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.”
Earlier today, Archbishop Martin said he was stunned by Archbishop Rowan Williams’ comment and said it would be immensely disheartening to those working to renew the church and would challenge their faith even further.
“The unequivocal and unqualified comment in a radio interview of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, that the Catholic Church in Ireland has lost all credibility has stunned me,” Archbishop Martin said.
“As Archbishop of Dublin, I have been more than forthright in addressing the failures of the Catholic Church in Ireland. I still shudder when I think of the harm that was caused to abused children. I recognise that their Church failed them".
“But I also journey with those — especially parents and priests — who work day by day to renew the Catholic Church in this diocese and who are committed to staying with their Church and passing on the faith in wearying times".
“Archbishop Williams’ comments will be for them immensely disheartening and will challenge their faith even further.”
His Church of Ireland counterpart Dr John Neill said he listened to the remarks of Archbishop Williams with “deep regret”, while his fellow Bishop in Meath and Kildare, Richard Clarke, branded the comment careless and reckless.
“It is with deep regret that I heard the remarks of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primate of All England, stating that the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland had lost all credibility,” he said.
Church of Ireland Bishop of Meath and Kildare Richard Clarke said he believed the remark was thoughtless and hurtful.
“Whereas it is clearly true that the Roman Catholic Church in this country is facing deep and serious challenges to its authority as a consequence of clerical abuse scandals, this careless and reckless use of language by Archbishop Williams is extremely unfortunate,” he said.
Bishop Clarke, Chairman of the Church of Ireland Commission for Christian Unity and Dialogue, said most Bishops, priests and religious of the Roman Catholic tradition minister faithfully and selflessly under very difficult conditions.
“All credibility has most certainly not been lost to the Church, and it is deeply hurtful to Roman Catholic clergy and laity alike, and indeed to those of other Christian traditions, that such a thoughtless remark should be made by Archbishop Williams,” he added.
Conservative MP Peter Bottomley called on the BBC to broadcast the full interview immediately.
Mr Bottomley, a member of the Ecclesiastical Committee, said he believed the interview would show the Archbishop was not in fact intending to make an attack on the Catholic Church.
The Worthing West MP said: “The BBC should broadcast the whole interview today and not wait until Monday morning.
“I believe that some of those commenting on the Archbishop’s words have not heard the full interview".
“The public do not know whether this is a real row or whether Archbishop Williams was expressing sympathy with the position of the Catholic Church in Ireland.”
Yesterday the Vatican provoked more controversy after the Pope’s personal preacher likened the criticism of the Church over the sex abuse scandal to “collective violence” suffered by the Jews.
The Rev Raniero Cantalamessa said in a Good Friday homily with the Pope listening to him in St Peter’s Basilica that a Jewish friend wrote to him to say the accusations remind him of the “more shameful aspects of anti-Semitism”.
Agencies