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	The Pope, the Irish Bishops, Episocpal Responsability Vatican Radio February 16, 2010 http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=357656 (16 Feb 10 - RV) Pope Benedict XVI has urged the Bishops of Ireland to resolve the crisis facing the church in their country with courageous and concrete steps. According to a statement released at the end of a two day extraordinary summit held at the Vatican to discuss the aftermath of the revelations contained in two reports into child sex abuse by clergy and religious in Ireland, the Pope spoke to the bishops of the “heinous crime”, of sex abuse which "offends God and wounds the dignity of the human person." Speaking at a news conference Tuesday afternoon following the conclusion of the meeting between the Holy Father, Prefects of the Curia and twenty four of the serving bishops of Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh, left no doubt about the issue at the heart of two days of talks. He said “The questions of the victims was a main concern right throughout the meeting”. He added that the Pope listened attentively to all the bishops had to say. Cardinal Brady was joined at the press briefing by fellow bishops Joseph Duffy of Clogher, Bishop Michael Smith of Meath, Bishop of Achonry Bishop Brendan Kelly and Bishop Dennis Brennan of Ferns. But perhaps most importantly for the victims of sexual abuse and the ordinary Catholics in Ireland, a second issue was also discussed at length; the issue of episcopal responsibility in failing to act effectively in dealing with cases involving the sexual abuse of young people by some Irish clergy and religious. The bishops collectively reaffirmed that responsibility for the mishandling of the crisis ultimately rests with the national Church and its leaders. Bishops Brennan said "there can be no doubt of the pain the revelations of abuse in Ireland have caused the Pope" as the Universal Pastor of all Catholics. Speaking of the Irish bishops responsibility he added “we all know that there is great anger out there and it is richly deserved. We haven’t handled this crisis well by any means, we accept that and we understand that”. Speaking Monday and Tuesday to the bishops, Pope Benedict warned that the current painful situation will not be resolved quickly, but he also challenged the them to address the problems of the past with determination and resolve, and to face the present crisis with honesty and courage. Echoing the Pope’s words Tuesday, Bishop Duffy of Clogher spoke of how ruptures in Irish Church leadership have affected their joint effort to resolve the crisis created in the wake of the Ryan and Murphy reports. He said “you see, when we talk about the deepening of a sense of unity among bishops.., we are coming from a culture of secrecy and confidentiality which was admittedly overemphasised in the past, now in order to move [forward] from that culture of secrecy, we have got to share”. Pope Benedict told the bishops that one of the main aims of the extraordinary two day meeting was to help to unify the Bishops and enable them to speak with one voice in identifying concrete steps aimed at bringing healing to those who had been abused, and encouraging a renewal of weakened faith in Christ’s Church in Ireland. Cardinal Brady gave examples of these steps which he revealed are being drawn up in collaboration with the victims of abuse and the lay faithful, many of whom have also shown solidarity with the bishops in the difficult road ahead: “They said they are hanging in there, because they believe that Jesus Christ is with his church to the end. They want us to be out and about, to pray with them, because that is a great witness too”. Departing from the Vatican Tuesday, on his return to Ireland ahead of the great Lenten period he underscored that one of greatest steps the bishops could collectively take together is one of penitence: “As one of the victims told us down in Maynooth the only way we will really regain credibility will be through our humiliation, tomorrow is the beginning of Lent, a time of penance, and we must begin with ourselves”. Cardinal Brady concluded that the bishops also discussed Pope Benedict XVI's upcoming pastoral letter to Iris Catholics, which Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi has confirmed will be published before the end of Lent.
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