Limerick Bishop Donal Murray is expected to offer his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI in Rome today. The bishop flew to Rome yesterday to discuss his future with the Rome hierarchy.
 
Murray has come under serious pressure from the general public to resign since the publication of the scathing Dublin diocesan report. The report detailed the extent of child abuse in the Diocese and criticized Murray for withholding information and covering up alleged child abuse by members of the clergy.
 
In an interview with Irish television braodcaster RTE on Saturday, Cardinal Sean Brady said he was confident that Murray "would do the right thing." He also said, “I would remember that child sex abuse is a very serious crime and very grave, and if I found myself in a situation where I was aware that my failure to act had allowed or meant that other children were abused, well then, I think I would resign.”
 
The cardinal said in an interview with The Irish Times that he would travel to Rome later this week with the Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin to express "the anger and dismay among the people."
 
With considerable pressure mounting, Murray told parishioners yesterday that he was "reflecting on the decision he now has to make." He flew to Rome shortly after the statement was made.
 
Brady also criticized the the Vatican for failing to respond to a letter he wrote to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in September 2006.
 
Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin expressed his "deep disappointment" at the Pope's failure to respond to the child-abuse scandal.
 
"The Pope has not responded yet to the appalling revelations of the Murphy inquiry. I think we will be pointing out that we need such a substantive response, and it is the view of the Irish Government that there has to be co-operation ... not just with the investigation into Dublin," said Martin.