome did not respond to repeated letters from the commission which produced the report, and since it appeared has refrained from offering any detailed response beyond generalised expressions of sorrow.

This has not been enough for the Irish government, with Foreign Minister Micheal Martin expressing “deep disappointment” at Rome’s response. He complained: “The Pope has not responded yet to the appalling revelations of the Murphy inquiry.”

The papal nuncio, who is in effect the Vatican’s ambassador to Ireland, has been summoned to the Irish foreign office to give an explanation. Mr Martin said: “We will be pointing out that we need a substantive response.”

–David McKittrick, Ireland Correspondent, The Independent

Dear Church Leaders of Today,

I come to you with a very serious problem: corruption in our church. All over, there are stories of sexual assault and molestation, scandals and cover-ups, political campaigns, and more.  Since when did our church’s mission be to gain power, to abuse authority, and to make money?  Is this truly what God wants?

I come to you answering a call from God Himself.  He, in all of His infinite and divine wisdom, wishes me to beg you to repent and to reconsider your devious acts of malice.   Remember, it is never too late to be liberated from your sins, for God is a loving and forgiving God.

The Roman Catholic Church has had corruption and struggles since its conception.   From the time of King Henry II and Pope Gregory I, the Roman Catholic Church has been caught in scandalous situations, conning its followers.  Whenever Church and state intermix, detrimental effects ensue.  So why must the church become a political campaign?  Although God wants us to spread His message, I’m sure it is not His intention to have us brainwash people into agreeing with His ‘infallible’ Church on all subjects. The truth of the matter is, the Church is not omniscient.

Everyday it seems you hear a new story of a priest sexually abusing a parishioner; oftentimes a child.  These stories are sickening to read, and too vulgar to comprehend.  Furthermore one is assailed by stories of rampaging bishops persecuting the gay community.  Bishops use their power to further their careers, wealth, and personal objectives.  You even hear about priests caught up in scandals including drugs, money, and adultery.  Practically all of God’s commandments are being shattered.  If one cannot even look to priests for a  standard of moral conduct, then whom CAN we look to?

We need to change our ways.  I am not saying it will be easy, for I am aware that it will not be.  A solution may be to make it more difficult to become a priest as to thwart off any potential candidates that may be unscrupulous.

I do not think that Bishops, Archbishops, and the Pope should have as much power and control as they do.  Power makes man go mad, no matter how levelheaded he may be.  I also think that women should be able to enter the priesthood, or at least some equivalent to it.  Who are we to say that women are not equal to men? What is the theological basis for this assumption? It is  proven that women have an exponentially lower tendency to commit sexual abuse along with a more common tendency to be more tender and docile than their male counterparts.

If we do not make these vital changes, the Church will continue to fall, be overcome with nefarious activity, and lose followers daily.  If changes are implemented, this transformation will bring  honor and respect back to the Catholic Church. We  then may begin the mission of spreading the great word of God.  For remember, there is no time like the present.

Sincerely,

Concerned Catholic