The response of some priests and bishops to the publication of the Murphy report into clerical child sex abuse was very troubling, a survivors’ group said yesterday.
One in Four yesterday criticised a backlash by certain members of the clergy against Archbishop Diarmuid Martin’s handling of the report’s publication, which has led to several resignations by bishops.
“The response of priests and bishops is very troubling, questioning as it does the credibility of the Murphy report,” said Maeve Lewis, executive director of One in Four.
“It is enormously insulting and hurtful to the thousands of Irish people who were sexually abused by priests to read of the emerging scepticism of priests.
“Have the priests involved actually read the document,” Ms Lewis added.