Read more: Dramatic scenes as Archbishops wash abuse victim’s feet - SEE POLL
Recent dire warnings that the Catholic church in Ireland is "on the edge of collapse" have been dismissed by a new Irish association of Irish priests.
Father Tony Flannery, a founding member of the Association of Catholic Priests, told the press this week that he believes that the participants in Vatican appointed apostolic visitation to Ireland are "really listening" to the concerns of the clergy and the Irish people.
Father Flannery added that he believed that the visitors truly grasped "depth and urgency" of the crisis in Ireland caused by the revelations of decades of sexual abuse and cover-up.
Pope Benedict called for the visitation last year, in the aftermath of the sexual abuse crisis, naming top prelates to lead the review, including Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston.
Observers say that Cardinal O’Malley believes Irish Catholicism is now at risk, but he believes that the nation can still avoid the more pronounced forms of secularization to be found in other Western European countries.
Sources say O’Malley has stressed to the Irish clergy that the visitation will be more than a cosmetic exorcise, assuring the participants that he will make a no holds barred report to Rome.
"If it goes into the Vatican and a response comes back that’s inadequate, or we get no response at all, it will be an awful pity," Flannery told the press. "The future is at risk."
Read more: Dramatic scenes as Archbishops wash abuse victim’s feet - SEE POLL
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.fatherbob | Feb 22, 2011, 02:21 PM EST
Tony Flannery: I guess you have some cause for hope. Just don't get your hopes up too high! I suppose Diarmuid Martin is "the real thing." He may be the ONLY one! It's clear that many bishops and priests in Ireland hate him for his concern for justice. His opinions seem to mean nothing in Rome. As for Sean O'Malley...he has yet to name the priest abusers in the Archdiocese of Boston and he continues to harbor priest abusers in parishes and elsewhere. I don't trust any of them. Neither do the victims, in general! Jesus washed the feet of his disciples ONLY after feeding them. When the bishops feed the hungry (victims of abuse), clothe the naked (victims of clergy abuse), house the homeless (victims of clergy abuse), visit and comfort the imprisoned (victims of clergy abuse, etc., then maybe I will trust them!
SisterMaureen | Feb 22, 2011, 12:02 PM EST
Maybe they do and maybe they don't. In either case neither O'Malley or Martin prostrating themselves on the floor of the cathedral asking forgivness for the sins and crimes of the hierarchs of Ireland will do the trick. Where were the Irish bishops and why weren't they on the floor confessing their sins and crimies themselves? Ah hah! You got it. They weren't there, they didn't confess because they still don't think they did wrong. Why didn't the pope accept the resignations from all the Irish bishops when they were offered? Bad sign. I commend Tony Flannery's faith that the visitors are "listening" but their listening doesn't matter. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia had a PR event too, in 2005, about a month after the first grand jury report was released. It was called "WITNESS TO THE SORROW" and it was a great PR Media event. Nothing much happened until the recently released second grand jury report which resulted in five arrests which included one Msgr. Lynn, in charge of priest personnel. Now Cardinal Rigali, the auxiliaries and the rest of the PA bishop are jumping. ARRESTS MADE THE DIFFERENCE. Sister Maureen Paul Turlish, Victims' Advocate, New Castle, Delaware, maturlishmdsnd@yahoo.com
STUMPTOWN | Feb 22, 2011, 10:32 AM EST
Most in religious life are very good people but have been damaged by the others unlawful deeds and I feel sorry for these good majorty but not for the RCC ADMINISTRATION that push the policy OF SILENCE THE TRUTH TO PROTECT THE IMAGE. Thoes RCs that do not want to hear of the sexual abuse crimes of the children and look the other way are part of the blame as well. IT IS TIME FOR A NEW POPE WITH CLEAN HANDS AND THE VATICAN III TO TURN THE RCC AROUND.