Martin respects Madden's decision to leave church

THE CATHOLIC Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has said he respects clerical abuse victim Andrew Madden’s decision to leave the church formally.

Mr Madden said last night any response now by the Bishop of Galway Martin Drennan to his request for a meeting, e-mailed on December 27th last, would be meaningless.

He again called on the bishop to resign.

Speaking at Trinity College Dublin yesterday, where he was attending an ecumenical event, Archbishop Martin said of Mr Madden: “I understand and I respect his decision. He is a person who came to a priest in trust and that trust was betrayed and anyone can see where that would lead a person. I wish him every success and blessing in his life but I respect his decision.”

As to whether Mr Madden’s leaving indicated that changes in church structures and personnel were necessary, he said he was sure, “Andrew Madden would agree that more was required than moving around deckchairs”. What was necessary was “real reform, reform of ourselves”.

Speaking earlier, he said the Catholic diocese in Dublin must address “the challenge of renewal. Renewal in the church will not just be about structures or personnel. It will be about renewing ourselves, each one, bishops, priests and laypersons”.

Last night Andrew Madden said he e-mailed a request for a meeting to Bishop Drennan “on December 27th last and he did not reply. Any response now would be meaningless. He should just resign.”

Bishop Drennan was an auxiliary bishop of Dublin for almost eight years of the period investigated by the Murphy commission.

In a statement on December 27th last, Mr Madden said: “Bishop Drennan advises against anger and adds insult to injury when he describes our [abuse victims] calls for accountability as vengeful. He says he met with 60 priests from the diocese of Galway and seems to enjoy their full support. I have today e-mailed the bishop and asked him to formally invite 60 victims of sexual abuse by priests in Dublin to come and meet him in Galway”.

Bishop Drennan did not respond.