The Irish are running low on Catholic bishops after two more bishops resigned on Christmas Eve in the wake of a report on the cover-up of sexual abuse. Two bishops previously resigned. Bishops Eamonn Walsh and Raymond Field offered their resignations to Pope Benedict on December 24th.
The Murphy Report looked at 46 priests were revealed widespread abuse and a cover-up by Church leaders.
Bishops criticized the report on abuse when it was issued. Now, four out of five bishops who were criticized in the Murphy report have resigned. Previously, Bishop of Limerick Donal Murray and Bishop of Kildare resigned. Only Martin Drennan, the Bishop of Galway, remains.
On Wednesday it was revealed that James Moriarty, the Bishop of Kildare.
Here is what the two bishops sent to the Pope:
Bishop Éamonn Walsh and Bishop Raymond Field offer their resignation to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
We, Bishop Eamonn Walsh and Bishop Raymond Field, have this evening informed Archbishop Diarmuid Martin that we are offering our resignation to His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, as Auxiliary Bishops to the Archbishop of Dublin. As we celebrate the Feast of Christmas, the Birth of our Saviour, the Prince of Peace, it is our hope that our action may help to bring the peace and reconciliation of Jesus Christ to the victims/survivors of child sexual abuse. We again apologise to them.
Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have so bravely spoken out and those who continue to suffer in silence.
We will not be saying anything further at this time.
Signed:
Bishop Eamonn Walsh
Bishop Raymond Field
For the full story, click here.
Nice Eileen
your defence of the church is not all of them did it, and you blame those not in the church for the behaviour of those in it.
You carefully skim over the fact that the church centrally operated a policy to hide these abuses and not deal with them. The current pope being one of those in a position of authority at the time.
You carefully ignore the fact that the pope and his clergymen constantly tell us how infallible the church is and that only they know what a moral life is.
Then you totally fail to address mespo’s question:
“but maybe you could explain to me how an organization which holds itself out as divinely inspired and guided by the “Holy Spirit” visited these crimes on the most vulnerable members of their flock.”
How long are we going to keep going over this , why are the victims still suffering why great glee in making out every priest is a molester . I am glad the bishops in question have resigned , where is the responsibilty of society in allowing the ridicule of Irish priests and nuns which you allowed to be lampooned in any media outlet what about the Irish intellectuals who took any opportunity they could to make out that the priesthood was a joke that was well before the scandal . Any lapsed CATHOLIC who sits pontificating over a coffee needs to look at there responsibilty , if you had been around to build the Church and encouraged good priests these abuses would not have happened . I have visited Ireland 4 times ane at every opportunity you laughed , ridiculed nuns priests bishops , the sons daughters and friends of ordinary Ctholic people where were you when money funds , fetes , comitteees needed help or assistance
“We will not be saying anything further at this time.”
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That may be sound legal advice, but it is also in keeping with the conspiracy. These louts had every chance to speak up sooner to prevent this tragedy and did absolutely nothing. Why change the silent laugh of the hyena now?
“Although the bishop of the child abuse scandal in Ireland will resign, will help the victims and their families who have been emotionally traumatized, not to forget the alienation from God caused by such “STALWART DEFENDERS” of religious faith! Where does the responsibility lie?”
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I have no idea what you are saying here, but maybe you could explain to me how an organization which holds itself out as divinely inspired and guided by the “Holy Spirit” visited these crimes on the most vulnerable members of their flock. What woud Jesus of Nazareth say? Well, in his role as the “greatest prophet of all times,” he’d have to say he knew this abominable criminal enterprise was coming but did nothing to prevent it, of course. Alienation from God–God had nothing to do with it. Christians had everything to do with it.
Littlebird,
I guess you’d like to be a flyonthewall. lol
Although the bishop of the child abuse scandal in Ireland will resign, will help the victims and their families who have been emotionally traumatized, not to forget the alienation from God caused by such “STALWART DEFENDERS” of religious faith! Where does the responsibility lie? Enforced celibacy has no biblical foundation at all! Why was it instituted in the first place? And why was such a perversion covered up for so long by an organization that claims to be the guardian of Christian ethics and morals? And why was this allowed by the authorities for so long? Were church and state in each other pockets? May we hope that the discussion with the Pope at the Vatican next week will HELP clear up ALL THE TRADITIONS AND PRACTICES, DOGMAS AND RITES that CONTRADICT the teachings of the greatest Prophet of all times, Jesus of Nazareth? AND PERHAPS, WHILE THEY’RE AT IT, start compensating for ALL THE wrongs DONE OVER THE ages?! What would Jesus of Nazareth say if He came to the Earth and saw what the church – which claims to speak for Him – has made of His life’s work? A small group in Germany called “The Free Christians for the Christ of the Sermon on the Mount in All Cultures Worldwide” is against such shameful sham Christianity. They announced a lawsuit against the Catholic Church. As they put it, they do not want to remain silent anymore on the “brazen labeling fraud,” with which Christ is mocked and His name abused to such an extent. They demand that the Catholic Church no longer call itself “Christian.”As a Christian. Perhaps your readers would like to check them out: http://www.christus-oder-kirche.de/christ-or-church/index.php There seems to be a grassroots movement to bring this up for discussion on the internet. Surely this could be very healthy for our society!
Careful using the papal arms Prof. Papa Ratzy just had them copyrighted so folk couldn’t use them to publicise the shortcomings of his cult.
Looks like the liability is up with the fields being walshed. But this will not take away the damage done.