Retiring Brady Asks for Forgiveness

Belfast Telegraph
September 8, 2014

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/retiring-brady-asks-for-forgiveness-30569843.html

Cardinal Brady's final years as a clerical leader were dogged by abuse scandals

Cardinal Sean Brady, the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, has apologised and asked for forgiveness as his retirement was confirmed by the Vatican.

The cleric, whose f inal years at the head of the clergy were dogged by abuse scandals, handed in his resignation on age grounds last month after turning 75, as required under canon law.

Archbishop Eamon Martin will take over as Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland - the 116th man to fill the role.

In the last few years, Cardinal Brady faced repeated calls from clerical sex abuse survivors to quit over his involvement in the Brendan Smyth case.

The teacher and canon lawyer swore two victims of the notorious paedophile priest to secrecy during an internal church inquiry in 1975 into the abuse of two children.

Their evidence was never handed over to police, allowing Smyth to continue abusing other youngsters countless times before he was finally jailed in 1994.

The Cardinal insisted his role in the canonical inquiry was as a notetaker.

In a farewell message at mass in St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh the church leader said he recalled Pope Francis' motto "miserando atque eligendo" which he said "challenges and inspires me with its message of God having mercy and at the same time choosing us, despite our sinfulness".

"It reminds me that I too need to say sorry and to ask forgiveness. And I do so again, now," Cardinal Brady said.

"At the same time, Pope Francis' motto inspires me to trust in the mercy of God and to pray for the strength to do always as Jesus would have me do."

Last month Pope Francis promised to hold bishops to account for the protection of children and begged forgiveness from victims after he celebrated a Mass with six survivors at the Vatican.

One of them, Irish woman Marie Kane, said she asked the pontiff to remove Cardinal Brady from his post because of the way he handled abuse allegations.

The rapid acceptance of a bishop's resignation within one month is unusual for the Catholic Church but the former primate's departure has been flagged for some considerable time.

Cardinal Brady led the church in Ireland for more than 17 years during which time a series of investigations exposed shocking levels of clerical abuse.