Cloyne: Monsignor admits he should have resigned
Monsignor Denis O'Callaghan - who was responsible for child protection in the diocese of Cloyne - has admitted that he should have resigned as a child protection delegate.
In a letter to the Irish Catholic newspaper Monsignor O'Callaghan - who was Bishop John Magee's number two - said he should not have stayed on in a job where he disagreed with the child protection guidelines he was supposed to enforce.
He had come in for sharp criticism in the Cloyne Report for his role in failing to respond appropriately to abuse allegations.
In the letter he insists that his primary focus was always on the pastoral care of "everyone suffering the consequences of sex abuse" - primarily the victim - but also the abuser.
However, an editorial in the same edition of The Irish Catholic accuses Monsignor O’Callaghan of effectively sabotaging the Church’s efforts to respond properly to the scandal of sexual abuse by priests.
The Archbishop of Cashel and Emly Dr Dermot Clifford - who us also the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Cloyne - also issued a statement this evening, saying the Church's first priority must be child protection.
Dr Clifford said he agreed that Monsignor O'Callaghan should have resigned, after deciding he couldn't implement child protection guidelines.
He went on to urge Monsignor O’Callaghan, who is now retired, to refrain from any further public comment that could cause hurt to victims.
