Pope accepts Cardinal Sean Brady's resignation

By Sarah Stack
Irish Independent
September 8, 2014

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/pope-accepts-cardinal-sean-bradys-resignation-30569806.html

Cardinal Brady should have resigned in 2010 according to one of Smyth’s victims, writer Brendan Boland.

Pope Francis has accepted Cardinal Sean Brady’s resignation as leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland.

Cardinal Brady said it had been a great joy and privilege for him to serve as Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland since 1996.

“I am pleased that Pope Francis has today accepted the resignation which I offered to him on the occasion of my 75th birthday,” said Cardinal Brady.

“I warmly congratulate Archbishop Eamon Martin who today becomes Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland."

Cardinal Brady, whose final years as a clerical leader were dogged by abuse scandals, said he would pray that God may give to Archbishop Eamon in abundance all the graces he needs.

"I assure him of my help and total support at all times," continued the Cardinal, who was first appointed a bishop by Pope St John Paul II.

"Indeed I am quite confident that the people of the Archdiocese – priests, religious and lay faithful – will give to their new Archbishop the same whole-hearted support and faith-filled loyalty which they have always given to me and for which I will be eternally grateful.”

The senior churchman said he hopes to live near Armagh and to continue to help out pastorally wherever he can.

“I am looking forward to retirement and, no doubt, it will take me some time to get used to it, but it will be good to have more time for family, friends and to follow the football,” he added.

The Primate of All Ireland announced plans to step down on age grounds last month after turning 75, the age which bishops are required by canon law to tender their resignation.

However survivors of clerical sex abuse criticised the move as “too little, too late”.

Cardinal Brady was heavily criticised for swearing two victims of paedophile priest Brendan Smyth to secrecy during an internal church inquiry in 1975 into the abuse of two children.

His resignation letter to the Vatican coincided with a call from Irish clerical abuse survivor Marie Kane, who met Pope Francis on July 7, for the cardinal to stand down immediately. Pope Francis later promised to hold bishops accountable for the protection of children and begged forgiveness from victims.

Separately, the Dundalk man who exposed Cardinal Brady's role in the church inquiry said he was not resigning, but rather retiring 'as if he has done nothing wrong’.

Brendan Boland, who was abused by the notorious serial paedophile Smyth, revealed that five more of the dead cleric's victims have come forward since the publication of his book 'Sworn to Silence'.

The Cardinal previously said he truly sorry for the suffering of victims, but stressed he would not resign over the controversy.

However he made no direct reference to the claims as he addressed massgoers in Armagh.

Instead he recalled the Pope's 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,” he added.

“And I do so again, now. 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.

“The people of the Archdiocese of Armagh and the people of Ireland will remain in my prayers for the rest of my life. I ask the favour of your prayers to help me continue to serve God as best I can all the days God gives me.”

Archbishop Eamon Martin, a 52-year-old former teacher from Derry who became Cardinal Brady’s assistant last year, becomes the 116th Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.

He paid tribute to his predecessor and the mammoth amount of work he undertook and “his tireless commitment to representing the Catholic Church in Ireland at countless national and international engagements”.

“At the same time he always presents as a gentle and humble man who is never fully comfortable in the limelight,” Archbishop Martin added.

“I want to thank Cardinal Sean personally for the kindness he has shown me since I came to Armagh last year, and for allowing me every opportunity to get to know the diocese. I know that I can count on his prayers and support in the years to come.”