Stap voor stap. Archbishop asks forgiveness for child sex abuse priests

• By John Cooney
  Saturday April 11 2009
  
  THE Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin yesterday called for God's forgiveness of priests who have abused children.
  It was his second reference during Holy Week to the scale of the child abuse which is expected to rock the Dublin diocese to its foundations when it is revealed in a report next month.
  The Archbishop made his remarks as he led the Good Friday Way of the Cross procession in Dublin's Phoenix Park.
  At the Chrism Holy Thursday Mass, he predicted that a shocking report by the Commission of Investigation into clerical sex abuse in the Dublin archdiocese would reveal that thousands of children were abused by priests in the 30 years from 1975 to 2004.
  
  Yesterday, Dr Martin mentioned indirectly the biggest scandal in the history of the Dublin diocese, when he prayed to the Lord to be merciful towards those who had in any way abused the authority and trust placed in them.
  
  "Restore and heal all who have been abused or betrayed," he added.
  "Restore relationships of integrity and respect and truthfulness."
  
  Dr Martin also prayed for the 300,000-plus people who have lost jobs, homes and security in the recession, and called for a renewal of Irish culture and society which would be rooted in "a spirit of solidarity and responsibility and care for others".
  
  
  Retired priest in Cloyne diocese interviewed over alleged abuse
  BARRY ROCHE, Southern Correspondent
  Friday, April 10, 2009
  
  GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING allegations of clerical sex abuse in the diocese of Cloyne are to prepare files for the DPP after interviewing a retired priest about allegations that he abused two young females.
  
  The priest, who is in his 70s, yesterday attended voluntarily at Mallow Garda station in north Cork where he was interviewed by detectives for several hours about allegations of abuse made against him by two women.
  
  The women came forward separately in the past three months.
  They made formal complaints to gardaí investigating allegations of clerical sex abuse in the diocese of Cloyne that they were sexually abused by the priest in the early 1970s.
  
  One of the woman alleged that she was sexually assaulted by the priest while in her mid-teens in the early 1970s. The other woman alleged she was sexually assaulted in the early 1970s while she was aged in her early 20s.
  
  Yesterday’s interviewing of the retired priest comes in the wake of controversy over the manner in which the Bishop of Cloyne, Dr John Magee, handled previous allegations of clerical sex abuse by two priests in the diocese.
  
  Cloyne priests feeling positive for future
  3 april 2009
  Up to 100 priests of the Diocese of Cloyne gathered this week to discuss the fall-out from the mishandling of abuse claims in the diocese and to map a way forward, this paper has learnt.
  The meeting, ...was convened by Archbishop Dermot Clifford, who was appointed Apostolic Administrator for the Cloyne diocese in March by Pope Benedict.
  The meeting was also attended by Bishop Denis Brennan of Ferns and a small delegation from that diocese.
  According to sources at the meeting, priests were invited by layman Martin Kennedy acting as facilitator to articulate their experiences of recent events in the diocese.
  The feedback was described as ''an open and honest discussion''after which the gathering broke up into small groups and reported back to the facilitator.
  The mood of the meeting was described by one priest who was present as ''very helpful and welcome.''
  He added: ''The opportunity for Cloyne priests to voice their opinions and feelings was necessary prior to any discussion of the deeper issues of those affected by child sexual abuse.''
  Issues of continued outreach to victims of abuse and cooperation with the State Inquiry were dealt with in the afternoon when the delegation from Ferns addressed the gathering led by the Bishop of Ferns, Denis Brennan.
  "The purpose of this was to assist priests in considering what is now required as a continued priority, building on what is already there and moving onto what is best practice today," said a priest who asked not be be named, adding, "I went home feeling better than when I arrived."
  It is believed this is one in a range of events which will occur in the weeks and months ahead and it appears the model that was used in Ferns is being considered for guidance.
  
  
  Dublin Diocese holds more abuse meetings
  Jan 15, 2009,
  
  Dublin’s Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has embarked on a number of meetings this week to consult with parish pastoral councils in anticipation of the report of Dublin Inquiry. The report, prepared by Ms Justice Yvonne Murphy, is expected to be published later this month and is investigating the handing of a “representative sample” of allegations of abuse by priests of the Archdiocese from 1940, made between January 1975 and May 2004.
  
  In a letter to all parishes, Dr. Martin invited the Chairman of each parish pastoral council to attend a series of meetings over the next two weeks in anticipation of the report. The move follows a similar series of meetings held before Christmas to brief priests on the diocese’s preparation for the publication of the report.
  
  As reported in The Irish Catholic late last year Dr. Martin has described, in correspondence, the scale of abuse by priests in Dublin as “staggering”. More than 400 people are known to have suffered abuse by priests serving in the Dublin Archdiocese.
  
  Dr. Martin also requests that each parish’s child protection officer attends the meeting and strongly encourages priests to accompany their parish representatives.
  
  A diocesan source confirmed to The Irish Catholic that the meetings were part of the Archbishop’s policy of keeping people involved very step of the way. “We’ve already held very productive meetings with the priests, and now it is his (Dr Martin’s) hope that these new meetings with the parish councils will allow people to feel prepared for when the report actually comes out”.
  
  The Archbishop is not planning to have a letter read at all Masses in the wake of the report, but, is hoping that every parish can prepare an appropriate response. The Irish Catholic understands that parish representatives attending these meetings will be encouraged to hold a special meeting of their parish council at which people will be invited to attend.
  
  The Commission to Investigate was established in November 2005 and was due to report within eighteen months. However, the Department of Justice has granted several extensions to the Commission. The final report is due before the end of this month.