Bishop Moriarty would resign to "serve" Church
The Bishop of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin looks to be on the verge of resignation in the wake of the fall out of the report on child sexual abuse.
Bishop Jim Moriarty, who is the head of the church in large parts of Laois, Offaly and bordering counties, has said he will resign from his position for the good of the church.
Bishop Moriarty continues to insist that the Murphy report did not reach negative conclusion about is actions in relation to his handling of sexual abuse by priests in the Dublin Archdiocese where he served as an auxiliary Bishop. However he has changed his stance.
"My position is simple," he said in an interview on KCLR radio. "I am 73 years old and I am obliged to hand in my resignation when I turn 75. However, if it will serve the Church, the people and the victims, I am prepared to go sooner but no decision has been taken on that yet."
Bishop Moriarty told the Leinster Express that he should not have to resign despite calls from abuse survivor Marie Collins and others that he should step aside. He continues to stand by this stance.
"I stand by my statement that I should not resign for my partial involvement in the Fr Edmondus case but I want to add that no Bishop can put his own position before the good of the Church"
Bishop Moriarty also outlined that his personal involvement in one case is not the only issue that he is reflecting on at this time. He again quoted what he said in Carlow Cathedral on November 29.
"As you are aware, I served as an Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Dublin from 1991 until my appointment here in 2002. While the Murphy Report does not criticise me directly, I feel it is important to state that I fully accept the overall conclusion of the Commission – that the attempts by Church authorities to 'protect the Church' and to 'avoid scandal' had the most dreadful consequences for children and were deeply wrong."
He explained that while it was fair for him to say that he had done nothing wrong and that the Commission does not criticise him directly, this does not change the overall conclusion of the report which Bishop Moriarty fully accepts.
Portlaoise, Mountmellick, Graiguecullen, Portarlington and other Laois parishes fall under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Kildare and Leighan.
His latest comments follows on from the resignation of the Bishop of Limerick Donal Murray confirmed to his congregation in that his resignation has already been accepted by Pope Benedict.
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Friday 18 May 2012
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