Following the child sex abuse case against former Mackworth parish priest Francis Paul Cullen, the Bishop of Nottingham has stepped in to reassure parishoners of his ongoing support.
YOU could have heard a pin drop as the Rt Rev Malcolm McMahon read through his carefully worded sermon during mass at Christ the King Church in Mackworth.
Up to 60 people were at the Prince Charles Avenue church for the regular 5.30pm Saturday mass, which Bishop Malcolm used to offer his apologies to them.
The mass was intended to bring comfort and healing in the wake of the scandal surrounding disgraced Mackworth priest Francis Paul Cullen.
Last Monday, Cullen, aged 85, admitted 21 counts of child sex abuse.
Of these, 13 took place between 1957 and 1974 during his time as the parish priest in Mackworth. They involved four former altar boys. He is awaiting sentence on March 24.
It is likely that many members of the congregation would probably be able to recall Cullen in his role as parish priest in the church building where he was now the subject of Bishop Malcolm's condemnatory sermon at the weekend.
Not a word or a movement was detected among the worshippers as Bishop Malcolm spoke of "the shame" for himself, other diocesan priests and the congregation itself.
He said: "I am truly sorry for the wrong that has been done by Cullen to his victims and their families; their trust was betrayed and their dignity violated."
After the Mass was over, two women expressed their anger and concerns to Bishop Malcolm.
Father Andrew Cole, spokesman for the Diocese of Nottingham, who had accompanied Bishop McMahon, to the service, said: "Bishop Malcolm wanted to be with the parishioners of Mackworth as they begin to come to terms with the enormity of what happened in their parish over a long period of time.
"Many parishioners told me how much they appreciated the Bishop's presence.
"At the end of Mass, two women spoke up and expressed their anger at the abuse which had happened in their community, and the fact that it took so long to bring Cullen to justice.
"The Bishop thanked them for speaking out and listened to and responded to their concerns.
"He told them that he understood entirely their anger and hurt and described how the diocese had worked with the police to bring Cullen to justice and detailed what we do to safeguard the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
"He also gave others a chance to talk to him personally after Mass and spent a good half hour with people who wanted to speak to him.
"The abuse of children is evil. I would urge anyone who has suffered at the hands of Cullen to speak to Derbyshire police."
During his sermon, Bishop Malcolm said he expected parishioners to feel "anger, bitterness, betrayal and shame" in light of Cullen's arrest and admissions.
Five of Cullen's offences relate to two girls who were abused between 1980 and 1985 in Buxton and the remaining three counts relate to one male victim in Hyson Green, Nottingham. between 1989 and 1991.
Also, in 1991, Cullen was charged with other similar offences which are alleged to have taken place in Nottingham.
He was arrested and charged but skipped bail and went on the run for 20 years, setting up home in Tenerife.
Fresh allegations in Derby came to light in 2005 and, in 2012, a tip-off from a church-goer, passed to the Catholic Church's safeguarding committee, led to Derbyshire Police unearthing Cullen on the holiday island.
They successfully applied to the Spanish police for Cullen to be extradited back to the UK.
