IRELAND
Belfast Telegraph
The recent history of Church resignations in Ireland may help to explain the departure of Pope Francis’ predecessor, says Patrick McCafferty
26 March 2013
The inauguration of Pope Francis brought a refreshing air of optimism to a Catholic Church that lay moribund in recent decades.
Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI should, perhaps, be credited with remarkable prescience: his resignation now seems like a remarkable act of sacrifice by a selfless pope in the best interests of the Church.
And yet, there is something not quite right about this picture of Benedict.
His resignation was not just a break with papal tradition; it is at odds with everything that he practised. Benedict was remarkably unwilling to allow anyone to resign – even when that would have been for the good of the Church.
One could almost feel sorry for Cardinal Sean Brady in Armagh. Almost three years ago, when revelations in relation to preventing further children being abused were questioned, he asked to retire.
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