The Bishop of Kerry, Dr Bill Murphy, has assured the people of his diocese that no priest engaged in ministry in Kerry has "the slightest whiff" of suspicion in regard to child sexual abuse.
Dr Murphy made his remarks on Wednesday evening at the Easter Chrism Mass in St Mary's cathedral in Killarney, attended by priests of the diocese. The bishop's remarks come in the wake of growing controversy over the handling of the Father Seán Fortune affair in Wexford.
Dr Murphy did not, however, refer to this controversy but he did quote from the Pope's recent remarks about "the sins of some of our brothers" which had cast a dark shadow of suspicion over all other fine priests.
Speaking about the importance of Trócaire's campaign on behalf of the "exploited, abused and enslaved children" of the poorest countries of the world, he said it was only right that the children of this country who had been abused should also be remembered.
"It is only right, at this Mass, when we priests renew our promises to celibate love and pastoral service that we should remember the children in our own country who have been victims of abuse - physical, sexual and emotional."
It was a source of great sadness and regret to priests and people that some of these children were abused by priests and religious. He assured the congregation that the guidelines with regard to sexual abuse issued by the episcopal conference in January 1996 had been strictly implemented in the diocese of Kerry.
"Moreover, I want to assure you that no priest is engaged in ministry in this diocese against whom any allegation of abuse has been made or of whom there is the slightest whiff of suspicion in this regard," the bishop said.
Catholics today needed spiritual courage to face the power of a number of "cultural intimidating factors" which surrounded them, he went on, listing "scandals in the church, decline in religious practice, apathy towards religion, sexual permissiveness..." He also criticised political correctness. This "can cow people into concealing or acting against their convictions", the bishop said.