BishopAccountability.org
 
  MLA Calls for Cardinal Brady to Resign but Local Clergy Offer Support

By Ryan McAleer
Ulster Herald
March 18, 2010

http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/UH/free/313207933297732.php

NORTHERN IRELAND -- WEST Tyrone MLA, Kieran Deeny has called on Cardinal Sean Brady to resign after the church leader's disclosure that he was present when two victims of paedophile priest Brendan Smyth took oaths of silence regarding their abuse.

The events took place in 1975 when Cardinal Brady was a part-time secretary for the then bishop of Kilmore dioceses, Francis McKiernan. The victims were aged ten and 14 but no information was passed to police and Smyth continued to abuse until his arrest in 1994.

Cardinal Sean Brady has said he is 'ashamed' of Church failings on clerical abuse.

Delivering his St Patrick's Day Mass in Armagh yesterday, Cardinal Brady apologised for his role in the case.

He said, "This week a painful episode from my own past has come before me. I have listened to reaction from people to my role in events 35 years ago. I want to say to anyone who has been hurt by any failure on my part that I apologise to you with all my heart.

"I also apologise to all those who feel I have let them down. Looking back I am ashamed that I have not always upheld the values that I profess and believe in."

Dr Deeny, a GP in Carrickmore, said although he "always had a lot of time" for Cardinal Brady, as a Catholic he is "very upset" at the continuing revelations about how the church "covered up abuse."

He said, "The bottom line is that Brendan Smyth continued to abuse for 20 years and some of the victims even took their own lives. This has made me feel he (Daly) should resign."

However Cardinal Brady's support amongst local clergy appears undimmed despite the revelations. Speaking to the UH, a number of priests from around Tyrone voiced support for the Archbishop of Armagh and outlined concerns about a "resigning culture" in Irish society and disquiet over judging Brady retrospectively using present attitudes on the events from 1975.

One priest said he wasn't convinced what the benefits of Cardinal Brady's resignation would be. Another described a "ground level of support" for the Primate of All-Ireland and said Daly had fulfilled his role as a young priest properly and should not be made resign.

However Michael Kelly, deputy editor of The Irish Catholic newspaper, has called for "full disclosure" on clerical abuse by the Catholic Church to maintain any credibility. The Omagh native said that Catholic people were enduring "daily humiliation" by the continuing revelations with "many literally clinging on by their fingertips" to their faith.

Mr Kelly said, "It's not good enough for Cardinal Brady to announce that only the Pope could decide his fate. The Cardinal must search his own conscience on the matter."

Mr Kelly added that the Cardinal had set the standard for himself in December and called for more transparency for people to regain the trust they have lost in the church.

Omagh Town Councillor, Josephine Deehan said there would be wide ramifications with Cardinal Brady's disclosure and called for needs of victims to be made a priority.

The GP said, "There is a question whether there was anyone who could have prevented Brendan Smyth abusing children and if you look clearly I think the answer is yes, it could have been prevented. Whether any blame can be attributed to Cardinal Brady I don't know."

Helena Bracken of Nexus, which help victims of sexual abuse recover from their trauma said, "Sexual abuse lasts a lifetime."

The project manager for Nexus in Tyrone and Fermanagh added, "To allow victims to recover and heal... we have to acknowledge the damage done."

 
 

Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.