Derry Journal
December 1, 2009
http://www.derryjournal.com/inishowen/Donegal-priest-blasts-39arrogance39-of.5872860.jp
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| Fr Edward Kilpatrick |
A Lifford priest who was cleared of sex abuse has criticised the "arrogance" of Ireland's bishops and described their statements following the publication of the Murphy report as "weak and spineless."
Fr Edward Kilpatrick made comment during a homily at St. Patrick's Church, Murlough, on Sunday in the aftermath of the findings of the Murphy Report into sexual abuse of children by priests in the Archdiocese of Dublin over three decades.
Fr Kilpatrick, who was acquitted of sex abuse in 1997, said he was "ashamed" by the findings of the report. "With my colleagues in the area, we wondered what to say this weekend. As a professional in the institutional church, I am ashamed standing here before you on this Sunday," he said
The Lifford priest continued: "It is deeply disturbing to discover that archbishops and assistant bishops in Dublin had, as their priority, the protection of the institution and its assets while children's lives were being destroyed. Equally disturbing is the discovery of the corrupt relationship between the Catholic church and various ranking officials of the State.
"It is a measure of the arrogance of the Bishops of this country that so few of them have responded to these revelations and then only in statements that are weak and spineless," he said.
Fr Kilpatrick also said the reputation of the Church has been severely damaged by the report's findings. "That standing of the institutional church is at rock bottom .. to use a current phrase from the economic climate it is in 'negative equity.'
"Where does that leave people like yourselves? If you are dependent on the institution for the promotion, encouragement and leadership in ways of faith, then you are in trouble. You have now little, if anything ,to hang on to," he said.
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