Vatican overturns bishop’s dismissal of priest

THE Vatican has come to the defence of a priest, convicted of a firearm offence, who was removed from his ministry by the Bishop of Cork and Ross, John Buckley.

Fr James Davern, a priest of the diocese who was ordained in 1984, has not held a clerical appointment since June 1998. He has reiterated claims that he was sexually abused by a priest of the diocese over 40 years ago.

The decision by thebishop to remove Fr Davern from his ministry has been overturned by the Vatican’sCongregation of Clergy.