Catholic Church in Ireland to undergo ‘major’ restructuring

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Dublin, Ireland, Dec 12, 2009 / 11:29 am (CNA).- Irish Catholics can expect "major reorganization" within the Church following the meeting between the Pope and Irish prelates on Friday regarding child sexual abuses by clergy in the Archdiocese of Dublin, according to an article published in the Irish Times. It is not yet known how far reaching these structural changes will be.

Archbishop of Armagh Sean Cardinal Brady and Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin attended a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, papal nuncio to Ireland Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, and other leaders from Vatican dicasteries to voice concerns and discuss solutions following the Nov. 26 release of a report detailing the sexual abuses of priests in the archdiocese.

Cardinal Brady, the Primate of All Ireland, told The Irish Times it was a "good meeting" with the Pope and expressed his regret to "be back here again to discuss the painful question of child sexual abuse."

In a statement released Friday afternoon after the meeting, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his intention to address the Irish faithful in a pastoral letter that will "clearly indicate the initiatives that are to be taken in response to the situation." There was no indication of when that Papal correspondence can be expected, but with the sense of urgency surrounding the issue within the Irish Church it will likely be sometime soon.

Archbishop Martin told the Times that the pastoral letter could include measures for "a very significant reorganization of the Church in Ireland."

He also told the News Daily on Friday, "I really think we need a renewal."

Efforts in that direction, he added, will include "working very hard on the question of child protection," a renewal of parish life and the involvement of more lay people within the organization of the Irish church.

There will also be some changes within the Catholic hierarchy. The resignation of the Bishop of Limerick Donal Murray is expected as a result of his involvement in covering up the abuses.

It is unclear if any other bishops will be stepping down at this time. According to the Times, Archbishop Martin has written to Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Dublin Dermot O'Mahony, asking him not to carry out confirmations in the coming year and not to be part of the diocesan administration “in any way."

The archbishop also asked Bishop O’Mahony to distance himself from the Irish Pilgrimage Trust, which takes disabled children to Lourdes each year at Easter. The bishop resigned on Dec. 6.

More specific details of how the archdiocese will address Irish Catholics in the coming days are not yet known, but members of the communications corps from the Irish Catholic bishops' conference are "on-call" awaiting instructions from the prelates upon their return from Rome, a communications officer with the bishops' conference told CNA.

The officer said that she would not expect a statement from the archdiocese until Monday.

Comments: 7

Subscriber comments:

Published by: RD
Australia 12/14/2009 09:38 PM EST

Ever since Vatican 2, the entire Catholic Church has been in crisis. The demise of the Faith has been hastened by perverse modernist cardinals, bishops and priests of the worst kind. Post-conciliar popes have failed horribly in their primary duty to provide good bishops for the flock.

Published by: Gerry McDonnell
N Ireland 12/14/2009 05:53 PM EST

A Priest in a neighbouring parish recently declared from the pulpit one Sunday that he intended to leave the Priesthood for the love of a divorced parishioner with 3 children. He didn't even inform the Bishop and the congregation gave him a standing ovation. The state of the church in Ireland is sicker than most people realise. Paedofile priests are only a sympton of a much deeper problem within the church. A distinct lack of holiness, reverence, humility and obedience. The church in Ireland has lost its vision and a people without vision get out of hand (Proverbs 29:18)

Published by: Gerry McDonnell
N. Ireland 12/14/2009 05:27 PM EST

Whenever the Philistines captured the ‘Ark’ and placed it in their temple beside their god Dagon, the next morning Dagon was found lying face down so they put him upright again. The next morning his head and his hands had been severed and the people were inflicted with tumours. So what does this say to us and what does it mean? Whenever the presence of God comes on the scene, then worldly systems; kingdoms; fashions and principles will collapse and tumble and there will be more and more chaos, because He comes to bring Divine Order. There has been an outpouring of the Holy Spirit these past forty years and there has to be a casting down of the systems that are established to prepare for the return of Jesus. Everything that can be shaken will be shaken; and only that which has its foundations built and founded on rock will be left standing. Paedofile priests !!!. Let's just say that jumping on the bandwagon doesn't make you a member of the band. The clearing of the temple is under way and Jesus is coming back for a Church without spot or wrinkle. The inside of the cup is being cleansed. Bring it on. Let's have a real "One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church" that is a true light to the nations.

Published by: DLL
scituate Mass 12/13/2009 04:04 PM EST

It seems that abuse occurs because an ignorant laity that refuses to obey church teaching,so as to create a new undefined morality,has opened the church and their own families to abusers. If Christian morality is not taught than abortion,homosexual behavior and homosexual marriage,euthanasia and assisted suicide,seem reasonable and when this mindset is established,than sexual abuse of minors is a deviation of behavior that is an offshoot of all this confusion. The Catechism of the Catholic Church has emerged to counter this confusion of Church teaching ,as it is sound teaching for all Christians.In a confessional the Priest and the laity must be on the same moral page,one mind in Christ. Sin must be defined. All must agree as to what constitutes a sin. A priest has a bride and that is the Church and more importantly a vocation where God is his entire focus through Jesus Christ. Christ gave his beloved apostle,every Catholic Priest,his Holy Mother Mary and in Mary,the mother of the Eucharist, there is no greater woman to serve. God is our God,a sexual impulse and a desire to marry a woman is a way to serve God and create a family of children who should be raised to also serve God. A Priest has a Holy family in Jesus,Mary and Joseph a perfect family as the priests and the laities guide. Holy Marriage is a Holy sacrament for the laity. Holy Orders is reserved for a sacrificial life in service to Christ and God alone as a Holy Catholic Priest.

Published by: Frances
Ireland 12/13/2009 10:48 AM EST

I hope and pray that we see a new and reformed Seminary in Ireland that follows the teachings of Christ in its fullness and that is obedient to the Holy Father. The current seminary in Maynooth has many questions to answer about its faithfulness to Church teaching. I pray too for the Church in Ireland to become more open to the healing ministry of Christ and will use the gifts of the Holy Spirit to rebuild the Church.

Published by: Adrian
France 12/13/2009 07:55 AM EST

The reaction of the clergy would make you think that these revelations of sexual misconduct were an unexpected bombshell. Remember one of the worst of the pedophile priests, Father Brendan Smith that lead to the fall of the Reynolds government? That was in 1994...

Published by: owlafaye
Dayton, WA. USA 12/12/2009 09:43 PM EST

Sooooo, the foxes have appointed themselves to rebuild the chicken coop, eh?

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