BISHOP OF CORK AND ROSS:BISHOP OF Cork and Ross John Buckley has expressed hope that groups representing survivors of clerical child-sexual abuse would recognise that Pope Benedict's pastoral letter was a genuine attempt to address the issue.
“I’ve heard some criticism of the letter. I think that was a very immediate response. I think it’s a very comprehensive letter and when the pope spoke to us after Christmas, he said that he was preparing it in prayer and great reflection . . . the Holy Father made a special effort to reach out to those who are hurt and that he has acknowledged the things were dealt with inadequately in the past.”
Speaking to The Irish TimesBishop Buckley said: "Great hurt was caused to young people . . . and we're all saddened by what has happened but our suffering bears no comparison to the hurt and damage and distress of the victims themselves."
The pope’s letter was given a guarded welcome by parishioners when the parts of the letter was read out by Bishop Buckley at 10.30am Mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, which was attended by about 150 people.
Bishop Buckley, who concelebrated the Mass with local parish priest Fr Paddy Keating, informed parishioners at the start he would be reading excerpts from the pope’s letter and said copies of an edited version were available in the entrance to the church.
In the event, Bishop Buckley spent the best part of 10 minutes reading from an edited version of the letter. After Mass, the prelate came down from the altar and met with parishioners in the porch of the church as they left. But few if any seemed to engage with him about the pope’s pastoral letter and most seem content simply to shake his hand before departing.
The Diocese of Limerick was without a bishop yesterday to deliver the pope’s letter. Dr Donal Murray was forced to step down in December after he was heavily criticised in the Murphy report.
It fell to parish priest Fr Tom Mangan to read the pontiff’s pastoral letter and he told the congregation at 11.30am Mass in St Joseph’s that he was doing so “with my heart in my throat”.
Before reading excerpts, Fr Mangan told the packed church how he felt he was only able to keep working as a priest because of the kindness of those he served. “I must say above all that the sense of goodwill and warmth that I’ve felt in my 24 years as a priest in Limerick has been fantastic.”