'People's Petition' Calls for Resignation of Cardinal
Donegal Now
A 'People's Petition' launched in Donegal, calling for the resignation of Cardinal Sean Brady, will be presented this week to several organisations including Amnesty International Ireland, One in Four, a charity group granting support to those people who suffered sexual abuse, as well as to appropriate Catholic Church offices. The petition calls for the Cardinal, who as Primate of All Ireland will preside over the Congress, to 'do the right thing' and resign over his alleged failure to report to the relevant authorities multiple cases of child sexual abuse while he was a canon lawyer and a bishopric/diocesan assistant some years ago. Martin Gallagher from the Falcarragh area of west Donegal - one of scores of children who suffered clerical abuse by pedophile priest, Eugene Greene – and who signed the petition earlier this week, said he was encouraged by the petition and the support he has received from people in Donegal and elsewhere in Ireland. Mr Gallagher said, "This is an issue that must be highlighted over and over again until something substantial is done about it. So many people suffered - and continue to suffer as a result of this terrible sexual abuse – and until the Catholic Church not only owns up to what was done, but makes comprehensive changes to the system to prevent it ever happening again, then such petitions as these are extremely important. Cardinal Brady should not lead this Congress." Father Denis Quinn, parish priest of Falcarragh, visited the 'People's Petition' table in the rural town, and stated that the petition was, "a scandal and a waste of time," saying he did not think the actions of Cardinal Brady (then a priest, John Brady) were wrong. He said Brady had informed his church superiors and that it was up to them to have taken action. Sean Hillen, who lives in Bun na Leaca, West Donegal, one of the leaders behind the initiative, explained the reason for the petition: "With so much uncertainty about the future, probably more than at any other time in its history, Ireland requires leadership of the highest moral level, but Cardinal Brady has failed to do that, has let people down badly and needs to leave or be removed from his position," he said. "Just as people spoke out strongly on civil matters with the recent, 'Can't Pay, Won't Pay,' campaign, so ordinary people are speaking out on matters that touch on the spiritual." Details of the petition can be found at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/246/859/640/petition-calling-for-the-resignation-of-cardinal-sean-brady
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