New group counselling for priests
Clerics offered ‘circle of healing’ over false sex claims
PRIESTS who have been falsely accused of sexual abuse are being offered a new group counselling service.
The Association of Catholic Priests is to run its first ‘circle of healing’ for clergymen who have been affected by Ireland’s clerical abuse scandals.
A spokesman said it will support priests who feel ‘collective guilt’ over the crimes of paedophiles in their fold.
PRIESTS who have been falsely accused of sexually abusing children are being offered group therapy sessions in a bid to improve their mental health.
The Association of Catholic Priests will run its first socalled ‘circle of healing’ later this month, as part of a new move to help innocent churchmen who have been affected by abuse scandals.
Association spokesman Fr Roy Donovan said the purpose of the workshops is to not only ‘help heal the scars’ of clergymen cleared of allegations, but also to provide support to clerics who feel traumatised, or have a sense of collective guilt, over crimes committed by the small minority of paedophiles in their fold.
He said: ‘A lot of good, decent priests have been affected by the abuse carried out by other priests in the past.
‘They’ve been traumatised and left with a sense of shame over what’s happened, and that’s partly why we’re holding a circle of healing.
‘We’re holding the first one in Cork later this month, and it follows a demand from our members.
‘There’ll be 20 priests attending the first session and it will run for two hours. It will be very much like a group therapy session.
‘Hopefully those who attend will find some benefit, and if it goes well then it’s quite likely that we’ll hold regular circles of healing around the country.
‘The sessions will also benefit priests who were falsely accused of abuse in the past, and help them move on with their lives.’
Fr Donovan, parish priest of Caherconlish, Co. Limerick, was speaking ahead of tomorrow’s annual general meeting of the 1,000-strong Association of Catholic Priests – the largest priests’ representative group in the country.
He voiced his concern over the ever-worsening vocations crisis, which hit a low point in recent weeks when it was revealed that just six men had begun training for the priesthood this year at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth. That’s the lowest number since its foundation in 1795.
He said: ‘As things stand, priests such as me are fossils from the past.
‘I fear that if things stay as they are, and if no reforms are introduced, we will start to become an endangered species.’
The Association of Catholic Priests has been a strong advocate for many years for radical reform in the Church. This includes the introduction of women priests, allowing former priests, who have married, back into the fold – and relaxing strict celibacy rules for ordained clerics.
The opportunities represented by next year’s expected visit to Ireland by Pope Francis will also be discussed at the AGM.
Fr Donovan said the ACP had written to Church leaders to offer their co-operation in welcoming the Pontiff to Ireland, but had yet to hear back.
The theme of the AGM is ‘Facing The Future – What We Need To Do Now’.
The meeting takes place at 2pm tomorrow at The Bounty, Dubarry Park, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
‘Vocations crisis in church’