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18/03/2010
Pope's Clerical Abuse Letter On Way
Pope Benedict XVI Benedict has announced that he will sign his long awaited pastoral letter dealing with paedophilia in Ireland tomorrow.
The news comes as the Catholic Church is again being rocked by another scandal regarding alleged child abuse.
According to reports, The Bishop of Derry, Dr Seamus Hegarty, was involved in a compensation deal to prevent the disclosure of the alleged abuse of an eight-year-old girl.
Dr Hegarty's name is among that of three priests named in a civil settlement, according to a Belfast newspaper.
The alleged abuse took place over a ten-year period from the late 1970s.
The latest revelation comes as the leader of the Catholic Church, Cardinal Sean Brady, remains under intense pressure regarding his own position.
Even the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness has stepped into the debate as he used his US visit this week to call for Cardinal Sean Brady to quit over the child abuse contoversy.
As a priest in 1975 Cardinal Brady was at meetings where children signed vows of silence over complaints against paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth.
The cardinal is under intense pressure: Speaking on St Patrick's Day, he said he wanted to apologise to "all those who feel I have let them down".
Cardinal Brady said: "This week a painful episode from my own past has come before me.
"I want to say to anyone who has been hurt by any failure on my part that I apologise to you with all my heart.
"I also apologise to all those who feel I have let them down.
"Looking back I am ashamed that I have not always upheld the values that I profess and believe in."
(BMcC/GK)
The news comes as the Catholic Church is again being rocked by another scandal regarding alleged child abuse.
According to reports, The Bishop of Derry, Dr Seamus Hegarty, was involved in a compensation deal to prevent the disclosure of the alleged abuse of an eight-year-old girl.
Dr Hegarty's name is among that of three priests named in a civil settlement, according to a Belfast newspaper.
The alleged abuse took place over a ten-year period from the late 1970s.
The latest revelation comes as the leader of the Catholic Church, Cardinal Sean Brady, remains under intense pressure regarding his own position.
Even the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness has stepped into the debate as he used his US visit this week to call for Cardinal Sean Brady to quit over the child abuse contoversy.
As a priest in 1975 Cardinal Brady was at meetings where children signed vows of silence over complaints against paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth.
The cardinal is under intense pressure: Speaking on St Patrick's Day, he said he wanted to apologise to "all those who feel I have let them down".
Cardinal Brady said: "This week a painful episode from my own past has come before me.
"I want to say to anyone who has been hurt by any failure on my part that I apologise to you with all my heart.
"I also apologise to all those who feel I have let them down.
"Looking back I am ashamed that I have not always upheld the values that I profess and believe in."
(BMcC/GK)
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