Archbishop of Liverpool Malcolm McMahon OP is urging Catholics to pray for local survivors of abuse because they have been “the most hurt” and “doubly wounded” by media reports on ecclesial turmoil in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.
The archbishop said abuse victims “had truly suffered and continued to do so”.
The police are investigating a historic abuse allegation pertaining to the former Bishop, Robert Byrne CO, who resigned in December citing his office as “too great a burden.”
McMahon, who is now the apostolic administrator for Hexham and Newcastle, said: “Christ’s message to ‘heal and not hurt’ and my message to victims and survivors is that we will witness your deep and enduring suffering, learn as leaders and as a church, and support you in your own healing.”
The Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) is conducting a full review of diocesan safeguarding procedures. McMahon is leading a Vatican review into Bishop Byrne’s tenure.
In a pastoral letter read out in all Hexham and Newcastle churches, McMahon spoke of his role determining, “what has actually happened, what should have happened and the resulting consequences, and what I who now lead the diocese need to do to make it safe, proactively protecting the vulnerable.”
McMahon said the external inquiries – including a review by the Charity Commission – could help the Church by pointing out “our failings”.
He mentioned the “shock, bewilderment and perhaps anger” that press reports have evoked among local Catholics whom he described as “the holy, faithful, people of God. “
Reports are circulating of a sex party in clergy premises and a drag queen performing inside the Cathedral during lockdown.
Questions have been raised over the presence in the diocese of Fr Tim Gardner OP, who in 2014, was convicted of making and possessing indecent images of children.
McMahon thanked parishioners for their “honesty in feeding back to us” and sharing thoughts “on how we can walk better together – the Synodal Way – to improve the life and health of our Church.”
He announced a series of “listening exercises” would be conducted in the diocese. Details are to be released in the coming weeks.
Loading ...
