By David Sharrock
The Times
April 13, 2010
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article7096655.ece
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| David Sharrock |
Cardinal Sean Brady, the leader of Ireland’s Catholics, was rushed to hospital tonight amid fears for his health.
The cardinal, who is under pressure to resign and who has publicly stated he is considering his position over his role in the cover-up of the activities of a paedophile priest, was said to be in a stable condition at Craigavon Hospital, Co Armagh.
Cardinal Brady, 70, was officiating at a confirmation ceremony in the parish church of Kildress in Co Tyrone when he fell ill. He remained in a conscious state while waiting for an ambulance to arrive at the church.
The cardinal is known to suffer from a blood pressure condition.
Father Patrick Hughes, the parish priest in Kildress, said that parishoners were “shocked” when the cardinal “indicated he felt unwell and had to sit down” just before Holy Communion.
He said the Cardinal asked for a glass of water and an ambulance was called. “He was conscious at all times and spoke to us, but I don’t know what was wrong exactly.
“I had to finish the Mass, so it was a shock for everybody there, but they all coped well and just got on with it.”
He is being sued by a man who alleges he was sexually abused by Father Brendan Smyth, Ireland’s most notorious paedophile priest.
Documents lodged at the High Court in Dublin allege that the alleged victim was abused by Father Smyth while he was an altar boy in Dundalk in the early 1970s.
The alleged victim contends that the church called an ecclesiastical court to deal with the allegations, which assured him and his father that Father Smyth would never be allowed to abuse children again.
Before the documents were leaked to RTE, Ireland’s national broadcaster, the cardinal admitted that he had participated in an ecclesiastical tribunal at which two alleged victims of sexual abuse at the hands of a priest were sworn to secrecy.
The cardinal has been urged to withdraw his defence in the case, which is dated February of last year and which is not sworn. In his defence papers he denies that such a court was called or that such assurances were given to the man.
The cardinal has also denied that the Vatican wants him to resign. On St Patrick’s Day last month he said that he would spend the rest of Pentecost considering his future.
Several senior members of the Catholic hierarchy in Ireland have already been forced to resign amid growing public anger over the church’s role in covering up the activities of paedophile priests.
A statement from the church tonight said: ”Cardinal Sean Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, became ill this evening while celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation in the parish church of Kildress, Co Tyrone, in the Archdiocese of Armagh.
“Cardinal Brady was later admitted to Craigavon Area Hospital for observation. He is in a comfortable condition.”
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