Congregation Applaud Comments but Refuse to Walk out in Protest
Donegal Democrat
March 23, 2010
http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/donegalnews/Gran39s-protest-interrupts-Mass.6173218.jp
IRELAND -- A grandmother who interrupted Sunday Mass at a Donegal church received a round of applause from a large section of the congregation after she spoke from the Altar condemning the church for its role in child sexual abuse.
As she left the Altar the unidentified woman was applauded by a majority of the congregation for four to five seconds. The woman said as she left that she was walking out of the Mass in protest and she asked others to follow her.
As best as this reporter could see, in the congregation of approximately 400, no one followed the woman out of the church in protest.
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| Fr Cathal O Fearrai left who responded to a woman who interrupted his Sunday Mass to condemn clerical sex abuse by saying the Church is "in turmoil". Also pictured is Bishop Philip Boyce. The Bishop has confirmed that the diocese of Raphoe has paid over €1.1 million to victims of sexual abuse. |
The interruption occurred 20 minutes into what was a specially organised Mass of Reconciliation at St. Patrick's Church, Ballyshannon. The chief celebrant was Parish Priest Fr Cathal O Fearrai who was assisted by Frs. Herbie Bromley, Declan Boyce and Dermot Burke.
Approximately 20 minutes into the Mass, the woman made her way from a seat near the front right hand side of the church to the Altar, speaking very briefly to Fr O Fearrai, PP, before walking past him to use the microphone in the Sanctuary to address the congregation.
The woman did not identify herself when she began speaking, explaining "I'm not from this parish" but she felt someone had to speak out on behalf of those harmed by the Church.
She said she had attended the recent Mission in the Graan in Enniskillen run by Fr Brian D'Arcy and she shared the views expressed there by Marie Collins, a victim of clerical child sexual abuse, who had been strong in her condemnation of the Hierarchy. She said the Church belongs to the people and the people should not turn their back on the Church.
The woman spoke for four minutes. Fr O Fearrai stood beside her as she spoke but made no attempt to stop her from speaking.
The congregation listened in silence as she told them she was a mother and a grandmother and had been horrified to learn of the sexual abuse perpetrated on innocent children by members of the clergy.
She said she felt it was "total hypocrisy" to have a Mass of Reconciliation and ask people to repent their sins when the Church stood accused.
She said she had come to the 11.15am Mass at St. Patrick's expecting to hear the Pope's letter of apology being read out. "This has not been mentioned, there's not a word about it, but we have this Garden of Reconciliation here on the Altar and we are being asked to repent? We are being asked to say sorry for our sins? I think that is total hypocrisy today on this day," she stated.
She paid tribute to the local priests "who are good people" adding her issue was with the Hierarchy in the Church not with the many good priests locally.
As she left the Altar the woman was applauded.
Fr O Fearrai said it was his intention to deal with the Pope's letter later in the Mass and he would comment then on what had been said.
After Holy Communion, Fr O Fearrai referred to the points raised by the unidentified woman. He said the first thing that struck him while he listened to her was that people who were angry and hurt because of the child sex abuse scandal had no forum to express their views. This, he felt, was something they needed to look at addressing as people should have a forum.
He said the Church was in turmoil and was "at its lowest ebb". However, he said he believed that there was hope and he believed that it was through people working together that the Church would come through what was, he said, a very difficult time.
He then explained that the Mass of Reconciliation had been pre-planned before they were aware of the Pope's letter and for this reason they had continued with their plans.
He then went on to read a series of extracts from the Pope's letter to the congregation.
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