Thursday, 24 November 2011
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/bishop-quits-days-before-child-sex-abuse-report-due-16081875.html
A Catholic bishop stepped down yesterday just six days before child sex abuse audits into two dioceses where he served are due to be published.
Bishop of Derry Seamus Hegarty's resignation on health grounds was accepted by Pope Benedict just two weeks after offering it. He left his post immediately.
Two separate audits of the Derry and Raphoe dioceses, carried out into how the church dealt with paedophile priests, have been pencilled in for release next Tuesday or Wednesday, sources have said.
However, previous dates set aside for the release of the reports carried out by the church-run National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC) have been postponed.
Church insiders say the contents of audits being carried out by the organisation have been seen by retired Bishop Hegarty as well as the current Bishop of Raphoe, Philip Boyce.
Donegal-born Dr Hegarty served as Bishop of Raphoe from 1982 until 1994 before taking up his position in Derry, where he admitted this year that allegations of child sex abuse had been made against 26 priests over the past 50 years.
Allegations against up to 20 priests have been made in the Raphoe diocese over a similar period.
.
www.catholicculture.org/news/
Another Irish bishop steps down
November 23, 2011
The Vatican has announced the resignation of another Irish bishop, leaving 7 of the country’s 26 dioceses without an active bishop.
Bishop Seamus Hegarty of Derry announced that he was stepping down because of “a health condition which has been assessed to render me unable to fulfill the obligations of my office.” He did not identify the medical condition, but disclosed that although he is now taking treatment, the problem is considered irreversible.
At the age of 71, Bishop Hegarty is 4 years short of the usual retirement age. The timing of his resignation may be significant because he had previously served as Bishop of Raphoe, where numerous complaints of chld abuse have been filed. An investigative report on the handling of sex-abuse complaints in the Raphoe diocese, prepared by the National Board for Safeguarding Children at the request of the Church, has recently been completed and submitted to the current head of the diocese, Bishop Philip Boyce. Its public release is expected in the coming weeks.
News of Bishop Hegarty’s resignation prompted new interest in reports that the Vatican is planning a reconfiguration of the Irish hierarchy, after an apostolic visitation that followed the eruption of the sex-abuse scandal in that country. The Irish Catholic has reported that the Vatican will eliminate a large number of the country’s dioceses. The fact that 7 episcopal sees are now empty would make such a change easier.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/bishop-quits-days-before-child-sex-abuse-report-due-16081875.html
A Catholic bishop stepped down yesterday just six days before child sex abuse audits into two dioceses where he served are due to be published.
Bishop of Derry Seamus Hegarty's resignation on health grounds was accepted by Pope Benedict just two weeks after offering it. He left his post immediately.
Two separate audits of the Derry and Raphoe dioceses, carried out into how the church dealt with paedophile priests, have been pencilled in for release next Tuesday or Wednesday, sources have said.
However, previous dates set aside for the release of the reports carried out by the church-run National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC) have been postponed.
Church insiders say the contents of audits being carried out by the organisation have been seen by retired Bishop Hegarty as well as the current Bishop of Raphoe, Philip Boyce.
Donegal-born Dr Hegarty served as Bishop of Raphoe from 1982 until 1994 before taking up his position in Derry, where he admitted this year that allegations of child sex abuse had been made against 26 priests over the past 50 years.
Allegations against up to 20 priests have been made in the Raphoe diocese over a similar period.
.
www.catholicculture.org/news/
Another Irish bishop steps down
November 23, 2011
The Vatican has announced the resignation of another Irish bishop, leaving 7 of the country’s 26 dioceses without an active bishop.
Bishop Seamus Hegarty of Derry announced that he was stepping down because of “a health condition which has been assessed to render me unable to fulfill the obligations of my office.” He did not identify the medical condition, but disclosed that although he is now taking treatment, the problem is considered irreversible.
At the age of 71, Bishop Hegarty is 4 years short of the usual retirement age. The timing of his resignation may be significant because he had previously served as Bishop of Raphoe, where numerous complaints of chld abuse have been filed. An investigative report on the handling of sex-abuse complaints in the Raphoe diocese, prepared by the National Board for Safeguarding Children at the request of the Church, has recently been completed and submitted to the current head of the diocese, Bishop Philip Boyce. Its public release is expected in the coming weeks.
News of Bishop Hegarty’s resignation prompted new interest in reports that the Vatican is planning a reconfiguration of the Irish hierarchy, after an apostolic visitation that followed the eruption of the sex-abuse scandal in that country. The Irish Catholic has reported that the Vatican will eliminate a large number of the country’s dioceses. The fact that 7 episcopal sees are now empty would make such a change easier.
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