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	Opinion Divided Amongst Parishioners over Cardinal Sean Brady Controversy By Mickey Ferry Strabane Chronicle March 18, 2010 http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/SC/free/313207950567127.php IRELAND -- WHILE members of the local clergy chose to skirt the issue this week, opinion was divided among Strabane Mass-goers on whether Cardinal Sean Brady should resign. Pressure has been mounting on Cardinal Brady since the weekend when it emerged that he was present in 1975 when two victims of paedophile priest Brendan Smyth were persuaded to sign a vow of silence. Despite the growing pressure however, the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland has remained defiant that he will continue in his post until ordered to step down by the Vatican. Locally, two parish priests refused to be drawn on the controversy when contacted by the Chronicle. However, parishioners attending 10am Mass at the Church Of The Immaculate Conception were more than happy to comment. "I think the Cardinal should resign immediately," was the view of one church-goer. "He knew what Brendan Smyth was capable of and was obviously aware that he was still active as a priest somewhere after 1975. I don't think canon law is of any significance when the welfare of children is at stake. With the knowledge the Cardinal had, the abuse carried out by Smyth after these meetings could have been avoided." "The whole sorry affair has done the Church no favours at all," said a second parishioner said. "In the Cardinal's mind he probably thought he had taken things as far as he could in 1975. In hindsight he probably regrets that now so he should do the right thing and step down as it is always going to be associated with him." Not everyone was as adamant that the Cardinal should step aside with immediate affect. One man said the blame for the abuse cover-up should be laid at the door of those in the upper echelons of the Catholic Church. "I think that Cardinal Brady's seniors at the time are the people who failed the abuse victims. It was in their hands to take the proper kind of action and they failed to do that. "If they had acted properly with the information Cardinal Brady had given, them Brendan Smyth would never have been allowed near children again," he said. The Church has only itself to blame for the mess it finds itself in was the view of another man leaving 10am Mass. "I don't think Cardinal Brady has a case to answer but the Church certainly does, mainly for not sorting out their problems both properly and immediately. To blame the Cardinal would be to forget how those in higher authority in 1975 dealt with the information he had given them. It really makes you wonder just how far up the secrecy goes."
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