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Voice of the Faithful targets new Irish Catholic bishop over child sex abuse

Campaign set to raise concern in Irish hierarchy

PATRICK ROBERTS

Irish Central.com

Published Friday, January 1, 2010, 8:34 AM

Updated Friday, January 1, 2010, 10:37 AM

Bishop Hegarty: Voice of the Faithful targets Irish bishop

A new Irish bishop has been targeted by Voice of the Faithful, a Catholic lobbying group with branches in Ireland and the U.S.

Bishop of Derry Seamus Hegarty who was Bishop of Raphoe in Donegal from 1982 - 1994. is being asked to explain how he ignored the activities of child rapist Father Eugene Greene who served as a priest in Raphoe during that period.

The statement from VOTF reads: "On December 9th, 2009, in response to the publication of the Murphy report on clerical child sex abuse in Dublin archdiocese, the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference announced: We are shamed by the extent to which child sexual abuse was covered up in the Archdiocese of Dublin and recognise that this indicates a culture that was widespread in the Church."

"During the period 1982-1994 Bishop Seamus Hegarty was bishop of Raphoe. The prolific child rapist Eugene Greene served as a priest in Raphoe in that period. Gardai did not become aware of his crimes against twenty-six young men until 1997. However, there is compelling evidence, revealed in 2008 in the book 'Breaking the Silence' that his criminal activities were known to Raphoe clergy at least as early as 1976.

"When Bishop Hegarty approved the Irish bishops' statement of December 9th,
was he admitting that the 'widespread' cover up of clerical child sex abuse extended to the diocese of Raphoe during his term of office there? Or does he deny having had any knowledge during that period of Greene's abusive proclivities and activities?

"Bishop Moriarty of Kildare and Leighlin has tendered his resignation on the grounds that he should have challenged the culture of cover-up that prevailed in the Dublin archdiocese when he was an auxiliary bishop there. All bishops who failed that challenge should now resign also. Is Bishop Hegarty one such, or was he inexplicably unaware of the cover up culture that prevailed among bishops in Ireland during the period 1975-1997?" the statement adds.

The new campaign will worry many church figures who were hoping that the resignation of four bishops from the Dublin archdiocese would end the issue of Bishops who were complicit with child sex abusers. That however, looks like it will not be the case.

Bishop Hegarty is well known in the U.S. for his work as head of the Irish Bishops task force on immigration. In that capacity he recently visited the U.S. to meet with immigrant groups and Irish American politicians.

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Posted by Liamkeyes on Aug 18, 2010, 07:50 PM EDT

Back in the 40's and 50's if any boy misbehaved they were "threatened" to be sent to Daingean or Artane so it follows that the laity were aware of the discipline in these places, maybe not aware of the sexual abuses but definitely the physical abuses but nobody came forward, if they did they were ignored or silenced by the authorities, it was the prevailing culture at the time.

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Posted by Bushothehill on Jun 20, 2010, 08:27 PM EDT

Somewhere back in the Fourth Century A.D., One, John, in the area of Constantinaople, was a vibrant Christian preacher and converter of pagans to Christianity. However,the dissolute and hedonistic activities of some of the Church's hierachy, caused him such great pain and concern, it caused him to utter the following proclamation: THE ROAD TO HELL IS PAVED WITH THE SKULLS OF BISHOPS. For his good works on earth, he was subsequently canonized and is known as St. John Chrystomos.

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Posted by LilPaddy on Mar 10, 2010, 07:18 PM EST

I HAVE JUST READ THE BELOW "COMMENTS" AND I WISH THAT THE PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF THE HATE FILLED STATEMENTS WITHIN THEM, HAD WALKED A MILE IN MY SHOES (Daingean 58 TO 60); AND IF I CAN NOW FORGIVE THOSE WHO SAW ALL BUT SAID NOTHING.....(but, that does not include the abuser's) THE REST OF YOU CAN TOO!! OR (AS IT SEEMS) ARE YOU JUST HELL BENT ON DESTROYING WHATS LEFT OF THE CHURCH IN IRELAND!!! Note: I am not, nor have I been a church goer... shane2010. call me. # is above your comment!

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Posted by Intercessor on Feb 24, 2010, 08:44 PM EST

Cardinal Ratzinger didn't "Challenge the Culture of Cover-ups" when he was the Prefect for the Congregation for Doctrines and Faith. With that kind of example, why should any other bishop or archbishop be forced to "Challenge the Culture of Cover-ups" at a Diocesan level? Well, if they did, it would be a good example for Pope Benedict to follow suite.

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Posted by Intercessor on Feb 24, 2010, 08:32 PM EST

I think that VOTF is one of the most intelligent, unrecognized organizations in the Catholic Church. VOTF wants more "Lay Participation," which could only IMPROVE the Church by integrating it with those with fresh ideas, morals and Spirit-filled inspiration. Of course, those who are "so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good," will protest and encourage them to leave the running of the Church to Neanderthal Clerics and "Orthodox" Catholics!" Hopefully, VOTF will bring needed change to the Church!

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Posted by bern1952 on Feb 22, 2010, 11:49 AM EST

The Catholic Church has had more than its share of problems and scandals recently, but it is not the first time this has happened. As in any institute of people, imperfection and crimes raise their ugly heads from time to time. The Catholic Church will emerge a much smaller and stronger institution. This is a good thing. Most of the people that post on here seem to believe that the Church is supposed to ebb and change with the tide, but the ten commandments are still just that"commandments" and not suggestions. There will be changes but not liberal changes and the remaining Catholic Church goers will be much more like Catholics of the 1950, not the ones of the 1990 and 2000's.Hopefully we can all learn from past mistakes.

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