The Bishop of Cork and Ross, Dr John Buckley, has invited parishioners who have concerns about the activities of priests in the diocese to contact him and he has promised that immediate action will be taken if a priest is found to have behaved improperly.
The message was read in all churches in the diocese over the weekend and comes as the Garda authorities in Cork are preparing a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions concerning a city priest who is alleged to have sexually abused a young man. The investigation has been going on since October 2000.
In his pastoral letter Bishop Buckley said he was truly sorry the church had not treated some people fairly when priests sexually abused them.
"Some people have not met the compassionate face of Christ in the way the church has responded. An essential trust has been damaged, so it is understandable that people are confused and distressed. Some people may also feel that if they have concerns about the behaviour of a priest, their story will not be listened to. This would be the worst possible outcome.
"I repeat here what my predecessor, Bishop Murphy, and I have said on numerous occasions. The welfare of children has to be of paramount importance to all of us. This is all the more reason why the church must be willing to offer complainants all the pastoral help we can give.
"The road to recovery from being sexually abused is a difficult and painful one. I am committed to placing diocesan resources at the disposal of people who need such help. The diocese has already assisted people in such painful circumstances and will continue to do so. This is the least that Christ expects of all of us," the bishop added.
If people had complaints against priests they should tell him without delay, Dr Buckley said, and also report them to the Garda and the Southern Health Board. His message said that any priest found to have sexually abused a child or young person in his pastoral care would be "withdrawn from ministry and not returned."
The dioceses would help any priest in such a situation "to bring about his healing too," Dr Buckley said, adding that complaints would be dealt with immediately and sensitively.