Pilgrims Told Church Must Repent over Abuse, John Cooney, Irish Independent, July 27, 2009

Pilgrims Told Church Must Repent over Abuse

By John Cooney
Irish Independent
July 27, 2009

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/pilgrims-told-church-must-repent-over-abuse-1842107.html

Pilgrims make their way up and down Croagh Patrick in Mayo yesterday

Revelations of clerical child abuse have pained Catholics beyond words, the 18,000 wind-swept and rain-drenched pilgrims who reached the summit of Croagh Patrick heard yesterday.

The twin themes of Church repentance and rekindling spiritual hope at a time of economic insecurity were highlighted by the Archbishop of Tuam, Michael Neary, when he led the annual Reek Sunday national pilgrimage to the summit of the 2,510ft Croagh Patrick.

In the footsteps taken by St Patrick in the sixth century, most pilgrims, young and old, immigrants and tourists, were seasonally clad in warm and waterproof clothing, sporting sturdy footwear, with walking sticks or staffs, as they winded the slippery cone-shaped mountain to the summit oratory, where Masses were said on the hour.

The wet and blustery weather conditions reduced the number of climbers from last year's 20,000.

But Mayo Mountain Rescue and the Knights of Malta reported over 30 minor injuries and attended to six children who suffered hypothermia.

Hypothermia

An 11-year-old girl who collapsed from hypothermia was airlifted by helicopter mountain rescue, while a middle-aged man was taken to Mayo General Hospital after a suspected heart attack.

Peter Jordan, a volunteer with Mayo Mountain Rescue, said there were considerably fewer casualties than in previous years, and most injuries were caused by strains, cuts and bruises from falls on the slippery rocks.

In spite of advice not to climb barefooted, some spartan pilgrims stubbornly opted for this traditional penance, symbolising the austere mood of soul-searching for both Church and State stressed by Archbishop Neary.

Referring to the Ryan Commission report on systematic physical, sexual and emotional abuse of thousands of children in institutions run by religious orders, Archbishop Neary said that the revelations of the past few months had pained Catholics beyond words.

"We have had highlighted the most terrible brutality, cruelty and abuse on the part of some of those who ought to have been ministers of gentleness, compassion and understanding," Archbishop Neary added.

"Children were left to carry crosses that they should never have been burdened with in the first place. Also, many young people had their lives blighted by shame and fear, and their trust in the Church was shattered."

Archbishop Neary said the Catholic Church in Ireland was stumbling its way in the dark valley of the shadow of death, and needed to rediscover hope and learn to think spiritually.

"All of this, however, demands acceptance of our failures, repentance, contrition and forgiveness," Archbishop Neary continued. "This will express itself in a humble and unselfish lifestyle that would enable us to become striking witnesses to the truth and compassion of the Gospel.

"The architecture of the future will be that of the contrite heart rather than ornate church buildings."

On the economic recession, Archbishop Neary noted that Irish society was witnessing increasing disaffection. "Did we deceive ourselves into thinking that we could solve out problems without reference to God?" he asked pilgrims.