Protest to call for cardinal’s resignation

VICTIMS of clerical child sex abuse are to stage a new year walk to Cardinal Desmond Connell’s residence to hand in a letter seeking his resignation.

The silent walk of protest will take place on Sunday, January 5, starting at the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin at 2pm and ending at the Archbishop's Palace in Drumcondra, where the letter will be handed in.

The letter will be signed by walk organiser Ken Reilly, who was repeatedly abused as a child by convicted paedophile Fr Tony Walsh, and co-signed by Marie Collins, who earlier this year received a public apology from Cardinal Connell for his failings in handling her complaints about convicted child abuser Fr Paul McGennis.

All victims, their families, members of the public, concerned clergy and members of the Catholic laity are invited to join the walk, which Mr Reilly stressed would be peaceful.

He said: "There won't be any shouting and chanting. The point of it being silent is that it's all been said. We don't want words any more. We want action."

Mr Reilly, whose story was told on the Prime Time programme Cardinal Sins last October, is making his call in the wake of the resignation of Cardinal Law in Boston, the disbanding of the Hussey Commission and reports that there has been less than full clerical co-operation with the garda investigation into the handling of paedophile priests.

"It's not that we are picking on him but it has to be said at this stage that something has to be happen within the diocese and his removal should be the start of it," he said.

Marie Collins had originally believed Cardinal Connell should remain in office to assist with the investigations but said she had changed her mind after discovering his letters on the issue including his apology to her had not been read out at all Dublin parishes.

She said: "The cardinal said he was reaching out but apparently he doesn't have control over all his parishes and I sincerely feel he is the wrong man for the job at this stage. It's my church too. I want somebody there who can take control and make a change."

A spokesman for the cardinal said he could not predict what would happen on January 5. However, he said the cardinal would welcome a chance to meet and talk with the victims: "What the Church wants and what everybody wants is the same the truth. If there's anything more the victims believe we can do to advance that process of getting to the truth, we are happy to listen to them."

He stressed Cardinal Connell was committed to co-operating with inquiries into paedophile priests.