Bishop quit ‘with heavy heart’ over perv priest row
Mcareavey’s handling of paedo cleric forces move
A BISHOP yesterday said he “wrestled” with his decision to resign amid a controversy over celebrating the funeral Mass of a paedophile priest.
John Mcareavey, Bishop of Dromore, issued a statement saying he was leaving the role “with a heavy heart”.
The late Fr Malachy Finnegan, a teacher at St Colman’s College in Newry from 1967 to 1976 and president of the school from 1976 to 1987, is accused of a catalogue of abuse against former pupils.
There have previously been calls for the bishop to resign, with angry parishioners refusing to set foot in the parochial house in Hilltown, Co Down, where Fr Finnegan was the parish priest.
A statement from the bishop said: “Today I am writing my letter of resignation as Bishop of Dromore to Pope Francis.
“I do so with a heavy heart. I wrestled with this decision over recent weeks; it was not an easy decision to take.
“Following recent media coverage which has disturbed and upset many people, I decided on Thursday to resign.
“I would ask you first and foremost to continue to hold in your prayers those who have been abused and all who are suffering at this time.”
A lawyer for Fr Finnegan’s victims and Amnesty International have both called for a public inquiry into the church’s handling of
the paedophile priest. Dromore diocese includes parishes in counties Antrim, Armagh and Down. Canon Liam Stevenson will take over the administration of the diocese until a new bishop is found. Fr Finnegan died in 2002 and Bishop Mcareavey previously apologised for conducting his funeral Mass. Fr Finnegan was never prosecuted for sexual abuse although allegations were reported to Church authorities in the 1990s. However, it is understood these were not reported to police. news@ irishmirror.ie SEXUAL ABUSER Father Malachy Finnegan
Following recent media coverage I decided on Thursday to resign M07 CAPTION BISHOP MC AREA V WE YO Y BE CST TR EL R DAY semicolon