Diocese 'ready' for child abuse report

Friday October 14th 2005

FERNS diocese has hit back at priests who claim it is not prepared for the fallout from an explosive inquiry into child abuse.

The priests are concerned there is no plan in place to respond to the inquiry's report, which is soon to be published.

This week's edition of The Irish Catholic quotes a number of 'senior clerics' who say they are so alarmed over the situation that that they have nominated one of their own colleagues to act as a spokesman when the report is issued.

The paper says that there was a meeting of clergy to discuss the issue.

One priest said it was an attempt "to keep up a united front". Another said: "The priests are anxious to have some direction from the Bishop about what to do when the report comes out or even what is likely to be in the report, but he's sending us out to the people with nothing."

However, a spokesman for Bishop Walsh has strongly denied this. Fr John Carroll told The Irish Independent that the Bishop is not at liberty to discuss the Ferns report because that might interfere with the workings of the inquiry.

In addition, he insisted, the diocese has prepared a response.

He indicated that some of the priests complaining about a lack of response may not have been at meetings organised by Dr Walsh to discuss the matter with diocesan clergy.

David Quinn

? Irish Independent