Leading cleric calls for rethink on removal of priests accused of abuse
Fr John Littleton, president of the National Conference of Priests of Ireland, suggested some priests should be allowed to stay to do parish work until natural justice took its course.
Earlier yesterday, Fr Tony Flannery, the co-ordinator of Galway's Novena had called for an end to the sidelining of accused priests who posed no risk to children. Said Fr Littleton: "In backing Tony Flannery's call, I am not supporting it entirely in the sense that every case must be treated individually. But, certainly, it seems that in some cases it would seem quite inappropriate that priests are removed from the ministry."
He suggested that, if an allegation stretched back 20-30 years, and little supporting reason was available at that time, it would be difficult currently to justify the priest's removal from office when there was no risk to children. The problem was that, when priests are removed in such a public manner, there was "never a possibility" of their good name being restored.
Meanwhile, Fr Flannery, speaking in Galway yesterday, had criticised the practice of immediately removing priests from their parish once an allegation of child sex abuse was made, irrespective of its seriousness or authenticity.
Clergy under investigation for alleged misbehaviour decades ago, should continue in parish work once they presented no risk to children, he said.
