Young Irish priest, Fr Damien McGroarty, 29, spoke on Sunday of his shame at the child sex abuse scandal in his diocese and said that because of the actions of other priests he is scared of being branded a paedophile.
Posing questions in he homily, the young priest asked: Will people ridicule me for becoming a priest? Will I be branded a paedophile priest?
“Even now I am so self-conscious walking down the street . . . wondering what are people thinking of me,” he said.
McGroarty told the congregation he wondered what people think of him when he drives past a school.
The comments came in a homily just days after an audit of the Diocese of Raphoe showed that 14 priests had been accused of abusing 52 young people.
Fr McGroarty said child sexual abuse had been a terrible evil inflicted on children and that those responsible would have to answer for it one day.
“I hope and pray that justice is administered by the State and by the Church,” he concluded before receiving an ovation from the congregation.
McGroarty’s condemnation came as Bishop of Raphoe, Dr Philip Boyce, read a pastoral letter apologising to victims and to the community from the same altar an hour later.
“The Raphoe diocese has had a significantly high level of allegations and of priests accused of sexually abusing children. We have to say that to our shame,” Boyce said.
Bishop Boyce said that since taking office in Raphoe 16 years ago all he had experienced was the dedicated work and integrity of the “vast majority of the priests of the diocese.
Sources
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