A CO WEXFORD priest says that if Bishop Brendan Comiskey does not take legal action over allegations made against him his position will be "untenable".
Father Thaddeus Doyle said it was the only way the bishop could clear his name. A shadow would be cast over the entire church unless the allegations were disproved, he wrote in the magazine The Curate's Diary.
If the bishop was to return to Ferns, said Father Doyle, his alcoholism would need to be "finally" dealt with, "real and significant" changes made on a number of fronts, and the more serious allegations "adequately answered".
He said his preferred option is the bishop's return, provided the issues are sorted out. Father Doyle referred to an article in the Sunday Independent where it was alleged that an investigation into abuse by a priest was halted at the request of Bishop Comiskey, who said he would deal with it personally.
"These are most serious allegations. Most serious again If they are true I would have to feel that, however altruistic Bishop Comiskey's motives may halve been, his position is untenable," Father Doyle wrote.
The priest said that if the bishop is innocent of this and other allegations, the only way he can clear his name is by taking legal action.
"Otherwise it will be just one person's words against another. That would not be adequate. In the circumstances, his taking legal action to clear his name would not be a selfish act, because by clearing his name he would be lifting a load, both from our diocese and the Irish church."
The priest said that if the Sunday Independent allegation was false, it was a very serious matter, particularly since it was made while Bishop Comiskey was undergoing medical treatment. He said that if it was untrue, "then not only should Bishop Comiskey take legal action but damages would be appropriate.
"£5 million would seem to me an appropriate figure any award to go to a Third World charity."
Father Doyle said he does not believe the allegation to be true. "Ironically, Bishop Comiskey's taking legal action is probably the only way to establish the truth concerning the allegations against the priest. It is very important that the truth is established."