A young Cork priest has told his parishioners that he would have done "a runner" from his training in Maynooth 15 years ago if he had known of the scandals of sexual abuse which were going on among members of the clergy.
In the course of his homily at Masses in St Oliver's church, Ballyvolane, Cork city, last weekend, Father James McSweeney said he was sickened by the lack of leadership shown by prominent members of the Church authorities during recent controversies relating to sexual and physical abuse.
"When you look at the leadership of the Irish Church you seriously begin to shudder.
"Instead of being open, honest and upfront, Cardinal Connell and the Church authorities in Dublin have done the exact opposite.
"I have many words to describe him but they would mostly be inappropriate."
Father McSweeney said he had questioned his role as a priest in the wake of recent scandals, claiming at times he felt it would be easier to try something else and "get on with a normal life".
He was greeted with applause when he told parishioners he had been "sickened, angered, frustrated and genuinely upset" by the abuse which went on in the Dublin diocese.
"We have been let down big time by the leaders of our Church who failed to act, have clung to power and secrecy, and it's we who are paying the price and especially the victims."
He said if he had been able to get a sneak preview of what lay ahead for the Church he would have left the seminary.
"I can say for sure that I would have done such a runner back to Cork that all records would have been broken. I certainly would not be a priest today."