AS THE resignation of Bishop Donal Murray looks imminent, there was still some support for the beleaguered bishop in Limerick yesterday where he personally addressed parishioners a week ago.
Mass-goers at St Joseph’s Church on O’Connell Avenue, where last week Bishop Murray said his only public Mass since the publication of the Murphy report, were still supporting the Limerick Bishop.
At the Mass he received a round of applause after he told Mass-goers he would be guided by the people of Limerick as to whether his presence was a “help or a hindrance to the diocese”.
There was no sign of the Limerick bishop at St Joseph’s yesterday and no similar applause when a statement was read out on his behalf by his secretary Fr Paul Finnerty.
However, some Mass-goers who attended the 10am service yesterday were still standing behind Bishop Murray.
While many accepted that the bishop’s resignation seemed inevitable there was still a desire for him to remain in his position in Limerick.
“I think he is handling it all reasonably well,” said Martin Murray.
“He explained reasonably well last Sunday as much as could be expected and the congregation were very receptive of it and supported him with a very substantial applause.
I think he should be given as much time as he needs,” he continued.
Mr Murray said the Limerick bishop had acknowledged that he didn’t do some “things he ought to have done”.
“Abuse is terrible, there is simply no question about it but the church wasn’t a great place for formation and training at that time,” he continued.
Liam Cotter believes there is a vendetta against the Bishop of Limerick.
“I don’t for a moment condone anything that happened, how could you, but I do feel there is a section of people going a little bit too far and I think there’s a bit of viciousness attached to it,” he said.
When asked if Bishop Murray deserves more time to consider his position the pensioner replied: “That’s up to his own conscience but I do feel that they are going right over the top and they are not being completely impartial.
There’s a vendetta and I’d ask the question: do any of these people practice religion at all themselves?”
Eileen Hyde who also attended yesterday’s Mass at St Joseph’s Church thinks Bishop Murray should remain on in his position.
”A lot of people want him to resign and I know everybody has their own opinion of him but I think he should be given a chance. He is being made to take the blame for the rest of them I don’t think that’s fair I think he should be given a chance in all honesty,” she said.