sex abuse protestors call for cardinals resignation

national | miscellaneous | news report Sunday April 07, 2002 15:16 by dave lordan - swp

More than 150 people staged a demonstration against sex abuse today as Cardinal Desmond Connell celebrated mass. The Cardinal was saying mass to mark the bicentenary of the birth of Edmund Rice, founder of the Christian Brothers, a community which has been closely linked with schools and education in the State. As the mass went ahead in the headquarters of the Royal Dublin Society, the men and women involved in the protest - some of whom said they were victims of abuse by Catholic priests - made emotional demands for Cardinal Connell's resignation. Priests and nuns going to the mass were handed leaflets outlining the reasons for the demonstration as they ran the gauntlet of protesters. Spokesman Mr John Kelly said there should be an independent inquiry into abuse by church figures and compensation for all victims. The street protest followed the resignation last week of Brendan Comiskey, Bishop of Ferns,