Eamonn Oliver Walsh
Encyclopedia
Eamonn Oliver Walsh is an Irish Catholic bishop and is one of the two active Auxiliary Bishop
s of Dublin
, the other being Raymond W. Field.
He was ordained a priest for the diocese
of Dublin on 13 April 1969. He served as a secretary to Archbishop
Kevin McNamara
during his tenure as Archbishop of Dublin. On 7 March 1990 Pope John Paul II
appointed Walsh as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin and Titular Bishop
of Elmhama. He was ordained bishop on 22 April with Archbishop Desmond Connell
as consecrator and Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland
Archbishop
Emanuele Gerada
and Bishop James Kavanagh as principal co-consecrators.
After the publication of the 2009 Murphy Report
into child abuse in the Dublin Diocese, Bishop Walsh said in an interview that "my record on child protection goes back a long way and it’ll continue. And if on the other hand the perception continued among the people that I was somebody who was complicit in all of this, then that would be a barrier in my ministry and I couldn’t even minister as a priest or a bishop if that were to continue."http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1210/1224260426821.html
?" He replied: "... it took about six months for the woman to actually get the name of the complainant and you can’t go to the guards with a third-party concern. So the spin that was put on that yesterday morning (in an article in The Irish Times by One in Four founder Colm O'Gorman
) was most disingenuous and outrageous.”
Bishop Walsh and Bishop Ray Field offered an apology to child-abuse victims as they announced their resignations during Christmas Midnight Mass on 24 December 2009 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/25/irish-bishops-resign. There are therefore no currently active Auxiliary Bishops to assist Archbishop Martin. This is in addition to this month of two other bishops, Donal Murray of Limerick and James Moriarty of Kildare, who have also resigned following the publication on 26 November of a three-year investigation into why so many abusive Dublin priests escaped justice for so long.
In a joint statement Walsh and Field said they hoped their resignations "may help to bring the peace and reconciliation of Jesus Christ to the victims (and) survivors of child sexual abuse. We again apologise to them". Archbishop Diarmuid Martin
, had called for his two auxiliary bishops to quit , but both initially refused. In his Christmas sermon, Martin said the church for too long placed its self-interest above the rights of its parishioners, particularly innocent children. He said they, as well as the dedicated majority of priests, had been betrayed by their leaders. "It has been a painful year," he told worshippers at St Mary's pro-Cathedral in Dublin. "But the church today may well be a better and safer place than was the church of 25 years ago – when all looked well, but where deep shadows were kept buried."
In their joint resignation speech they said that: "evening informed Archbishop
Diarmuid Martin
that we are offering our resignation to His Holiness
, Pope Benedict XVI, as Auxiliary Bishops to the Archbishop of Dublin. As we celebrate the Feast of Christmas, the Birth of our Saviour, the Prince of Peace, it is our hope that our action may help to bring the peace and reconciliation of Jesus Christ to the victims/survivors of child sexual abuse. We again apologise to them. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have so bravely spoken out and those who continue to suffer in silence." http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1228/1224261302838.html
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
s of Dublin
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin
The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dublin, , is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in eastern Ireland centred around the republic's capital city – Dublin. The see of Dublin was raised to the status of a Metropolitan Province by the Synod of Kells in 1152. Its jurisdiction includes much of the Province of...
, the other being Raymond W. Field.
He was ordained a priest for the diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Dublin on 13 April 1969. He served as a secretary to Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Kevin McNamara
Kevin McNamara
Kevin McNamara may refer to:* Kevin McNamara , pro-life campaigner, Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland in the 1980s* Kevin McNamara , retired British Labour Party Member of Parliament...
during his tenure as Archbishop of Dublin. On 7 March 1990 Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
appointed Walsh as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Elmhama. He was ordained bishop on 22 April with Archbishop Desmond Connell
Desmond Connell
Desmond Connell is a cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church. He is a former Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland. He was born in Dublin....
as consecrator and Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland
Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland
The Holy See, as the central government of the Catholic Church , has full diplomatic ties with Ireland as well as many other countries worldwide. The current Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland is Archbishop-elect Monsignor Charles John Brown...
Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Emanuele Gerada
Emanuele Gerada
The Most Reverend Dr. Emanuele Gerada, D.D. , was a Maltese prelate of the Roman Catholic Church and Titular Archbishop of Nomentum....
and Bishop James Kavanagh as principal co-consecrators.
After the publication of the 2009 Murphy Report
Murphy Report
The Murphy Report is the brief name of the report of an investigation conducted by government of Ireland into the Sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic archdiocese of Dublin...
into child abuse in the Dublin Diocese, Bishop Walsh said in an interview that "my record on child protection goes back a long way and it’ll continue. And if on the other hand the perception continued among the people that I was somebody who was complicit in all of this, then that would be a barrier in my ministry and I couldn’t even minister as a priest or a bishop if that were to continue."http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1210/1224260426821.html
Resignation
As an auxiliary bishop and for secretary to Archbishop McNamara, Walsh was interviewed in the Murphy Report investigations. The Report refers to one particular allegation in one instance where he advised a woman to write to the chancellor, and he was subsequently asked: "Did you report that to the GardaGarda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
?" He replied: "... it took about six months for the woman to actually get the name of the complainant and you can’t go to the guards with a third-party concern. So the spin that was put on that yesterday morning (in an article in The Irish Times by One in Four founder Colm O'Gorman
Colm O'Gorman
Colm O'Gorman is an Irishman from County Wexford, founder of One in Four, former senator, and current executive director of Amnesty International in Ireland...
) was most disingenuous and outrageous.”
Bishop Walsh and Bishop Ray Field offered an apology to child-abuse victims as they announced their resignations during Christmas Midnight Mass on 24 December 2009 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/25/irish-bishops-resign. There are therefore no currently active Auxiliary Bishops to assist Archbishop Martin. This is in addition to this month of two other bishops, Donal Murray of Limerick and James Moriarty of Kildare, who have also resigned following the publication on 26 November of a three-year investigation into why so many abusive Dublin priests escaped justice for so long.
In a joint statement Walsh and Field said they hoped their resignations "may help to bring the peace and reconciliation of Jesus Christ to the victims (and) survivors of child sexual abuse. We again apologise to them". Archbishop Diarmuid Martin
Diarmuid Martin
Diarmuid Martin is the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland. He was born in Dublin.-Early life and education:...
, had called for his two auxiliary bishops to quit , but both initially refused. In his Christmas sermon, Martin said the church for too long placed its self-interest above the rights of its parishioners, particularly innocent children. He said they, as well as the dedicated majority of priests, had been betrayed by their leaders. "It has been a painful year," he told worshippers at St Mary's pro-Cathedral in Dublin. "But the church today may well be a better and safer place than was the church of 25 years ago – when all looked well, but where deep shadows were kept buried."
In their joint resignation speech they said that: "evening informed Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Diarmuid Martin
Diarmuid Martin
Diarmuid Martin is the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland. He was born in Dublin.-Early life and education:...
that we are offering our resignation to His Holiness
His Holiness
His Holiness is the official style or manner of address in reference to the leaders of certain religious groups. In Christianity, specifically the Orthodox Church, the Coptic Orthodox Church, Armenian Orthodox Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and the Roman Catholic...
, Pope Benedict XVI, as Auxiliary Bishops to the Archbishop of Dublin. As we celebrate the Feast of Christmas, the Birth of our Saviour, the Prince of Peace, it is our hope that our action may help to bring the peace and reconciliation of Jesus Christ to the victims/survivors of child sexual abuse. We again apologise to them. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have so bravely spoken out and those who continue to suffer in silence." http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1228/1224261302838.html