October 30, 2005

Episcopal letters - A campaign of damage limitation

IRELAND
Irish Examiner

Throughout dioceses in the country yesterday the hierarchy engaged in a major campaign of damage limitation and reassurance to a faithful who have had their faith in the Church rocked by the horrific revelations of child sexual abuse.

The public reaction by Catholics to episcopal letters read at most churches in response to proven and imputed child sexual abuse, in the wake of the Ferns Report, was seemingly sympathetic, but there were, understandably, exceptions.

In Clonakilty, Co Cork, the prevailing anger and shock that has been revealed, was reflected by Fr Gerard Galvin, who refused to read out the letter from Bishop John Buckley to his congregation, although he made copies available for those who wanted them.

The priest’s defiance met with the approval of the majority of his flock who applauded his principled stance on his belief, among other things, that it contained nothing new and failed to blame those who broke the system of trust.

Posted by kshaw at October 30, 2005 06:43 PM