Cover-up a symptom of ‘deeper malaise in Church’

ONE of Ireland’s highest ranking Catholics has denounced the Church for becoming self-centred and arrogant — on the same day as a senior minister denied claims the Government backed away from demanding child abuse information from the Vatican.

Speaking during a homily at the Church of Assumption in Ballyfermot, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin said the cover-up of paedophile priests was a symptom of a “deeper malaise” in the Church.

The senior official, who is below only Cardinal Seán Brady in the Irish Church hierarchy, used the appearance to “unreservedly apologise” for the actions of disgraced former parish priest Tony Walsh who was jailed last week for sexually abusing three boys.