What heads rolled after all the reports Murphy, Ryan, Cloyne, were published ,and they confirmed that not only did priests know of the child abuse but Bishops knew too and did nothing ….. DOUBLE STANDARDS!

…you are absolutely correct, everyone is entitled to their opinion of the Catholic Church, just as the public is entitled to professional, ethical and unbiased Journalism which obviously RTE can not be trusted to provide.

William think your right. Im sure rte just hoped that the (rightly so) hatred for the catholic church at the moment would mean that they get away with the false claims. Rte and prime time in general are at this for years and only now getting caught out.

ironing? im board with this :)

And the tumble dryer was tasty too

The priest was totally innocent why drag his name through the mud. RTE had zero proof. They should apologize in the same way as the original program was broadcasted with the same time given to the apology. That’s is all of the priests Association was looking for.

I’d love to hear what the ‘dislikes’ disagree with in Alex’s point? There seems to be a reactionary ‘Anti-Catholic’ element in our society who instinctively disagree with all it does without any intellectual backing for such a position.

The irony in that whole story is remarkable coming from the most insincere organisation in the world !!

The man was completely innocent and upon hearing the apology from rte I thought it sounded rushed and insincere

He had NOTHING to do with the horror any children suffered as a result of the CC so why use it as a ground for comparison? Seem like a very weak, and lazy, equation to make.

BJ. Why are you asking all these questions? Have you not noticed how hurt the Irish nation is and how let down we feel? Read my comment again. I feel sorry for him but just think the Priests’ Association should have got outraged and angry loudly long before this case.

You have rightly spoken Reada! As the RYAN, MURPHY, FERN, and CLOYNE REPORTS confirm in Ireland the abuse of children in Catholic-run institutions was endemic and systematic! The response by the Catholic Church and the Association of Catholic Priests in the wake of these reports was one of shock and disbelief . . undoubtedly because they were found out. Few spoke out and the apologies the Roman Catholic church offered were far too late and reckoned by the victims as disengeuous! Across the globe that story has been accurately reported in country after country with similar harrowing accounts of institutional abuse exposed in Australia, Canada & the US. These children were the victims of so-called “men and women of God” who abused their power and preyed upon those who were entrusted to their care, and those who had no power to resist them, nor anyone to turn to for a sympathetic ear. Their tears were ignored; their cries were muffled, their pain was unrelenting, and they suffered in silence. No one would believe them. No one would listen. No one cared. No one comforted them. No one consoled them. No one would intervene. Some were threatened with HELL if they would tell! Many of their abusers have long since gone to the grave and thus their victims will never have their day in court. Many of the victims out of despair took their own lives when they could no longer live with the shame, the guilt, and the pain! They too have gone to their grave and for them justice has been denied. For their pain and suffering no restitution was made, no apologies received, nor COMPENSATION given. Who knows what horrors the long-awaited RAPHOE REPORT will disclose? ?

But Fr. Reynolds wasn’t responsible.

This has nothing to do with the issue. A priest just happened to be the subject of the Prime Time investigates. RTE undertook and broadcast a current affairs investigation that was completely untrue. Yet, there were red flags thrown up all along the way that were ignored. Now this is costing the licence payer (or taxpayer as sone people like to call them here) a fortune and would you believe anything else broadcast by the Prime Time Investigates team? I wouldn’t.

Bear in mind that this programme accused a man of rape and fathering a child. It beggars belief. Not only that making false rape allegations undermines the position of other victims and those undertaking valid investigations – particularly in the area of Clerical Sex Abuse.

To be frank there should be high profile resignations in RTE as a result of this debacle. What’s their response on the matter?

“It is very difficult for a rolled head to learn anything.”

“the best way to learn is to see how we would avert such errors in the future”.

How out of touch is their head of corporate affairs to come out with those statements? I’m sure politicians are practicing does lines already.

It’s a disgrace.

Carmel, there are enough decent, hard working priests out there, who are entitled to a good name despite the failings of their hierarchy. Is there any reason why they shouldn’t stand up for the rights of this innocent man?

Brian, I appreciate what you are saying in your reply, I absolutely agree that RTE were way out of order and that of course somebody should be held responsible. It must have been very traumatic for Fr Reynolds to have experienced the ignominy of being accused when he is obviously innocent. PrimeTime were wrong and they have wholeheartedly apologised for that. Fr Reynolds has rightly received compensation. I just feel that in the light of all that has gone on in the Catholic Church that it is a bit rich to say that the apology wasn’t as heartfelt as it could have been. I mean it it difficult to hear that. I fully realise that they are different issues. I do admire the way Fr Reynolds responed with total dignity and forgiveness. However I believe PrimeTime is an excellent and informative program which has highlighted many wrongdoings ie: Leas Cross etc. I will continue to watch it and for what it’s worth I am sure they have learned from this very expensive lesson.

BJ, You’re right there are plenty of hardworking honest, decent, kind and wonderful Priests (@frpaddybyrne) out there and Fr Reynolds was totally vindicated and completely innocent. My comments were made with the thoughts of all the abused children out there who never had a voice (and some never will) with which to speak of their innocence. I realise that this is a different matter but I felt that the Catholic Priests Association were a bit quick off the blocks to say the apology was not apologetic enough.

To the nameless guy who is trying to defend this ridiculous organisation, Im not the crazy one here.

William, you’re right. If a priest is accused of wrong doing, even with out evidence, he must be guilty. (slow clap)

Its called as it is!

The irony (ironing?) of even using the words “witch hunt”…

If you want to see “small minded” follow the link above and see the amount of red thumbs a Mick obrien, a child sex abuse survivor got from the pro catholic voice in this country.

Réada, why are you presuming the dislikes come from a pro-catholic element?

Wild guess BJ

The catholic church would know all about witch hunts! They certainly performed quite a number of them in times past but hey, what’s the burning a few thousand women in the grand scale of atrocities committed by the catholic church!

No one has said what RTE did was ok. Keep some perspective.

Dominic: well said.

AGAIN ! Nobody here has said that what RTE has done was.Read the posts !

So forever more the Church cannot defend it’s interests?

Exactly BJ. No matter what any priest says, they will always have the other issue thrown at them. I feel sorry for the decent priests out there.

‘It’? You’ve lost touch… This is a Man’s life you are talking about! What did he, personally, do to deserve this?

Chris, I agree with BJ above. Your totally missing the point. Its about the disgraceful destruction of a mans life with no evidence that’s the issue, not the pope. Get a grip.

You got that right!

Fr Reynolds was not responsible and if this accusation had happened prior to paternity tests being available, Fr. Reynolds would have had no hope of being vindicated.

@Hanly, No one is criticising Fr Reynolds, they are critiising the association of priests. The distinction is critical.

The church are using this publicity to make the catholic public feel sorry for them . What happened was appalling and a huge mistake but the church has a short memory and their seems to be no shortage of catholic leaders to mouth off right now . Where were they when report after report was produced with the hundreds of victims that were abused over the years . They are hoping this stream of negative media publicity will take media reporting off their disgusting acts of abuse and cronyism that have shattered the country over the last twenty years . They want to take the media back 20 years in reporting what they know about the church .

I read two more reports from two different priests slating the media handling of this awful case , today . They seems to be no end of statements available . I wish it was that easy anytime I was reseaching the reports over the last 15 years !

Today another statement came out that they were not happy with apology and also questioned the fact that the journalist was still working with RTE and asking why she had not resigned as they were asked to when they were found guilty of abuse or covering up their buddy’s . Need we remind them the girl made a mistake and has paid for that in her career and RTE have paid for it in compensation . I’m not belittling the crime but it’s hardly the same as the awful crimes we read about in reports from in the parishes across the country .

Hopefully the man will recover from this awful defamation of his character but as the church itself tells it’s followers over and over ” let he who has not sinned , cast the first stone ” or what about forgiveness . I’m sure the girl has repented . Oh but I forgot the brainwashing only works in one direction and that’s theirs .

I wish the priest in question the best of luck in the future and hope he recovers from his loss but I also wish the journalist the best of luck and hope she recovers and learns from the mistake she made ..

Why they didn’t do anything wrong why should they be targeted in this unfair way with no proof of allocation that was false. Why should Priests Association be quiet the Association has done nothing wrong, covering up nothing and it’s time that people learn to respect I instead of throwing false allegations without proof

RTE’s treatment of Fr. Reynolds was absolutely unfair and totally unacceptable. RTE are not, however ,responsible for the ‘anti-Catholic, anti- priest’ sentiment that is felt by the thousands of people that have been disgusted by actions and the arrogance of the Church.

Catherine, when the largest media organisation in the country publishes TOTALLY fabricated claims about an innocent Priest then yes, they do contribute to an anti-Priest sentiment within the Public. You obviously have no concept or appreciation of the power of the media to sway public opinion and the responsibility that entails!

The catholic church is a body of people, some of whom abused children but individuals should not be picked and accused in the wrong and it is fitting that the perpetrators pay for this and be expected to give a very sincere apology and it would also be fitting for people who hate the church or who are anti-catholic to stop using abused children as their reason for this.

Thomas, it was the association of Catholic Priests in Ireland, not the Catholic Church… There’s a huge difference.

This innocent Priest had his name dragged through the mud and was put through hell. We shouldn’t tar all Priests with the same brush.

btw, it’s YOUR taxes that will pay for this due to RTE’s negligence!

The way the economy is going, they won’t be going to the George either.

ehh? They’re the association of Catholic priests, so something tells me it might just.

The priest in question seems quite capable of fighting his own battles. Unless he asked the association to speak on his behalf, they should say nothing. If he did ask them to speak on his behalf then thats fair enough but they should make that clear. Don’t confuse my opinion on the association with that of the priest or RTE. I think what RTE done to this priest is abhorrent and although I haven’t seen the apology, it sounds like it was a pathetic attempt. However any association of Catholic priests should be aware of the significance of what they are say and how it would resonate with the Irish people. They should choose their words carefully or choose to say nothing when their words only serve to muddy waters and raise anger.

The logic that I would take from the statements on here is quite simple. Get your own house in order before you start demanding it of others!

Your logic is illogical. The church is an institution and while only a minority of priests abused it was the subsequent consistent cover up of the the abuse which fueled anti church sentiment.

I beg to differ when it comes to Mother Theresa. While she has done some good most of her emphasis was on suffering. As Christopher Hitchens put it, she was a friend of suffering rather than those who suffer. Her charity receives millions yet patients in her hospitals live in inhumane conditions while money from her organisition goes to Rome and the building of Churches. Then there is her association with political tyrants such as the Duvalier family etc. But aside from that just cos an organisation does some good doesnt justify its existance. Scientology bought aid to victims of hurricane Kathrina. The Nazi party had an ambitious plan for road and bridge building. Communists in Soviet Russia built a world class underground system etc. This does not justify these ideologies. The Nordic countries are not religious but do not suffer from inadequete infrastructure. Money given to secular charities such as medicin sans frontier would all go to where it is needed and not po promoting delusion and social division that is religion.

Cyril, I think that one has to be very well educated, well read and be a holder of PhD and coming from the rich west so as not to see the obvious. Go to India and talk to the simple and ordinary hindu, not Catholics, and you will see what they have to say about mother Teresa, her work and sisters who still live and work there. I don’t know how much money has been sent to Mother Teresa. But from many testimonies you can see that dying and abandoned people taken from streets, gutters … felt recognised, accepted, treated as humans and so on. Many charitable organisations went to India after mother Teresa became popular. She didn’t make herself popular, she was made popular. As i understand her work, her lite motive was not to do away with poverty but to do away with indifference, egoism, greed, lack of forgiveness or hatred. She wished to bring back the sense of lost dignity but above all to bring Christ by loving them and remaining poor with the poor. Again if we don’t look into the origin of her mission, herher inspiration, motivations and purpose we will make wrong judgment. Some people wanted her to be somebody else than she meant for her self. Simply she didn’t fit into their schemes.

Molly if showing solidarity with the poor could bring about world peace I would give her full marks. Peace and progress is bought about by a number of essential ingredients. 1 the emancipation of women 2 the reduction of poverty by lasting and sustainable means. 3 Cultures that respect free speech and that base their societal structures on evidence based models. As for ego there is no bigger egotistical belief that us humans will live forever. All of these reasons show that religion is not compatible with peace or progress. The countries that are more likely to turn the other cheek have rejected the idea of religion.