The Bishop of Cork and Ross, Dr John Buckley, yesterday strongly rejected claims by a priest of his diocese that he had failed to deal properly with a report by the priest concerning child abuse.
Bishop Buckley was commenting in the wake of a report in yesterday's Irish Times that the Vatican had dismissed as "null and void" a decision by him to remove Fr James Davern from ministry because of alleged psychological infirmity.
Fr Davern had written to Pope John Paul II in 2003 and 2004 regarding his treatment by Bishop Buckley and, last August, the Vatican's Congregation for Clergy dismissed Bishop Buckley's claim that Fr Davern suffered from psychological infirmity.
Last night, Bishop Buckley said he was anxious to clarify the situation, saying that Fr Davern informed his parish priest that he was taking compassionate leave in 1997 so he could place himself under appropriate medical and hospital care. Bishop Buckley said he acceded to that request and relieved him of his responsibilities in his parish. However, Fr Davern was unhappy with arrangements offered to him following his discharge from hospital to allow him more time to recover. Fr Davern rebutted all attempts to engage with him, he said. "Fr Davern has for several years refused to meet with the bishop in an appropriate pastoral environment and instead has communicated with the bishop through the offices of nine different firms of solicitors," said Bishop Buckley in his statement.
Bishop Buckley said that a number of years after Fr Davern had ceased ministry, he complained to gardaí he was physically assaulted when he was 18 years of age in a school owned by the diocese in the 1960s.
"This allegation was also made by him to the Laffoy Commission who did not entertain it. This complaint was investigated by the gardaí and Bishop Buckley co-operated fully with this investigation. No prosecution followed," said the statement.
Bishop Buckley said the allegation was fully assessed by the diocese and after consulting his diocesan advisers and having considered the matter fully, he judged that there was not a credible allegation of child sexual abuse. "The priest accused by Fr Davern remains a priest of the diocese and is in good standing. Like every other citizen, he is entitled to his good name and due process."
"Bishop Buckley assures the faithful in his diocese that he treats matters concerning the care of children most seriously. He is also fully committed to the policy and guidelines of the Catholic Church regarding complaints of this nature," he said.