A Wexford parish priest has said that "the most notorious criminal enjoys the privilege of being considered innocent until proven guilty, whereas, it seems, a priest or religious is regarded as guilty until proven innocent, especially regarding matters of a sexual nature".
Father James Curtis, parish priest of Clongeen in Ferns diocese, was commenting following a decision by the DPP not to bring charges against a colleague who has denied child sex abuse but who is still "stood down" from ministry.
Father John Kinsella had been curate at Ballagh parish in Ferns diocese before allegations against him last year when, as required, he stood down from the ministry pending investigation. Before doing so he made a statement to parishioners protesting his innocence.
Father Curtis has called on the "appropriate ecclesiastical authority" to state whether it accepts or rejects the statement made by Father Kinsella.
A diocesan spokesman told The Irish Times it was not policy to comment on individual cases or to comment before the outcome of the complaints procedure in such cases. It is understood, however, that the diocese's own investigation into the allegations against Father Kinsella is continuing.
Father Curtis's comments underline growing dissatisfaction among Irish priests in general with the manner in which colleagues are being treated by church authorities even in the context of allegations which are often considered doubtful.
In the Dublin archdiocese there has been grave disquiet in recent months among both clergy and parishioners at the standing down of a parish priest in the west county. It is widely believed that the single allegation against him, a man with an unblemished record in approximately 40 years of service, is "flaky".
Priests comment that the damage done a good name in such circumstances cannot be undone, even where the accused is innocent.
In a letter to Dublin priests earlier this month, Father Martin Cosgrove, chairman of the Dublin Diocese Council of Priests, invited them to give their opinions on how the issue of child abuse is being handled.
