Priests’ body criticises funeral ‘snub’ to abuse accused clergy

IRELAND
Belfast Telegraph

November 26, 2018

By Nick Bramhill

Priests who die while facing accusations of sexual abuse are being denied traditional Catholic funerals, even if they weren’t convicted.

The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) has voiced concern over the funeral arrangements of stepped-down members of clergy, with one member claiming that even deceased murderers and gangland criminals are laid to rest with more dignity.

The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI) has published a list of broad guidelines to Church authorities on how to discreetly conduct the funerals of clerics who were facing abuse allegations when they died.

But some dioceses in Ireland have adopted even more stringent policies for funerals of priests facing accusations.

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