Magherafelt Born Priest Feels People's Hurt and Pain

Mid-Ulster Mail
May 9, 2012

http://www.midulstermail.co.uk/news/local/magherafelt-born-priest-feels-people-s-hurt-and-pain-1-3823225

A CATHOLIC priest from Magherafelt has said many priests feel demoralised by clerical child abuse.

Father Eamon Murray, who is now based at St Peter's Church, Biggleswade, said Cardinal Sean Brady would have to do "a lot of soul searching".

Fr Murray was speaking on the Nolan Show following allegations that Cardinal Brady had names and addresses of children abused by Father Brendan Smyth back in 1975.

Smyth, a paedophile, continued to attack children for further 13 years.

"If I was in that position, I would have gone a long time ago because it's your own moral credibility that has suffered," he said.

"I've listened to a lot of people and naturally people are angry at the church and rightly so and I feel that anger and I feel that hurt and pain.

"It pains me to see people who have practised their faith for a long, long time, many years leaving the church as a result of losing credibility in hierarchy."