Accused clergy homeless in Dublin

The Irish Catholic
July 15, 2016

http://www.irishcatholic.ie/article/accused-clergy-homeless-dublin

Several priests who have been accused of child sexual abuse are thought to be homeless in Dublin, the head of the Church safeguarding board has warned. 

Contrasting how diocesan clergy faced with accusations can lack the supports priests from religious orders have, NBSCCCI chief Teresa Devlin told The Irish Catholic that she is frequently told that “it’s easier for religious order priests because they still are a brother, they still have somewhere to live, they still are cared for – a diocesan priest may be cast out to the wolves”.

She has heard reports in this context, she said, of how there are “some diocesan priests from various parts of Ireland who are living rough in Dublin”. 

Emphasising that dioceses must strike a careful balance in this area, Ms Devlin cautioned that such a situation could pose dangers for children. 

The challenge, she said, is to get across the message that while the Church realises that abusive behaviour is wrong and does not condone it, abandoning accused clergy with no regard to how they might be sustained could potentially place children at risk. If an abusive priest is living rough in Dublin, she asked, “what’s he got to lose?”