The Bishop of Clonfert in Galway has said he thought paedophilia was “a friendship that crossed a boundary line”.
John Kirby has made the comments as the Catholic Church publishes 7 reports into child safe-guarding practices.
It is the second batch of reviews to be carried out by the National Board for Safeguarding Children which is the child protection watchdog of the Catholic Church.
The reports relate to 4 dioceses and 3 religious congregations.
See the reports in detail href="http://www.newstalk.ie/2012/news/reports-reveal-new-details-of-sex-abuse-by-catholic-church/">here
The Bishop has apologised today for moving 2 priests who sexually abused children to different diocese.
He says while he did notify civil authorities at the time he profoundly regrets moving the priests concerned to different parishes thereby placing others at serious risk.
Both of the changes took place in the early to mid-1990s.
He says he ‘utterly condemns’ the actions of the priests concerned.
The Bishop says this was “a grave mistake” on his part and that he would operate very differently now and will continue to do so in future.
However speaking on Galway Bay FM Bishop Kirby admits he did not understand what paedophilia was.
You might also like
href="http://www.newstalk.ie/2012/news/reports-reveal-new-details-of-sex-abuse-by-catholic-church/">Reports reveal new details of sex abuse by Catholic Church
href="http://www.newstalk.ie/2012/programmes/all-programmes/talking-point/the-catholic-church-should-you-believe-to-belong/">The Catholic Church: Should you believe to Belong?
href="http://www.newstalk.ie/2012/news/recommended/church-draws-up-plans-for-priestless-masses/">Church draws up plans for ‘priestless’ masses
href="http://www.newstalk.ie/2012/news/cardinal-criticised-for-plans-to-lobby-tds-on-abortion/">Cardinal criticised for plans to lobby TDs on abortion
