BishopAccountability.org
	Bishop Silent As Protest Takes to the Roads By Ralph Riegel Irish Independent December 30, 2008 http://www.independent.ie/national-news/bishop-silent-as-protest-takes-to-the-roads-1587713.html A priest set off on a long lonely walk of atonement from Cork to Dublin yesterday in response to the Church's handling of the Cloyne child abuse controversy. Fr Michael Mernagh left St Colman's Cathedral in Cobh, Co Cork, at 9am for the Pro-Cathedral, Dublin -- and urged anyone wishing to join his walk en route to do so. But as the walk began, the cleric at the centre of the controversy, Bishop of Cloyne, Dr John Magee, refused to give an indication of whether he would retire or resign over scathing criticisms in a National Board for the Safeguarding of Children (NBSC) report. The NBSC -- a Church watchdog body -- slated Cloyne's handling of abuse allegations against two clerics. Cloyne was found to have a policy of giving gardai only minimal information to help with their inquiries -- and the NBSC also asked questions over the competence of diocese child protection personnel. Statements However, Dr Magee -- in two statements on the matter -- has failed to give any indication of being willing to consider his position. Dr Magee, who was a secretary to three Pontiffs, apologised to victims over the diocesan failings and then, on Christmas Eve, said he took full responsibility for the matter. The next major development in the controversy will be the publication in early January of a Health Service Executive (HSE) report on the child abuse allegations. Yesterday, Fr Mernagh stressed that his marathon walk was not just an attempt to highlight failings in Cloyne but about the entire Church's handling of child protection issues. "The time for action is now, the time for talking is over," he told the Irish Independent. "I am here in a private capacity, but I want this walk to serve as a rem
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.