THE CATHOLIC Church in Ireland has “changed radically” and there is no longer any hiding place for abusers within it, Cardinal Seán Brady has said.
Addressing Easter Sunday Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh, Dr Brady said his personal conviction as leader of the Irish church was the protection of everyone within the church, especially children and the vulnerable.
In a lengthy address, his third on the subject in three weeks, he again apologised to victims of clerical child sexual abuse and repeated the pledge he made on Good Friday in Dundalk – that “proper reparation would be made for the harm that has been caused”.
He said the controversy offered the church an opportunity for transformation and he linked this to the Easter message. “I am convinced that by committing ourselves fully to the challenges of the reform, healing and renewal, the wounds of the past, like those of the risen Jesus, have the greatest chance of being transformed.
“By destroying all arrogance, pride and corruption in the church, by becoming the humble, just and caring community of disciples that Christ intended us to be, we may look back at this historic moment and see in it God’s life-giving and transforming grace.”
He said that the church should “not try to flee the consequences” of its misdeeds “which can continue to mar the lives of those who suffered”. He resolved to do “whatever is necessary” to atone for the crimes that had been committed and prevent their recurrence.
Drawing on Pope Benedict’s letter to the Catholics of Ireland last month, Dr Brady said the Irish church had to undertake an honest and incisive investigation of the causes of the abuse scandal.
He accepted the pope’s suggestions that among these was “a misplaced concern for the reputation of the church and the avoidance of scandal”, as well as a “tendency in society to favour the clergy and other authority figures”.
He also said there had been inadequate procedures for determining the suitability of candidates for the priesthood and religious life and “insufficient formation in seminaries and novitiates”.
Dr Brady stressed that priests, religious and lay people were all equal in baptism and therefore had to “co-responsible for the well-being of the church”.
“Co-responsibility requires that lay people be equipped to live out their baptismal calling and commitments and to be aware of their rights and duties in the life of the church,” he said.
Improved structures of religious instruction in schools and “better faith formation for adults in our diocese” would be promoted, and he said this would help “rebuild Christ’s church and make this a time of new beginning, of true resurrection for us all”.
Welcoming the pope’s apostolic visitation, or investigation, he said: “It is my intention to propose to the Holy See that the Diocese of Armagh would be one of those dioceses which will be visited as part of the apostolic visitation announced by Pope Benedict.”
Referring to St Peter and his denial of Christ before the crucifixion, Dr Brady said: “I realise that I have many past failures and inadequacies for which I am sorry and apologise. I realise that I also have been given a great responsibility to God and to you, for leadership and renewal in the church. I take that responsibility, a responsibility which I hope to fulfil at all times to the best of my ability.”
He concluded: “May the church in Ireland be truly transformed, may our past scars lead us to a more humble service of the One who gave His life in service of us all.”
Dr Brady was again warmly received by the congregation at the doors of the cathedral where he personally greeted many worshippers.