'Saddest day ever' for congregation forced to accept inevitable
Related Articles
SOME described it as the saddest day ever for Limerick.
Others said more senior church members had to follow the example of the Limerick bishop's resignation.
Priests and church-goers -- generally of an elderly age -- filed in and out of the St John's Cathedral in the city before, during and after Dr Donal Murray told the congregation of his resignation.
John Leonard said he thought the bishop had made the right decision in the circumstances and had had no other option.
"It is a pity that the troubles in Dublin had to be transferred down here and that we have had to bear them. He was a most popular man, a decent man and our bishop of the last 14 years. I hope that there is another job for him. I thought it was inevitable when they [the Murphy report] used the word 'inexcusable'," Mr Leonard said.
"It was inevitable. The media gave him a hard time as well, but it is the right decision definitely. We now look forward to a new bishop," he added.
Leaving St John's Cathedral, Fr Adrian Egan of the Redemptorist Church in Limerick said more could follow the bishop's example.
"I think he made the inevitable decision but it was a decision that they (the Irish hierarchy) could all take. There should be collective responsibility and accountability for this and for expressing sorrow," Fr Egan said.
Structure
"I think there needs to be a whole review about how the structure of the Church is formed; how leadership is appointed; the manner in which consultation does -- or doesn't -- take place among all the people in a diocese or at parish level.
"We need to plan into the future -- that needs to happen at a very root-and-branch level. In some respects what has happened now is inevitable, symbolic, but it needs to take place at a much broader, wider level among all of us," the priest added.
Mary Reale from Mulgrave St in the city commented that it was one of the saddest days "that ever was in Limerick".
"It's so sad for our bishop. He is a lovely devout man, but human nature is weak, isn't it?" she said.
"He was a wonderful man, but it is a pity what did happen and what was exposed -- that is the saddest part. I don't think he is being forced out, not really," Ms Reale said.
"We all have a conscience and maybe he went by that. The Catholic Church (in Limerick) will always be there. I will always love and adore God. It's God we pray to, it's God we trust, it's God that does everything for us," she said.
Brigit Fitzgerald, from the Dublin Road in Limerick, said Dr Murray could have served more purpose by staying on and doing some good.
"I do think he was a good bishop; he didn't actually do anything himself. He has taken responsibility and held up his hand so I do think by staying on, he could have done more good.
"We are short a priest; we need them when we are dying and sick," she added.
- Barry Duggan
Irish Independent
