Kenny: Not for me to determine who should lead Church
Taoiseach Enda Kenny is again refusing to be drawn on whether the Primate of All Ireland Cardinal Seán Brady should resign over his handling of abuse allegations against Father Brendan Smyth in the 1970s.
The Tánaiste, a number of ministers and other senior political figures on both sides of the border have all urged Cardinal Brady to consider his position.
Social Protection Minister Joan Burton is the latest member of the Government to call on the Cardinal to consider his position over his failure to inform civil authorities about the abuse allegations against Fr Smyth.
However Mr Kenny today reiterated his position that given his role as the head of Government, it is not for him to make such a call.
"I pointed out yesterday that as Taoiseach and head of Government, obviously it's not for me to determine who should lead any individual organisation," he said.
"Clearly this is about the acceptance of responsibility."
Meanwhile the Catholic Press Office is dimissing a report today that the Vatican rejected an offer from Cardinal Brady to resign two years ago at the height of the Brendan Smyth affair, saying no such offer was made.
