Ireland’s Cardinal Sean Brady has apologized for any failures related
to his role in investigating clerical abuse cases and said he “will
reflect on what he has heard from those who have been hurt by abuse”.
In his St Patrick’s Day homily at Armagh Cathedral, Cardinal Brady
said he was “ashamed” by the fact that he has not always upheld the
values that he professes and believes in, BBC News reports.
It emerged at the weekend that he had conducted canonical inquiries
into allegations of child sex abuse by Fr Brendan Smyth 35 years ago,
involving two young people, without reporting the allegations to civil
authorities.
“This week a painful episode from my own past has come before me. I
have listened to reaction from people to my role in events thirty five
years ago,” he said.
“I want to say to anyone who has been hurt by any failure on my part
that I apologise to you with all my heart. I also apologise to all those
who feel I have let them down. Looking back I am ashamed that I have
not always upheld the values that I profess and believe in,” he added.
“For the sake of survivors, for the sake of all the Catholic faithful
as well as the religious and priests of this country, we have to stop
the drip, drip, drip of revelations of failure,” he added.
“Be certain that I will be reflecting carefully as we enter into Holy
Week, Easter and Pentecost. I will use this time to pray, to reflect on
the Word of God and to discern the will of the Holy Spirit. I will
reflect on what I have heard from those who have been hurt by abuse. I
will also talk to people, priests, religious and to those I know and
love,” he added.
Elsewhere, the Norbertine Order, of which Fr Smyth was a member,
issued a statement tonight in which it expressed sadness at the
controversy and again acknowledged its failure to remove the paedophile
priest permanently from the exercise of ministry.
Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness became the
latest person to say he believed Cardinal Brady should consider his
position.
SOURCE
Cardinal
Brady ‘ashamed’ over failure to uphold values (Irish Times)