Bishop Eamonn Walsh, Apostolic Administrator to the Diocese of Ferns, apologised directly to the people of Fethard-on-Sea, Co Wexford yesterday for the abuse perpetrated by Father Sean Fortune during his time as a curate there between 1981 and 1987.
Bishop Walsh, appointed following the resignation of Bishop Brendan Comiskey, celebrated Mass yesterday in Poulfour, where Father Fortune was based, and told parishioners he wished to apologise unreservedly to everyone who had been directly or indirectly abused by Father Fortune.
"I know it is far, far too late and very inadequate but I say it to you from my heart," said Bishop Walsh, who made similar comments at Mass in the neighbouring parish of Templetown on Saturday night.
In his homily at Mass in St Aidan's Church, Poulfour, the bishop spoke about respect for the dignity of others as the foundation of Christianity and said the greatest lack of respect that could be perpetrated on anyone was the sexual abuse of a child.
It robbed innocence, betrayed trust, sowed guilt and destroyed self-respect, he said. And when the abuse was perpetrated by a priest, it was a double betrayal because that could even rob a person of their faith in God.
Bishop Walsh said he had made the pastoral path back to wholeness and healing the central theme of the recent Ferns diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes and it was also the message of his pastoral visit to Fethard yesterday.
Bishop Walsh spoke quietly to parishioners in the churchyard before going to the Naomh Seosaimh Hotel in Fethard where local people were invited to join him for a cup of tea and a chat.
The bishop's visit was well-received by the congregation in Poulfour with many people commenting on the sincere and under-stated tone of his message.
"I think it's a very good thing that he came here today," said Mr Vivian Tubritt of Saltmills. "I hope it will bring about a bit of healing. A new start has been created. It might take the awful gloom off the place."
"The new priest, Father Oliver Sweeney, has only been here three months. I think it will be a relief to him that the bishop came. It's not nice coming into a place with a dark past and then when Bishop Comiskey resigned it brought it all back. Father Sweeney came in at a bad time, when it all flared up again," he said.
Another parishioner, Mr Sean Finn, said he thought Bishop Walsh's address was "excellent". He felt that Bishop Comiskey could not have come to Poulfour and made the same statement because it would not have been accepted by the people.
Ms Mary Finlay paid tribute to Father Sweeney's predecessor, Father Joe McGrath, who came to the parish after Father Fortune's departure.
He started the healing process and was a blessing to the place, she said.
"I was here at Mass the first time Father Fortune came but I stopped coming. I thought the bishop's homily today was lovely," Ms Finlay said
• Corrections and Clarifications Mr Sean Finn of Saltmills, Co Wexford, wishes to point out that he is not the Sean Finn quoted in the above article.