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Pope summons Irish bishops to an emergency meeting in Rome

DONAL THORNTON,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 7:41 AM

Updated Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 7:45 AM

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Pope Benedict XVI has summoned Irish bishops to discuss the fallout of the Murphy report at an emergency meeting in Rome.

The meeting will take place on February 15 and 16, and there will be "several senior Vatican officials in attendance."

The Murphy report found that 46 priests raped and abused 320 children in the Dublin Archdiocese.

It also concluded that the Catholic Church covered up by the abuse, and every effort was made to discredit the victims of abuse when they went they spoke in public about their experiences.

The Irish Catholic newspaper said the bishops will meet with the pope next month and will be given the opportunity to speak to him.

The Irish Catholic said the meeting was called "because of what is perceived as a very serious situation in Ireland."

The special meeting will give the Pope an opportunity to send a message to the Irish people and address the problem of clerical abuse in Ireland.

"By the end of the meeting it is expected that concrete proposal's will have emerged and the Pope will offer his conclusions. Each bishop will then return to his diocese for the Ash Wednesday liturgies on February 17, where he will address the faithful on the way forward."

Nster.com

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MAGHNUS | Jan 24, 2010, 06:19 AM EST

The "church" is nothing but filth; was and is....Seriously, what kind of sick fuck is going to praise God while raping children. The "church" has made people believe in it for centuries, always trying to put itself up there equal with God....face it, there is GOD and there is JESUS, if you want to pray, talk, or confess to either one of them, you don't have to do it through the "church." How you Worship the Lord is NOT important, just as long as you do.

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MAGHNUS | Jan 24, 2010, 06:06 AM EST

I agree, freethinker666, but truthfully, they shouldn't be having a silent protest at all, they should be breaking through the "Church"'s door and beating the crap outta all the clergy. The Irish, meaning those still in the homeland, have been oppressed for too long....they should be raising hell for this, not shamefully hanging their heads.

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MAGHNUS | Jan 22, 2010, 10:41 AM EST

irishathens said "Instead of holding a meeting in the Vatican the Pope should go to Dublin and talk with the people that were abused" Yah, that'll happen, then he would be admitting to the world that the catholic cleargy are by and large a bunch of perverts, and have been covering their own asses for the last 2000 yrs.

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airmom624 | Jan 21, 2010, 09:48 PM EST

I believe that Pope Benedict XVI is a just and merciful Pope. As a result of his past actions in defending the Church, and the Catholic population,those that degrade their postions as church leaders will have to deal with the consequences of their actions. Only God can judge these men, but our Pope, as the leader of our faith,will make those who are guilty be held accountable for their actions. We as Catholic must pray for our Pope for a resolution that will resolve the problems of past, present and future. We must also show dignity to those who are brave enough to bring this to the worlds attention, and pray for those who have wrongly accused anyone for self gain. May Our Lord and His Blessed Mother guide us all in our actions.

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kickstar | Jan 21, 2010, 12:11 AM EST

There is just 1 word I agree with as relevant in this story and that word is Concrete now let me add another.....Boots .Let every Irish bishop put a pair on and find a deep lake preferably on an away day with Benny.

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jacersisityourself | Jan 20, 2010, 04:00 PM EST

I agree with BishopSean - irishathens does have a great idea... Straight-up talking can work wonders for the better good.

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jacersisityourself | Jan 20, 2010, 03:55 PM EST

It’s great that this meeting has been called. Hopefully straight up-front and frank talking will take place amongst them. All the Irish Bishops have to do is look upon Pope Benedict, not as pope but as Bishop if Rome; then they will be on equal footing. Doesn’t the Bishop of Rome have some abusive priests in his huge diocese? Most of all, as an Irish Catholic, I would want to know if Benedict, as Head of the Congregation of the Faith, played a part in the cover up. Perhaps our Bishops will point out that to His Holiness and bring us back an answer. I respect Pope Benedict as a holy man and as Pope but if he did help in the covering up, then I would want him to abdicate the Papacy for the good of my church, sending a straight up-front message to future potential abusive priests and cover-up bishops.

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BishopSean | Jan 20, 2010, 01:27 PM EST

Irishathens has a great idea...perhaps the Pope could do both; hold a meeting in Rome, as it is a matter of worldwide concern, and also in Ireland, specifically.

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irishathens | Jan 20, 2010, 11:12 AM EST

Instead of holding a meeting in the Vatican the Pope should go to Dublin and talk with the people that were abused.

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irishathens | Jan 20, 2010, 10:16 AM EST

It is called damage control, how can we fuck children, and still get the their asshole parents to send us money. In the last 2000 years the Catholic church has refused to own up the their atrocities, what make you think they will do it now?

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