Irish Examiner
December 24, 2009
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/bishop-moriarty-offers-resignation-to-pope-439416.html
Ireland -- The Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin James Moriarty has offered his resignation to the Pope today.
In a statement, Bishop Moriarty says he accepts that from the time he became an Auxillary Bishop, he should have challenged the prevailing culture.
He says he hopes his resignation honours the truth that the survivors have so bravely uncovered and opens a better future for all concerned.
He was criticised in the Murphy Report into the handling of clerical child sex abuse in the Dublin Archdiocese.
He is still bishop until the resignation is accepted.
Today's news follows the resignation last week of Bishop of Limerick Donal Murray.
Bishop James Moriarty's statement in full:
 |
"On the Sunday after the Murphy Report into the Archdiocese of Dublin was published (November 29, 2009), I stated the following in Carlow Cathedral: As you are aware, I served as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Dublin from 1991 until my appointment here in 2002.
"While the Murphy Report does not criticise me directly, I feel it is important to state that I fully accept the overall conclusion of the Commission - that the attempts by Church authorities to 'protect the Church' and to 'avoid scandal' had the most dreadful consequences for children and were deeply wrong.
"I do not want to dwell here on individual criticism, as I have already responded to that.
"As I acknowledged in radio interviews last week, the Murphy Report covers far more than what individual bishops did or did not do.
"Fundamentally, it is about how the leadership of the Archdiocese failed over many decades to respond properly to criminal acts against children.
"Over the last few weeks, I have been reflecting on what should be my response to the overall conclusion of the Murphy Report – particularly because I was part of the governance of the Archdiocese prior to when correct child protection policies and procedures were implemented.
"It does not serve the truth to overstate my responsibility and authority within the Archdiocese.
"Nor does it serve the truth to overlook the fact that the system of management and communications was seriously flawed.
"However, with the benefit of hindsight, I accept that, from the time I became an auxiliary bishop, I should have challenged the prevailing culture.
"I know that any action now on my part does not take away the suffering that people have endured. I again apologise to all the survivors and their families.
"I have today offered my resignation as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin to the Holy Father.
"I hope it honours the truth that the survivors have so bravely uncovered and opens the way to a better future for all concerned.
"I will endeavour to continue to do my best, as I have throughout my 48 years of ministry, to share Christ's light and hope for the world.
"We are about to celebrate Christmas, a time when we welcome Christ as the 'light that darkness could not overpower'. It is this truth that leads us forward. Christ is our light.
"May the blessing, the grace and the peace of Christmas be with us all."
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.