Priest appeals to papal nuncio for bishop’s removal

A PRIEST who once served in the Diocese of Cloyne has written to the Pope’s representative in this country, the papal nuncio, seeking the resignation of the Bishop of Cloyne, John Magee and the diocese’s former head of children protection.

Father Matthew Ring, who left the Diocese of Cloyne nine years ago in disgust at how child sex allegations were being covered up, told Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza there is a sense of “hurt and betrayal” in the diocese.

Fr Ring has repeatedly called for Dr Magee’s resignation since a damning church report found he put children at risk by delaying reporting clerical sex abuse complaints to gardaí and failing to remove alleged offenders from ministries. The Office for the Minister of Children has also questioned his honesty when responding to HSE questions on child abuse in his area.