New Bishop says that surgery has been difficult but necessary for the church

The newly ordained Bishop of Clogher Bishop Liam McDaid has said that it may be no bad thing that the Irish Catholic Church has been brought to its knees over the child abuse crisis. 

Bishop McDaid said, “Society was rightly checking out if the church was sincere in its intentions and efforts towards rehabilitation.” 

Speaking at his ordination, which was attended by the Taoiseach Brian Cowen, he spoke about “terrible failures” on child abuse, “which society had forced Irish Catholics to face up to.” 

He added that, "The surgeon’s knife has been painful but necessary.  A lot of evil and poison has been excised.  There comes time when the surgeon’s knife has done what it can , is put away and a regime for the patients rehabilitation is put in place.” 

“We have been brought to our knees but maybe this is no bad thing.”

Dr McDaid also praised the courage and fidelity of his fellow Bishops, many of whom, he said, had been, “called to imitate Jesus Christ in carrying the sins of others.” 

He said that Jesus made no room in the church for privilege, earthly pomp or power or lording over anyone. 

He said that, “while society keeps the mirror in front of us and rightly checks that we are sincere in our efforts and intentions towards rehabilitation , can I invite you the priests and people of the Diocese of Clogher to join me in a repentant return to the well of salvation.”

by Sean Ryan