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Irish cardinal defends actions in handling abusive priest
By Catholic News Service
March 18, 2010
DUBLIN, Ireland - Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh, Northern Ireland, chairman of the Irish bishops’ conference, insisted he will not resign after it was revealed that he failed to report allegations of child abuse by a priest to the police in 1975.
Speaking with reporters March 14, Brady said it was not his responsibility at the time to report the allegations involving Norbertine Father Brendan Smyth to the police.
Speaking with reporters March 14, Brady said it was not his responsibility at the time to report the allegations involving Norbertine Father Brendan Smyth to the police.
“Even today the appropriate person to do that is the designated person (within his order). I was not that person,” he said.
“But I insist again I did act, and act effectively, in that inquiry to produce the grounds for removing Fr. Smyth from ministry and specifically it was underlined that he was not to hear confessions and that was very important.... The responsibility for his behaviour as a priest rested with his religious superior.”
The allegations surrounding Smyth involved a group of teenagers who told then-Fr. Brady that the priest had abused them. At the time, Brady insisted that the complainants swear an oath of secrecy and not discuss what happened with anybody other than an approved priest.
“But I insist again I did act, and act effectively, in that inquiry to produce the grounds for removing Fr. Smyth from ministry and specifically it was underlined that he was not to hear confessions and that was very important.... The responsibility for his behaviour as a priest rested with his religious superior.”
The allegations surrounding Smyth involved a group of teenagers who told then-Fr. Brady that the priest had abused them. At the time, Brady insisted that the complainants swear an oath of secrecy and not discuss what happened with anybody other than an approved priest.