The Bishop of Ferns has urged Catholics not to turn their backs on the horror of child abuse by some local priests in the diocese, describing the suffering of the victims as "our Calvary".
Dr Denis Brennan told the congregation at Easter Vigil Mass in St Aidan's Cathedral last night that people in the Ferns diocese had "experienced our own Calvary - most especially those who have suffered abuse by some of our priests - and the whole country is aware of it".
But he urged that people would try to continue to understand what had happened in Ferns and that understanding would help them "continue to grwo and inform us all as we go forward".
His homily focused on the child abuse scandals which were identified by the Ferns Inquiry, set up by the Goverment, and which examined over 100 allegations made between 1962 and 2002 against 27 priests.
The inquiry found key figures within the Diocese of Ferns placed the interests of individual priests ahead of those of the community which they served.
Two years ago, Pope Benedict said he deeply regretted the suffering victims of child sexual abuse had endured at the hands of some priests in Ferns.
During a meeting with Dr Brennan as part of the visit of the Irish Episcopal Conference, the Pope expressed his deep sorrow and distress at the events.