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	Bishop Wants Parishes to Help Pay Abuse Victims New Ross Standard March 3, 2010 http://www.newrossstandard.ie/news/bishop-wants-parishes-to-help-pay-abuse-victims-2089075.html BISHOP Denis Brennan is asking parishes in the Diocese of Ferns to help the church pay outstanding compensation and legal bills arising from clerical sex abuse cases. The bishop made his controversial appeal while addressing the AGM of the diocesan finance committee in the Riverside Park Hotel on Monday night. The statement was issued to the media an hour later by the diocesan communications officer Fr. John Carroll. Bishop Brennan said the diocese has now been settling sex abuse claims for the past 15 years, and diocesan and national church funding has been used to provide compensation. 'Up to 80 per cent of the road of justice has been travelled. As we look to complete this road, it will be necessary to invite the parishes to become part of the process financially,' he said. 'Funding sought is not about sharing the blame, it is about asking for help to fulfill a God-given responsibility.' To say that 'I did not cause the problem' should not be the response of the Christian, he said. It should be, he said: 'I would like to help in the work of justice, healing, reconciliation, a safer environment for children in the future, proper financial stewardship and overall good economic health.' Appealing for parish donations, he said: 'I would be grateful for whatever ways you might be able to help me and the diocese to complete a road on which it has been necessary to travel, a road that will hopefully go beyond the requirements of justice and grow in terms of the reconciliation with which we are currently engaged and may be further permitted, or invited, in the future,' he added. Bishop Brennan said the funding of claims associated with child abuse perpetrated by members of the clergy, continues to impact on the diocese financially. A total of 48 settlements, costing ˆ8,120,7075, have been made to date. Of this amount, ˆ2,138,692 was paid in legal fees. There are 13 civil actions pending against the diocese with a potential cost of over ˆ 2 million, based on previous pay-outs. The diocese has also paid ˆ2,121,478 in legal fees for its co-operation with the Bermingham and Ferns Inquiries into the handling of sex assault allegations. It later recovered ˆ650,000 of that from the Government. The treatment of clerical offenders has amounted to ˆ836,000, which Bishop Brennan described as 'an investment in child protection in the long-term'. 'The settlements made to date are necessary and represent the diocese's desire to take responsibility for hurts caused, hurts which date back several generations – as far back as the 1940s in cases.' 'It is our duty to make good the bad, to recognise the enormity of what was stolen, and to do it as Christ who reaches out'. Bishop Brennan acknowledged the contribution of other dioceses in Ireland which have assisted the funding of abuse claims through the National Stewardship Trust. He stressed that the tragedy of sex abuse was not viewed by the diocese as a problem to be solved and acknowledged that the cause of the problem was 'the actions of individual perpetrators, along with mismanagement, poor understanding and/or lack of resolve.' He said the Diocese of Ferns is blessed with a 'model of financial administration that is second to none' with finances managed by a committee headed by diocesan finance officer Eugene Doyle, and accountant Liam Gaynor. After the AGM, Mr Doyle was reported as saying that the church hopes to collect about ˆ60,000 a year in parish donations. He also spoke about the rich life of the diocese and the committed contributions made by clergy and lay people to a range of church organisations and initiatives in the county.
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