Bishop accepts his failure to challenge
THE OUTGOING Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin Jim Moriarty has accepted that he did not challenge the "prevailing culture" of the Catholic Church in relation to child sexual abuse.
Commenting on his resignation, which was offered on December 23 last but only accepted last week, Bishop Moriarty also admitted that he did not believe he would have had to resign when the Murphy Report was first published.
"The decision to offer my resignation was the most difficult decision of my ministry. I did not anticipate resigning when I first read the Murphy Report, because I was not directly criticised. However, the Murphy Report covers far more than what individual Bishops did or did not do. Renewal must begin with accepting responsibility for the past.
"I served as an Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Dublin from 1991 until my appointment to this diocese in 2002. I was part of the governance of the Archdiocese prior to when correct child protection policies and procedures were implemented. Again I accept that from the time I became an Auxiliary Bishop, I should have challenged the prevailing culture. Once more I apologise to all survivors and their families. I know that words of apology are not enough," he said.
He said that the Irish Church now has excellent child safeguarding procedures in place. Kildare & Leighlin Diocese has fully subscribed to the definitive ‘Standards and Guidance’ document published by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in 2008, he added.
"The truth is that the long struggle of survivors to be heard and respected by church authorities has revealed a culture within the Church that many would simply describe as unchristian... As I stated in my contribution at the recent gathering of Irish Bishops with the Holy Father – "Let us be clear, our failures have damaged our people’s faith and the strength of our witness," he said.
On leaving office, he was thankful for the eight years he served and said his abiding memory of his time as Bishop was having been able to witness "faith, hope and love in which we have been able to share in so many ways as the people of God, laity, religious and clergy, in this diocese".
He added that he had every confidence that the diocese will continue on this path and rise to the challenges that lie ahead.
Monsignor Brendan Byrne will temporarily replace Bishop Moriarity as Diocesan Administrator.
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Friday 18 May 2012
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