Supporters Accused of ‘flawed’ Campaign to Reinstate Cleric, Tyrone Times, June 9, 2011

Supporters Accused of ‘flawed’ Campaign to Reinstate Cleric

Tyrone Times
June 9, 2011

http://www.tyronetimes.co.uk/news/local/supporters_accused_of_flawed_campaign_to_reinstate_cleric_1_2756852

Aghaloo P.P. Fr. Sean McEvoy celebrated his Silver Jubliee this weekend in St. Joseph's P.S. Caledon. Here he is pictured with work colleagues. From left; Fr. Mc Keown, Kate Acton (Youth Director Armagh Diocese), Fr. Murphy and Fr. O'Hagan. TT2209-MCA700

A CAMPAIGN to reinstate a Parish Priest forced to step down pending a police investigation has come under fire from parishioners who claim they are being kept in the dark over the true nature of the allegations.

The criticism comes after a campaign group urged Cardinal Sean Brady to allow Father Sean McEvoy (pictured) to return to his ministerial duties in the parish of Aghaloo and Carnteel.

In March 2010, shocked worshippers were informed at Sunday Mass that the investigation had been launched because of information relating to Fr McEvoy and child safeguarding issues.

Last week, the Tyrone Times reported that the priest’s supporters claim the investigation has since cleared him of any wrongdoing, and that they have collected hundreds of signatures in a petition calling for the priest to be allowed to return to active ministry in the parish.

However, in a letter to the Tyrone Times, a concerned parishioner, who took exception to the story which appeared on the front page of last week’s edition, branded the petition as ‘flawed’.

Claiming to speak for the silent majority of liberal thinking Catholics within the parish, he said: “This campaign is being orchestrated by a small, conservative leaning group of Roman Catholic families who are personal friends of the suspended cleric McEvoy”

“Only they are privy to the nature and substance of the allegations made against him. This information has not been disseminated in a verifiable way to all the parishioners of this area and because of this we feel as if a small, unaccountable clan of personalities are trying to assert their own agenda to obtain both favours and power.

“The said petition also contains numerous signatures from members of other religious denominations.”

The parishioner went on to claim that there was an element of ‘silent coercion’ behind the petition.

“There are serious questions about the activities of petitioners outside St. Mary’s Church last Sunday, Cemetery Sunday.

“People from outside this area and with very little knowledge or interest in the issue signed the petition as it was being offered to them at the gates of the graveyard.

“In short I think that it was not fair on the silent majority of liberal thinking Roman Catholics that their voice was not in your edition of the Tyrone Times dated 31/05/11.”