CLOYNE CLERGY:PRIESTS IN the Diocese of Cloyne reacted cautiously to the news that Bishop John Magee is to relinquish his administrative duties in the diocese in order to give his full attention to assisting the Archdiocese of Dublin inquiry into child sexual abuse allegations in Cloyne.
Several priests in the diocese were reluctant to comment when contacted by The Irish Timesabout Bishop Magee's announcement. Among those who did speak, they primarily expressed sympathy and sadness for Bishop Magee while acknowledging the importance of addressing the issue.
Fr Joseph McGuane, of Youghal, who last December, called on Bishop Magee to publish the report of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church on the handling of abuse allegations by the Diocese of Cloyne, said he was pleased with the announcement. “It’s the right move until the commission of inquiry by those examining the Dublin Archdiocese is complete, so I welcome it,” he said.
Blarney curate Fr Tim Hazelwood also focused on the importance of the Dublin Archdiocesan inquiry team being given the opportunity to examine the situation in Cloyne and he welcomed Bishop Magee’s willingness to co-operate with that inquiry.
“Maybe he didn’t handle matters as he should have but he’s not the kind of man who would intentionally set out to hurt or harm anyone and I would have great sympathy for him,” he said.
“The whole issue of clerical child sex abuse and how complaints were handled won’t go away until the Dublin report is published. There’s a whole process to be gone through with that and Bishop Magee is co-operating with it so we should let due process take place,” he added.
Fr Denis Kelleher, Parish Priest in Aghada, said it was a very sad occasion for Bishop Magee and he urged people not to rush to judgment until the full facts are known while also acknowledging the pain suffered by those who were abused.
“It’s very hard to judge – one would want to know a lot more about the situation. People may be judging him on superficial comments and observations. Obviously in this situation, there are a lot of victims and one has to be concerned about those who are totally innocent and have suffered.”
Augustinian priest Fr Michael Mernagh, who undertook a nine -day walk of atonement from St Colman’s Cathedral in Cobh to Dublin to show solidarity with the victims of clerical sex abuse, welcomed Bishop Magee’s announcement but said it could be more clear cut.
“It could be a step in the right direction – my main concern is that the Dublin Archdiocese commission would have full freedom and co-operation from all concerned in the Diocese of Cloyne to carry out an efficient and transparent investigation because it is the victims who count most.
“I would have concern that Bishop Magee is remaining on to assist with the investigation – I have said before that he should step aside from his clergy and his people, and I still believe that.”
Fr Matthew Ring, a native of Ballyhea in north Cork, who left the Diocese of Cloyne in 1999 due to frustration with the way in which the diocese handled allegations of child sexual abuse and now works in Southampton, was unimpressed with Bishop Magee’s announcement. “I have had no confidence in Bishop Magee from the word go and my view now is that this inquiry will lack objectivity because Bishop Magee is being allowed reside in the diocese while he’s assisting with it and to my mind, there is a conflict of interest there and in the appointment of Archbishop (Dermot) Clifford.
“The person who should have been appointed apostolic administrator was Bishop Eamon Walsh who went in and sorted out Ferns,” Fr Ring said.
