Statement of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on Publication of Chapter 19 of Murphy Report PRESS RELEASE
17 December 2010
Statement of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on Publication of Chapter 19 of Murphy Report
Chapter 19 provides additional specific evidence to the already horrendous narrative of the Murphy report. It reports the tragic and shocking story of how a devious, predatory paedophile used the priesthood to gain access to young children and abuse them and how no-one stopped him for years.
Over the last few days I have read and re-read this chapter of the report. What struck me particularly was the way in which parents came forward with no sense of vindictiveness towards the church, simply asking that the abuse stop, decisively and definitively. They weren’t out to “get the church”, but the church they loved and respected failed them.
It was not just that the matters were not reported to the Gardaí but the Archdiocese did not follow up its own commitment to stop the abuse. Tony Walsh was left in ministry, he was reassigned – he remained in contact with children, using his priestly dress and his membership of a priest’s show, where he was shown off as a priest, giving him constant access to young people. Unfortunately, some priests mistakenly supported his remaining in ministry.
Tony Walsh wriggled his way through every attempt that was made to contain him. The first lesson to be learned from this is that in the cases of serial compulsive paedophiles only decisive action is capable of stopping them. Cardinal Desmond Connell, to his credit, was among the first to recognise this. Procrastination and indecisiveness are a part of a climate in which paedophiles flourish. This is the importance of the current child safeguarding norms of the Church in Ireland which have to be supported by everyone. There is no room for revisionist thinking about these norms. Thankfully, there are hundreds of good people in our parishes who have gone through training programmes and give of their time to ensure that good child safeguarding procedures are making the Church the safe place that it is today.
It is true that much of what is narrated in this chapter took place many years ago. The context may or may not have been different. Abusing a child was and is a crime in civil law, was and is a crime in canon law; it was and is a grievous sin. Any form of sexual interference with a child is non- consensual, abusive and an act of violence. The theology of the time recognised that rape and sexual assault of anybody is wrong. The theology of the time was well aware of compulsive and recidivist sexual activity. It’s difficult to understand that people acted differently when the victims were children.
The Archdiocese of Dublin failed the victims of Tony Walsh and their families. I renew the words of apology I expressed in Ballyfermot last Sunday; I apologise unreservedly for the hurt caused and for the way the Church managed these matters.
The victims of Tony Walsh who bravely came forward to tell their story and others abused by priests in Dublin have done immense good for children, for society and indeed for the church. We all have a debt in their regard.
The fact that Tony Walsh was allowed to minister as a priest long after his paedophilia was identified is also a tragedy for good priests in Dublin whose vocation and life’s work in the name of the Gospel was tarnished.
Chapter 19 adds to the Murphy report but does not bring it to a complete conclusion. One more chapter remains incomplete. The report chronicles a frightening moment in the history of the church in Dublin. As I have said on other occasions, in many aspects the Church in Ireland had allowed itself to drift into a position where its role in society had grown beyond what is legitimate. It acted as a world apart. It had often become self-centred and arrogant. It felt that it could be forgiving of abusers in a simplistic manner and rarely empathised with the hurt of children.
The first step on the road to renewal is for our Church to recognise what went wrong to honestly acknowledge with no “buts” and no conditionality the gravity and the extent of what happened.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
This statement and the full text Archbishop Martin’s Homily from Mass in Ballyfermot last Sunday are available on:
http://www.dublindiocese.ie/
Further information:
Communications Office 01 -8360723, email
communications@dublindiocese.ie
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it, web
http://www.dublindiocese.ie/
Mass intentions for the week ahead 19th December 2010
Saturday 18th December
11 am Mary Ryan (Months Mind Mass)
6.30 pm Teresa Barrett and deceased members of Hernon family.
Bridie, Pat, Bill and Catherine Buckley.
Sunday 19th December 4th Sunday of Advent
9.30 am Lawless and Guinnane families deceased.
Joe and Barbara Davis.
11am Teresa Hession and deceased members of Colohan family.
12.15 pm Delia and Patrrick Ward and deceased members of
Ward and Lynskey families.
Ellen and John Hynes and Mary and Joseph Crowley.
6.30 pm Marcello Alarcon and Dolly Gavin.
Monday 20th December
10am James, Mary, Bernard and James Lee.
Bridie Drury recently deceased.
Tuesday 21st December
10am For all the Sick and Joe Kenny
Wednesday 22nd December
10am Hughes and Gilroy families deceased.
Deceased members of O'Donnell and Conneely families.
Thursday 23rd December
10am Sean Kilraine and Tom, Thomas Jnr and Ann Hayden.
Friday 24th December
9.00 pm Christmas Eve Mass and Blessing of the Crib.
Saturday 25th December Christmas Day
9.30 am Masses for all the People of the Parish
11am of the Sacred Heart Church and
12.15 pm the Worshipping Community.
No Evening Mass
Sunday 26th December Feast of the Holy Family
9.30 am Michael and Bridget Conneely
11am Eddie Brennan
12.15pm Gerard Monaghan and Tom Hynes
6.30 pm Maura Flanagan
Edmond ‘Ned’ Aherne, R.I.P.
Your prayers are asked today for the repose of the soul of Edmond ‘Ned’ Aherne, 6 Corrib Park and Ballylanders, Co. Limerick, who died during the week, and whose funeral took place in Ballylanders.
Also, of your charity, please pray for the repose of the souls of the following who also died recently:
1. Cecilia Giles, Bowling Green and Kilcolgan, the sister of William Giles, Inishannagh Park.
2. Kathleen Quaid, sister of Nora Corbett, Rockmount Road.
3. Brigid Higgins, Shantalla Road.
4. Maura Allen, ‘Estrella’, Taylors Hill.
5. Oliver Foley, Coventry, the brother of Aidan, Cruachan Park, Helen O’Byrne, Taylors Hill, and the late Mick, Rockmount Road.
6. Helen Molloy, Costello Road.
7. Finbarr O’Mahony, Highfield Park.
8. Tom Murphy, Cork.
‘Dying you destroyed our death’
Confessions for Christmas
A. Thanks to all who braved the weather for the Penitential Service for our Cluster of Parishes in The Abbey today!
B. Confessions here in the Sacred Heart
Today, Saturday 18th, 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Christmas Eve
12 Noon to 1
3PM to 4PM
C. CHRISTMAS SERVICE OF RECONCILIATION
“He will save his people from their sins...” (mt.1.21)
Monday 20th December 2010, 8.00p.m.
Facilitated by Croí Nua team
Welcome!
Venue: Croí Nua Centre, Rosary Lane, Taylor’s Hill, Galway (Opposite Scoil Róis)
Phone: (091)520960
Mobile: (087) 6833195
E-mail:
croinuacentre@eircom.net
Website:
http://www.croinua.com/
Kid’s Corner
We are all looking forward to the annual Scoil Bhríde Annual Christmas Pageant on Monday night at 7:30!
School Confessions continue this week with the Sixth Class coming to the church on Monday morning, and Fourth Class on Tuesday morning.
Copyright:
http://www.sermons4kids.com/
The Gift Christmas Concert Dates:
The first concert took place in the Jesuit Church last night
18th December Bushy Park Church 8pm
19th December St Josephs church 8pm
20th Eyre Sq. Shopping centre
21st December Aula Maxima NUIG 8pm
22nd December Renmore Church 8pm
Tickets €10 Contact
Keara Sheeran ~ 0879007003 (Musical Director )
Susan Treacy ~ 087432245
Jesuit Office 091 523707
Holy Family School Renmore 091 779979
Statement by Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, in response to the judgement today issued by the European Court of Human Rights on A, B, and C v. Ireland:
"Today's judgment leaves future policy in Ireland on protecting the lives of unborn children in the hands of the Irish people and does not oblige Ireland to introduce legislation authorising abortion" - Cardinal Brady
The judgement given today by the European Court of Human Rights regarding the legal position on abortion in Ireland raises profound moral and legal issues which will require careful analysis and reflection. Today's judgment leaves future policy in Ireland on protecting the lives of unborn children in the hands of the Irish people and does not oblige Ireland to introduce legislation authorising abortion.
The Irish Constitution clearly says that the right to life of the unborn child is equal to that of his or her mother. These are the fundamental human rights at stake. The Catholic Church teaches that neither the unborn child nor the mother may be deliberately killed. The direct destruction of an innocent human life can never be justified, however difficult the circumstances. We are always obliged to act with respect for the inherent right to life of both the mother and the unborn child in the mother’s womb. No law which subordinates the rights of any human being to those of other human beings can be regarded as a just law.
At the beginning of Advent on 27 November last Pope Benedict spoke about the coming of Christ into our world in the womb of the Virgin Mary. The Holy Father reflected on the light that this sheds on the wonder of all human life. The embryo in the womb, he said, is not just a collection of cells but “a new living being, dynamic and marvellously ordered, a new individual of the human species. This is what Jesus was in Mary’s womb; this is what we all were in our mother’s womb.”
As a society we all have a responsibility to respond sensitively to any woman who finds herself dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. I urge anyone in this situation to contact CURA, the crisis pregnancy support service.
ENDS
Media contact: Martin Long 00 353 861727678
A Message from Trócaire
On this fourth Sunday in Advent as we prepare to celebrate Christmas Trócaire is asking us to bring light to northern Uganda by buying a solar-powered lamp to help children study after dark and improve their chances of a better future. www.trocaire.org/globalgift
__________________________________
David O'Hare
Press Officer
Trócaire
Office: 028 9080 8030
Mobile: 079 0005 3884
http://www.trocaire.org/
Facebook:
http://facebook.com/trocaire
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/trocaire
YouTube:
http://youtube.com/trocaire
Flickr:
http://flickr.com/trocaire
Diocesan Carol Service
Tuesday 21 December 2010, at 7.30 pm.
Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St. Nicholas, Galway
Galway Cathedral will host a Carol Service of Christmas hymns, Scripture Readings and Prayer. All are invited to attend. The service will be presided over by Bishop Martin Drennan. The evening should prove to a very meaningful experience and help people to spiritually prepare for the feast of Christmas.
Website:
http://www.galwaycathedral.ie/
Cathedral Parish Office, The Cathedral, Galway, Ireland.
Tel: 00-353-91-563577
Fax: 00-353-91-534881
Email:
info@galwaycathedral.ie
Press release for the Winter 2010 General Meeting of the Irish Bishops' Conference
The scheduled Winter 2010 General Meeting of the Irish Bishops’ Conference was postponed last week due to bad weather. In its place a special one-day meeting of the Bishops’ Conference took place today in Maynooth and the following issues were discussed:
Advent and the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Prayers for persecuted Christians and for peace
Pastoral Letter of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI to the Catholics of Ireland
A Bible in every home and Lectio Divina prayer initiative
Share the Good News - first National Directory for Catechesis in Ireland
National Eucharistic Congress in 2011 and International Eucharistic Congress in 2012
Trócaire’s Christmas campaign in 2010
Advent and the Sacrament of Reconciliation
During this season of Advent, the period of preparation for the feast of Christmas, the call to renewal of our Christian life is a central part of this preparation. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation (or Penance), we receive the gift of God’s mercy and forgiveness. Its celebration should be an integral part of our preparation for the Feast of the birth of Our Saviour. Bishops strongly encourage all Catholics in Advent to make time to avail themselves of the gift of God’s love in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Read the details on:
http://www.catholicbishops.ie/
Youth Ministry Season’s Greetings.
As the new-year approaches, we are now preparing for the next international World Youth Day which will be held from 15th -22nd August 2011 in Madrid, Spain.
World Youth Day is an excellent opportunity for young Catholics worldwide to come together and celebrate the faith they share. 2011 will be the 26th W.Y.D and the theme will be
Rooted and Built Up in Jesus Christ, Firm in the Faith (Colossians 2:7)
Youth from around the world are already getting ready to travel to Madrid and we want to ensure that the young people of Galway have the opportunity to experience this very special event. Bishop Martin Drennan will lead our Diocesan group (18-35 yrs) travelling to Madrid for a week to participate in the World Youth Days.
We are hoping that this trip will be of particular interest to all our religious educators (catechists in secondary schools, national school teachers etc.) in the diocese as part of their own on-going personal and professional formation. With this in mind, we would ask you to encourage all those you think may be interested to come along to our information evening about W.Y.D on:
Monday 10th January in the Diocesan Pastoral Centre at 8p.m.
This meeting will provide an opportunity for all people interested in the trip to find out more details and register their interest in travelling.
We thank you for your support and look forward to accompanying your parishioners on this very special journey.
Yours Sincerely
Siobhain Bradley
Youth Ministry Co-ordinator
Galway Diocesan Pastoral Centre
Newtownsmith
T: 091- 091-565066
youthministrygalway@gmail.com
http://www.pastoralcentre.ie/
Statement on the economic situation in Ireland by the Irish Bishops' Conference "In Helping each other, there is Hope"
As we meet today we are conscious that the recent dramatic events in our national economy have given rise to exceptional levels of fear, anger and disillusionment. Demands for assistance with basic things like food, fuel and clothing from organisations such as Saint Vincent de Paul are up as much as 35% from this time last year. In the Six Counties, the number presenting as homeless has almost doubled in the past six years, while in the Republic it has doubled in the past sixteen years. Organisations working with the homeless are expressing concern about their ability to respond to the level of need. The spectre of high levels of unemployment confronts our nation once again, with its demoralising impact on individuals and communities and the upheaval of emigration facing many Irish families. Large numbers of people have also become weighed down by unexpected levels of debt, the fear of losing their home, the prospect of losing their job, the dread of their business failing or the impact of cuts to their pay, pension or benefits. In many homes across the country the outward appearance of wealth and comfort masks exceptional levels of anxiety and material need.
Faced with these challenges it would be easy to descend into a culture of negativity, defeatism and despair. While important questions have to be asked about how this situation has arisen, a preoccupation with blame and recrimination alone would be futile and distract from the urgent task of building a more just, sustainable and prosperous future. We believe the inevitable pain of the current situation should be shared justly, with a special concern for the most vulnerable and least well off.
Read the full statement on:
http://www.catholicbishops.ie/
A message from Columba Press
We are delighted to inform you that The Columba Press have launched a new and improved website which you can now view at www.columba.ie. The Columba Press is one of the leading publishers of religious books in Ireland, the UK and Europe. Authors such as Brian D'Arcy and Daniel J. O' Leary top our spirituality list whilst our bestselling range of Glenstal Abbey titles will be recognisable to all.
To celebrate the launch of
http://www.columba.ie/
we are offering 10% off all purchases up to and including the 31st December 2010. Simply go online, select your title(s) and when prompted please enter the following code: columba001
Please note that this applies to Columba Press titles only.
Feel free to pass this information to your friends or to anyone who would be interested.
Wishing you all the best for the festive period from all at Columba,
All the best,
Patrick O' Donoghue
Sales Representative
The Columba Press
55A Spruce Avenue
Stillorgan Industrial Park
Blackrock
Co. Dublin
Ireland
Tel: + 353 1 294 2556 ext. 209
+ 353 87 2340229
E-mail: patrick@columba.ie
Website:
http://www.columba.ie/
