Speaking as someone who was born and raised in the diocese of Cloyne and who attended the Diocesesian Seminary (which was the local boarding school) where at least 2 of the cases of abuse happened I've been reading a lot on what happened in Cloyne and speaking to friends/family about it over the last few days.
Fortunately, in my time at the boarding school in the 80s, nothing ever happened me nor was I aware of anything going on (albeit, I think we were more innocent back then anyway). The one thing I did learn about priests there was that they were human beings. There were some, who to this day, I have the utmost time and respect for. I can remember 50 of us sitting in their sitting rooms of an evening after study watching the news/a match or whatever was on with no issues. They were good decent men. However, there were others who frankly, were violent, hypocrites and only interested in money. It is wrong to tarnish the whole clergy with the one brush. One poster on here spoke of "boycotting the clergy". Does that include the parish priest who reported a fellow priest to Magee, not once, but twice, then contacted the bishops office to find out when the investigator was due to visit and then when nothing was happening, contacted the external authorities.? (This is in the Murphy report).
Magee was never popular in Cloyne. He was a "blow in" for starters (and you know what us Cork people are like!!). He didn't endure himself to the parishes when parish property was sold and the money went into diocesan funds as opposed to parish funds. I think his biggest issue was his ego. Because he came from Rome and the higher echelons there and had never really worked in a parish, I think he thought that all of the abuse victims were beneath him and less important than the reputation of the clergy. There are priests in the diocese who had no time for him either. O’Callaghan was just a “yes man”, a lap dog who did what he was told and was put in that position of power because those were the kind of men Magee wanted around him.
The cover up angers me but the cowardice of Magee annoys me even more, but frankly, I don’t think anyone in Cork truly expected much else.
I was at Mass on Sunday (not in Cloyne), with my family. The Parish Priest walked through what is done in the parish and diocese in relation to child protection. I have sympathy for people like him; after all, if one of my colleagues at work turned out to be a serial abuser and it was covered up by our bosses, would I be expected to spend the rest of my career apologizing for them?
Has this shaken my faith?, no to be honest, I don’t think it has. I don’t look at the Catholic Church as just being the Vatican, priests etc, instead, to me, it is a Community of people, and the clergy are just a small part of that. I’m sure people on here will disagree with that, maybe think I’m an idiot or a fool, that’s fine, that’s your opinion and you’re entitled to that, but I’m also entitled to mine.
As to the future, I do believe the Nuncio should be expelled, but given that our Foreign Affairs agenda is driven by the EU these days, I’ll be surprised if it happens. I also believe all clerical abusers and those who willingly covered it up (as opposed to being simply incompetent) should be defrocked and excommunicated. It won’t happen but I do believe that one day, when they shuffle off this planet, they will be answerable.
I actually don’t think it will be a bad thing if the power of the Church diminishes in Irish life. Its hold was too great. However can I ask posters on here to remember a couple of things. Firstly, there is a nationwide church collection next Sunday for the African Famine and secondly, there are thousands of people in this country currently being supported by St Vincent de Paul. Whatever people’s opinion of the clergy is, don’t forget and ignore the positive work being done as well