Archbishop 'regrets' church scandal comment

The Archbishop of Canterbury tonight expressed his “deep sorrow and regret” after declaring the Catholic Church in Ireland had lost all credibility over the child abuse scandal.

Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, who said he had been stunned by the remark, stated Dr Rowan Williams rang him stressing he did not mean to offend or criticise the Irish Church.

Speaking on the BBC about the crisis gripping the Irish Catholic Church, Dr Williams said the sex abuse revelations had been a “colossal trauma” for Ireland in particular, sparking condemnation from Archbishop Martin and senior Irish Protestant clergymen.

A statement from the Dublin Archdiocese said: “The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, this afternoon telephoned Archbishop Diarmuid Martin to express his deep sorrow and regret for difficulties which may have been created by remarks in a BBC interview concerning the credibility of the Catholic Church in Ireland.

“Archbishop Williams affirmed that nothing could have been farther from his intention than to offend or criticise the Irish Church.”