Dear Father,

MANY times during the past few years I regret not having written to you to tell you what a wonderful priest you were. I will never forget the evening after Mass when you came out on the altar to tell the congregation that you had been accused of abuse 30 odd years before and while the investigation was in progress you had to stand down from your sacred ministry.

Every one of us was stunned and there was hardly a dry eye as we silently filed out of the church and headed home.

What a lonely evening/night for you on your own. I would have loved to knock on your door and assure you that none of us believed it and personally I was angry with the Church authorities who asked you to step aside without any proof. Because you were such a genuine, sincere and holy priest you couldn’t accept this false accusation and so ended up in hospital.

You were heartbroken and so was I. From time to time I sent you a card: ‘Thinking of you’ or ‘Get well soon’ but never wrote more than a good wish.

I would have loved to visit you but always believed you would soon be back in our parish, hale and hearty. How wrong I was! Yes, you were eventually discharged from hospital only to die suddenly within a few days.

All who knew you — young and old — were devastated and bewildered.

By the way, while you were in hospital the complainant withdrew the allegation and apologised. Perhaps the unfortunate lady believed she could get a big sum of money but too late she realised the error of her ways.

I constantly think of you Father with love and appreciation for all the good memories you left.

Rest in peace. Name and address with the Editor