IRELAND
Irish Times
Barry Roche
The recent Berkeley tragedy which claimed the lives of six young people highlighted the central role that priests can play in providing comfort and solace for the bereaved, a bishop has told the ordination mass of a priest in Co Cork.
Bishop William Crean of Cloyne said that it was encouraging to see a positive portrayal of priests in the midst of the tragic loss of life in Berkeley after years of negative media portrayal of the clergy because of the child sex abuse scandals.
“The recent tragic deaths of the young people with the collapse of the balcony in Berkeley California led to a natural outpouring of sympathy for their families as they mourned the loss of their son or daughter in the springtime of their lives.
“Hope and aspiration gave way to the sense of huge loss and despair that such a tragedy brings to life. We remember them in our prayers as we also remember so many whose lives and dreams are being shattered by war and terror.
“I recall this tragic event and its aftermath for the presence of so many priests who at various moments were available and willing to minister to these families at a time of desolation for them and sought to bring some consolation by being with them in their hour of need.
“Given the very negative media portrayal of the priesthood because of the abuse scandals it is heartening to read a journalist – Kathy Sheridan in The Irish Times – acknowledge that positive face of priesthood.”
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