BishopAccountability.org
	Cardinal Confident Bishop Will "Do the Right Thing" By Paul Cullen The Irish Times December 7, 2009 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1207/1224260241941.html RTE INTERVIEW: ARCHBISHOP OF Armagh Cardinal Sean Brady told RTE News in an interview, broadcast on Saturday, he was confident Bishop Donal Murray will “do the right thing” in terms of considering his position in the wake of criticism in the Dublin diocesan report. Cardinal Brady said Bishop Murray should be given “time and space” to respond to the report, which branded his handling of an abuse complaint against a priest as inexcusable. However, he went on to say that he would resign himself if he found a child has been abused as a result of any managerial failure on his part. “I would remember that child sex abuse is a very serious crime and very grave and if I found myself in a situation where I was aware that my failure to act had allowed or meant that other children were abused, well then, I think I would resign,” he told RTE television at the weekend. Dr Brady said he knew that very many people were angry with their church and with their bishops at this time “and rightly so”. “I know we have failed people and especially survivors of abuse and that now is the time for action and accountability and taking of responsibility for what has taken place,” he said. He said he would be travelling to the Vatican this week with Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin to discuss the findings of the report with Pope Benedict. The church would be working closely with Minister for Children Barry Andrews to ensure the highest standards of child safeguards were observed in every area. “Some people would love to let the dust settle down and back to business as normal, there is no way that can happen . . . we view this situation as so urgent it cannot be put on the long finger,” he said. Dr Brady said the Dublin archbishop has written to the bishops and auxiliaries criticised in the report asking that they offer explanations for the commission’s findings. “Perhaps we should wait and see what those replies are,” the Cardinal said. “I think it’s only fair that we should wait . . . before prescribing remedies.” Asked about calls for further inquiries, Dr Brady said the welfare of survivors of abuse had to be taken into consideration and what was best for child protection throughout the State. If the State decided to extend the inquiry then the church would co-operate. Pressed on the issue, he added: “Whatever is best for child protecting, bring it on.” He said the church’s child protection policies had to be known, implemented, and audited.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.