The Vatican is expected to replace Ireland’s leading church figure. Cardinal Sean Brady, and will appoint a coadjutor or deputy bishop by the end of this year who will eventually be his replacement.
The Irish Times has reported that the Vatican move will happen because of massive public pressure on Brady over his actions concerning the notorious pedophile priest Fr. Brendan Smyth.
Brady is primate of all Ireland, essentially Ireland’s leading Catholic figure, based in Armagh.
The Vatican is expected to act after a BBC documentary alleged that Brady was far more involved in a cover up of Smyth than he admitted at the time in 1987. Brady, then a young priest, served on a panel investigating Smyth. No action was taken against Smyth and he went on to abuse many more kids.
The Vatican at first defended Brady and said he had their full confidence. However, Irish leader Enda Kenny, Deputy leader Eamon Gilmore, and Northern Irish leader Martin McGuinness, have all called on Brady to resign.
A coadjutor Bishop takes over many of the roles of the Bishop and is usually a much younger man. In most cases he replaces the Bishop.
Brady, 73, managed to keep his position after an earlier controversy about Smith and how he handled the case. This latest crisis, however, is seen as far more serious.
If Brady is forced to step down, it will be the 2nd major figure that Fr. Brendan Smyth has been instrumental in forcing out of office.
Former Irish leader Albert Reynolds also resigned after becoming involved in the Smyth controversy. The deputy to Brady is expected to be appointed by the end of the year and Brady is then expected to retire.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.rainbowbrew | May 07, 2012, 12:07 PM EDT
not soon enough, they still do not understand
barneyjo | May 07, 2012, 05:54 AM EDT
@Intercessor - The "Peter Principle" applies equally in Ireland (unfortunately)!!
Intercessor | May 06, 2012, 11:17 PM EDT
Many people all over the world are praying for a 2nd Reformation in the Roman Catholic Church. My prayer is that it will begin in Ireland and spread like wild-fire around the world. It's been almost 500 years since the First Reformation. The Vatican, along with Cardinal Brady have shown how little they know of repentance and the true Gospel of Christ. Isn't it time that they be taught a lesson that history will not forget? May Ireland lead the world in a quest for true holiness and Godliness.
Intercessor | May 06, 2012, 03:16 PM EDT
PhlutiePhan: I do hope that you were just kidding about giving Cardinal Dolan control of both Ireland and New York! I shutter to think what would happen in that event. Why, he'd probably end up on the short list for Papabilli! In the States, we have something called, "The Peter Principle." In it, one rises to the level of their incompetence, then they are no longer promotable. In the Church, the more successful someone is in being inept, the faster he will rise through the ranks of the Hierarchy. I'm afraid if Cardinal Dolan is ever made the chief Primate of New York and Dublin, that he will not have "reached the ultimate Level of his Incompetence," until he is made Pope! After Pope, we all know what'll be next: He'll be canonized a Saint of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, and he will have reached his ultimate level of incompetence in this world and the next!
pilib04 | May 06, 2012, 10:23 AM EDT
warlocks, this is what happens when a misogynistic, ex-Hitler Youth becomes Holy Father. I'm fed up with all of it. But especially the protection given to the child-rapists.
warlocks | May 06, 2012, 12:38 AM EDT
Its really sad that the Catholic Church is on the verge of folding up not only in Ireland but through out the world . But the Vatican has brought this on themself by not addressing the issues. History shows total power always breeds corruption. too little too late by the vatican to save the church in Ireland
tombegs | May 05, 2012, 09:52 PM EDT
He certainly lived up to the term 'primate." I LOVED his "just a stenographer" defense after he a CANON LAWYER was assigned to "investigate" and "report." Two suggestions: He could do prayer and reflection at a soup kitchen in Salt Lake City, USA (home of the Mormons) or in Rome as Bernie Law's roomie. Your choice about how the Vatican decides???? "
Bythebay | May 05, 2012, 04:29 PM EDT
Don't believe it except when and if it actually happens!
hermitTalker | May 05, 2012, 12:57 PM EDT
More incorrect reporting and ignorant comments. A coadjutor is not a deputy bishop, he has right to succession and the cardinal will be totally in charge, will of course delegate some responsibilities. The cardinal is being nailed to his cross for the neglect of the Abbot of sick, serial abuser Smyth. Sean Brady did his job and did it thoroughly, he went to the local boys in his then diocese, and on to Belfast to make a full report. Young Boland's father was there, he sure as heck was not going with his son for a cosy chat with three non-local parish priests so he knew very well why he drive his son there and we can presume the other parents were told, else why would the boys be spoken with without their knowledge. Either way, the secrecy thing was not designed to hide the crud from the parents but to protect confidentiality as the cardinal says now. Anything to nail the Church and one of its top protetors of children for the critics' own agenda. It is very common to name a coadjutor bishop for several reasons and of course the headline and opening paragraph are typical of the now ifamous RTE's style of telling stories. The cardinal is 72, three years to go, and who would have the courage to be pilloried by the media, the humanistic-atheistic un-Christian critics (who do not seem to know that all are sinners, and Jesus blasted those who were so self-righteous because He loved the outcasts. 2012 hind=sight is wonderful and makes us all geniuses and brave women/men. As to the Government North and South leaders, their business is to fix the economy, get their own act together on public comments, dump their 200 K a year "consultants" re-do the Croke Park agreement. As I advised them, let the cardinal continue to clean up the Church's S*** and they can work on the rural septic tanks when they get the water system fixed.
Murph46 | May 05, 2012, 12:56 PM EDT
Ms.Gail- Aw shucks mam,just funnin ya'all-see they already took my post down!Beyond celibate!
Ms.Gail | May 05, 2012, 12:50 PM EDT
@ Murph46, LOL, nobody says you can't be hetro, just celebate and chaste! Its a goal to reach for!
hollabackgurl | May 05, 2012, 12:49 PM EDT
If he was heading any other organization that had knowingly shielded child abusers and rapists from prosecution he'd be in prison now. His religious is protecting him. And the prosecutors refusing to prosecute him are protecting their religion and faith in it. No one wants to see what they're actually seeing, apparently.
hollabackgurl | May 05, 2012, 12:14 PM EDT
If my memory of Roman Catholic canon law holds true, the normal retirement age for a bishop is 75, although it can be waived by the Pope. A coadjutor in this case would almost automatically be vetted as a successor, given that Brady is two years shy of retirement. As an aside, Brady still would be eligible to participate in the election of a new pope, should that be necessary, until he is 80. I say good riddance to him.
like2tweet | May 05, 2012, 12:12 PM EDT
he needs to step down
PhlutiePhan | May 05, 2012, 10:53 AM EDT
The Vatican has to act. Maybe, give Dolan control of both New York and Dublin.
casualMBA | May 05, 2012, 10:27 AM EDT
The Papal Nuncio?