Statement by Archbishop Martin 17/12/09

I believe Bishop Donal Murray did the right thing, for his Diocese and for the wider Irish Church and I appreciate the personal difficulty and pressure he has been under.

Responsibility must be taken by all who hold a position of authority and collective responsibility.

There have been serious difficulties of structure and communication at management level in the Archdiocese of Dublin. The Murphy report indicates how decisions were taken which resulted in further children being abused. Accountability must be assumed for that and radical reform is required in the Archdiocese, not just in the area of child protection.

I am satisfied with our current situation in the child protection area – but I am not complacent – and it too requires ongoing commitment.

I am and will be meeting those in this diocese who are named in the report about the way this Archdiocese is managed and about changes I want and that I consider vital for the future of the Archdiocese of Dublin. This will not be complete until early in the New Year and I will not discuss it publicly before then. There will be wider consultations also.

This is without doubt, a period of deep crisis in this Archdiocese. Priests and people of this diocese see that there can be no healing without radical change. Along with many others, I am committed to that change.

ENDS