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	John Cooney: Bishop's Long Farewell Only Deepens Public's Alienation By John Cooney Irish Independent December 18, 2009 http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/john-cooney-bishops-long-farewell-only-deepens-publics-alienation-1980577.html IT was inevitable that Donal Murray would become the first episcopal casualty of the Murphy report revealing the scandalous top-level cover-ups of paedophile priests in the Archdiocese of Dublin. But what remains a mystery is why this humane and intelligent man lost public esteem by appearing to avoid the inevitable for three tortuous weeks. While in the end he showed considerable dignitas and sensitivity to the suffering howls of the victims of abuse for his de-mitred head, his fugitive-bishop antics in Rome merely prolonged his agony during his dark nights of the soul. Church sources have indicated privately that Murray knew he was a doomed prelate weeks before the Murphy report was published on November 26. He had read the draft report weeks in advance and knew that contrary to his evidence in private with the three-member commission, they had judged that his failure to investigate Fr Thomas Naughton in Valleymount, Co Wicklow, was "inexcusable". Confidantes disclosed that the Dublin-born Murray was "resigned to resigning" once the report became public property. But he did the opposite. He said that his conscience was clear and that he was not for moving from Limerick. A few days later, he modified his position by saying his future would be determined by consultative council groups in the diocese, a self-serving posture that was publicly challenged by Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin, who told him in no uncertain terms that this was a matter for public opinion to decide in Dublin rather than Limerick. Later still, Murray seemed to raise, however waveringly, the white flag of surrender in an interview with the 'Limerick Leader' in which he said he would consider going if he had become "a divisive figure", which by then he singularly was. The difficulty was that he was proving himself to be "Bishop Indecisive". Even before his departure to Rome for his showdown meeting last Monday week with Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the head of the Congregation of Bishops, his valedictory message to the faithful of Limerick was to storm Heaven with prayers for him as he grappled with his big decision of resigning or staying on. Yet it was disclosed yesterday that the Vicars General of the Limerick Diocese, his advisory group of ecclesiastical wise-men, knew on December 1, five days after the Murphy report was published, that he was resigning. This set in motion the antiquated and secretive steps under canon law for his resignation to be accepted by Pope Benedict. Through the papal nuncio in Dublin, Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, an appointment was arranged for Bishop Murray's interview in Rome with Cardinal Re for December 7. When he set out for his secret rendezvous on December 6, he left the puzzled people of Limerick in prayerful uncertainty and the media in a chase to catch up with the elusive bishop. That Murray's days as a bishop were numbered was signalled on December 5 by Cardinal Sean Brady. He said he was sure that Dr Murray would "do the right thing". But it was not until yesterday morning that Bishop Murray's long farewell came to its conclusion with the announcement in Rome of the Pope's acceptance of his resignation in the papal Bolletino. It coincided with Dr Murray's last appearance as Bishop of Limerick in St John's Cathedral in Limerick. The now Bishop-Emeritus of Limerick was consistent in being contrite for his inexperience in dealing with Fr Naughton but even in his final address he based his decision on the fundamental principle of the welfare of children and the need for healing of victims. He did not genuflect with a 'mea culpa' in the direction of the Murphy finding of inexcusability. This was in line with the two documents which I have read that Bishop Murray submitted to Cardinal Re when presenting "reasons for resignation": one was a detailed photocopy cataloguing all mentions of him in the Murphy report; the second was his annotations, which read to me like an explanatory mitigation of his handling of suspected abusers. A highly influential role was played behind the closed door of the Vatican last Friday by Cardinal Brady and Archbishop Martin, who must have returned to Dublin knowing the timetable for the acceptance of Bishop Murray's resignation. By Wednesday, all the Irish bishops had been informed in advance of Rome's decision. BISHOP Murray's refusal to resign on November 26 has meant that the subsequent three weeks have largely undone any credit due to him for falling on his crozier. He has deepened public alienation from the institutional church. Bishop Murray's belated departure will intensify the pressure for resignations of four other bishops. Bishop of Kildare Jim Moriarty is packing his bags to retire. Pressure is still on bishops Eamonn Walsh, Raymond Field and Martin Drennan to take responsibility for the culture of cover-ups that damaged the lives of so many innocent children at the hands of paedophile clergy. Above all, the Murray saga has whetted intense interest in the selection of bishops and has put the focus firmly on securing choices acceptable to Irish needs, and not on Rome's chess game of safe men. Contact: cooneyjohn@eircom.net
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