The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland says he will only resign over claims he helped cover up sex abuse if he is asked to do so by the Pope. Cardinal Sean Brady was at meetings in the 1970s where two abused teenagers signed vows of silence over their complaints against Fr Brendan Smyth. Fr Smyth was a notorious sex offender jailed in the 1990s for child abuse.
"There was no cover up, I believed those people. I brought what I heard to the bishop," Cardinal Brady said. The complaints of abuse were investigated by Cardinal Brady in his capacity as secretary to the bishop of Kilmore in 1975. Cardinal Brady said he had been following his bishop's orders and there were no guidelines for dealing with such investigations at that time. "Now I know with hindsight that I should have done more. I thought at that time I was doing what I was required to do, and not just that, but most effectively. I acted with great urgency to get that evidence and produce it. I believed in doing so, I was following the most effective route to get this stopped. That is my concern and always was - the safety of children." He said his actions were part of a process that removed the shamed cleric's licence to act as a priest. He said he did not believe this was a resigning matter.
So what the fuck is?!
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