School principals call for bishops to resign
The network of Irish school principals says any bishop named in the Murphy Report and implicated in the mishandling of child abuse allegations. The Irish Primary Principals' Network also described Bishop Donal Murphy's resignation as "belated". This intervention by professionals working at the coal face of education in Ireland can only increase pressure on the four serving bishops named in the report, following Bishop Murray's resignation.
What we are witnessing now is the leadership of a national church in crisis. Individual bishops repeat their conviction to remain in office unless their continuation as bishops becomes a stumbling block for the church and its mission.
If any strategy can be detected in the Irish bishops' collective response to this crisis, it appears to be the tactic of battering down the hatches and hoping the storm will soon pass. Bishops say their future will be determined by the people of their diocese: if the people have confidence in their leadership, they will remain. But this strategy is clearly frustrating many Catholic lay observers, and the calls for resignation continue to grow with every passing day. The consequence of all of this is death by a thousand cuts. Instead of dignified, speedy and confident resignations, which would have made a powerful statement about the hierarchy's willingness to take responsibility and offer leadership, we are being treated to episcopal bloodletting -- resignations by stealth.
Who will be next to go? All eyes are now on . Their supporters may have advised them to try to make it to Christmas, and hope that the news cycle will turn away from the crisis. In the meantime, both prelates have made public statements denying any wrong-doing (as did Donal Murray), and both say they will resign if they become a hindrance to the church's work (as did Donal Murray). This response will appear unseemly to many Catholic faithful who are crying out for leadership right now in the face of bishops desperately trying to cling on to office.
Comment number 1.
At 18th Dec 2009, MarcusAureliusII wrote:The real challenge is to the Irish people themselves. Forced to choose between their religion and the safety of their children which is it to be? The Catholic Church has demonstrated that at best it will only reluctantly rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic. The ball is in the court of the population at large as their government seems entirely impotent. How will they respond?
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Comment number 2.
At 18th Dec 2009, romejellybean wrote:Will
"This response will appear unseemly to many Catholic faithful who are crying out for leadership right now."
Three weeks ago there was a national feast day in El Salvador where the President honoured the murdered Jesuit priests and bestowed on them a postumous award. There was a Mass and a huge reception at the Presidential Palace.
Aswell as orchestras and choirs, campesinos played, in the midst of the great and the good. Everyone who had an ounce of compassion for the history of that country was there.
One Catholic Bishop attended. The other six were "abroad on Church business." They did not want to be 'seen' attending such an occasion. (Seen by Rome.)
Catholic El Salvadorans can be forgiven for seeing their Hierarchy, not just as cowardly or not fit for purpose, but, put bluntly, as the ENEMY.
You say the Catholic faithful are crying out for leadership. We arent. We are crying out for a certain kind of leadership, leaders who will be courageous, just, repentant, outspoken and rooted in the gospel and men of their people. (Kinda like Romero.)
What we have at the moment - across the globe - are men who were appointed primarily because they displayed two attributes, orthodoxy and loyality to Rome above all else.
From everything you have reported regarding the Murphy report, the Bishops of Ireland are not just incompetent, misguided, foolish etc..
They are the ENEMY.
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Comment number 3.
At 27th Dec 2009, john dynes wrote:The Catholic Church need people like... Fr. John Corapi in leadership, right at the very top.
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