The minister for Social Protection is the latest in a line of politicians who have questioned Cardinal Seán Brady’s role at the top of the Catholic Church in Ireland.
Joan Burton has pointed to how "highly educated" Cardinal Brady was and how he "held a position in a school" and so should have realised the gravity of the allegations made to him by Brendan Boland in the secret inquiry in 1975.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Ms Burton said: "He was a man in his middle 30s at the time who was a doctor of divinity. You could say at that stage that people like that were tremendously naive. But he was highly educated. He also held a position in a school. I personally think that he needs to reflect on his position, and were he to ask me for my view on a personal basis, I would say his position is not really sustainable."
Meanwhile, the cardinal’s spokesman yesterday issued a statement refuting a newspaper story that the cardinal offered to stand down two years ago when details first emerged about his involvement in the 1975 secret inquiry.
Cardinal Brady, said the spokesman, had asked for additional episcopal support in the form of a coadjutor in May 2010 but did not make an offer of resignation to the Vatican.
Cardinal Brady himself was a coadjutor of the Archbishop of Armagh between 1994 and 1996.
"This request for episcopal help by Cardinal Brady was put on hold pending the outcome of the Apostolic Visitation, but it is has now been reactivated," the spokesman said.
Fr Brian D’Arcy, one of the Irish priests recently censored for his writing, has said questions need to be answered by Cardinal Brady and also by the Abbot of Kilnacrott, Fr Kevin Smith.
"Why is it, when names were given, that children were not protected?" and "why is it that somebody didn’t follow up and ensure that Brendan Smyth didn’t continue to do it?" said Fr D’Arcy.
Speaking on South East radio, he also questioned what the Church has become and whether it is the Church of Jesus Christ anymore. "I don’t know what the Church is anymore. Is it the Church in Rome? Is it the ordinary decent people in parishes? What is it? Is it the good priests you meet in your daily life? Or is it a cardinal, not our cardinal, but one who seems so far removed from the ordinary reality of life that he’s not living in the real world? What is the Church — that is the question?"
Meanwhile, the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church will shortly finish its six most recent audits of the country’s 26 dioceses.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Ms Burton said: "He was a man in his middle 30s at the time who was a doctor of divinity. You could say at that stage that people like that were tremendously naive. But he was highly educated. He also held a position in a school. I personally think that he needs to reflect on his position, and were he to ask me for my view on a personal basis, I would say his position is not really sustainable."
Meanwhile, the cardinal’s spokesman yesterday issued a statement refuting a newspaper story that the cardinal offered to stand down two years ago when details first emerged about his involvement in the 1975 secret inquiry.
Cardinal Brady, said the spokesman, had asked for additional episcopal support in the form of a coadjutor in May 2010 but did not make an offer of resignation to the Vatican.
Cardinal Brady himself was a coadjutor of the Archbishop of Armagh between 1994 and 1996.
"This request for episcopal help by Cardinal Brady was put on hold pending the outcome of the Apostolic Visitation, but it is has now been reactivated," the spokesman said.
Fr Brian D’Arcy, one of the Irish priests recently censored for his writing, has said questions need to be answered by Cardinal Brady and also by the Abbot of Kilnacrott, Fr Kevin Smith.
"Why is it, when names were given, that children were not protected?" and "why is it that somebody didn’t follow up and ensure that Brendan Smyth didn’t continue to do it?" said Fr D’Arcy.
Speaking on South East radio, he also questioned what the Church has become and whether it is the Church of Jesus Christ anymore. "I don’t know what the Church is anymore. Is it the Church in Rome? Is it the ordinary decent people in parishes? What is it? Is it the good priests you meet in your daily life? Or is it a cardinal, not our cardinal, but one who seems so far removed from the ordinary reality of life that he’s not living in the real world? What is the Church — that is the question?"
Meanwhile, the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church will shortly finish its six most recent audits of the country’s 26 dioceses.
In November, the board published audits of child protection practices in the Raphoe, Derry diocese, Dromore (Down), Kilmore (Cavan), Ardagh Clonmacnoise (Longford, Leitrim, Offaly) dioceses as well as the Tuam archdiocese.
It has said due to data protection concerns it cannot name the dioceses to be contained in the next six reports.
Another 14 diocesan audits will then take place before an examination of religious orders’ child protection practices will begin.
An audit has been undertaken into the Sacred Heart Missionaries.
An audit has been undertaken into the Sacred Heart Missionaries.
This will not be published until ongoing criminal investigations have concluded.