Rowan Williams kicks himself in mouth claiming Catholics lost all credibility

[Saddle Bronc 124]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100403/ap_on_re_eu/eu_church_abuse#mwpphu-container

Anglican leader: Irish church lost all credibility

By RAPHAEL G. SATTER, Associated Press Writer

LONDON The Roman Catholic Church in Ireland has lost all credibility because of its mishandling of abuse by priests, the leader of the Anglican church said in remarks released Saturday. A leading Catholic archbishop said he was "stunned" by the comments.

The remarks released Saturday marked the first time Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has spoken publicly on the crisis engulfing the Catholic Church. The comments come ahead of a planned visit to England and Scotland by Pope Benedict XVI later this year.

"I was speaking to an Irish friend recently who was saying that it's quite difficult in some parts of Ireland to go down the street wearing a clerical collar now," Williams told the BBC. "And an institution so deeply bound into the life of a society, suddenly becoming, suddenly losing all credibility that's not just a problem for the church, it is a problem for everybody in Ireland, I think."

At the Vatican, the pope celebrated Easter Vigil on Saturday evening but didn't directly refer to the scandal in his homily.

The Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano on Saturday denounced what it called the "vile defamation campaign" against the pope and cited messages of solidarity that had arrived from bishops from around the world.

Benedict, who on Sunday celebrates Easter and delivers his "Urbi et Orbi" speech, hasn't made any explicit reference to the scandal since he released a letter to the Irish faithful concerning the abuse crisis in that country on March 20.

The interview with Williams, recorded March 26, is to be aired Monday on the BBC's "Start the Week" program as part of a general discussion of religion to mark Easter. But its publication ahead of the interview caught Catholic leaders off guard.

Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said he had "rarely felt personally so discouraged" as when he heard Williams' opinions.

"I have been more than forthright in addressing the failures of the Catholic Church in Ireland. I still shudder when I think of the harm that was caused to abused children. I recognize that their church failed them," a statement, posted on the archdiocese's Web site, said. "Those working for renewal in the Catholic Church in Ireland did not need this comment on this Easter weekend and do not deserve it."

Martin also noted that that Anglican leaders in Ireland including the Church of Ireland's Archbishop of Dublin John Neill and Bishop Richard Clarke had distanced themselves from Williams' statements, with Clarke describing them as careless.

Martin later said that Williams had called him to express regret for the "difficulties which may have been created" by the interview, but it wasn't clear if that constituted an apology or whether Williams still stood by his remarks.

Calls to Williams' office seeking comment on his interview and the call to Martin were not immediately returned.

The Catholic church has been on the defensive over accusations that leaders protected child abusers for decades in many countries, and Williams' criticisms are likely to strain already testy relations between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion which estimate 1.1 billion and 80 million adherents respectively.

Although both the pope and the archbishop of Canterbury have stressed the importance of healing the Reformation-era rift that split the churches in the 16th century, relations hit a low point last year when the Vatican invited conservative Anglicans to join the Catholic Church.

How many will take up the offer is still unknown, although in the interview Williams said he didn't think the issue "is going to be a big deal."

"I think there'll be a few people who will take advantage of it and they'll take advantage of it because they believe they ought to be in communion with the bishop of Rome. And I can only say fine, God bless them."

The strained relations come at an awkward time for both churches, which are under considerable internal pressure.

The Catholic Church has been rocked by sex abuse scandals in countries such as the United States, Germany and Ireland, where Cardinal Sean Brady faces calls for his resignation following allegations that he played a role in helping to cover up activities of pedophile priests.

The pope himself has come under fire, with critics accusing Benedict who as a Vatican cardinal directed the Holy See's policy on handling abuse cases was part of a culture of secrecy intended to protect church hierarchy.

The Anglican Church, meanwhile, still faces bruising internal debates or even a potential split over what rights to extend to homosexuals and women within the church.

The pope's planned first official visit to Britain in November already has generated controversy and promises of protests after Benedict's criticism of British rules designed to protect gays and women in the workplace, which have raised fears at the Vatican that the Catholic Church could eventually be prosecuted for refusing to hire gays or transsexuals.

Both Williams and Benedict are due to meet during the visit to Britain, but the archbishop seemed curt when describing how he would greet the pope at Lambeth Palace, his official residence just south of the River Thames.

Williams said the pontiff would be welcomed as "as a valued partner, and that's about it."

In the interview, Williams said Christian institutions, faced with the choice of self-protection or revealing potentially damaging secrets, have decided to keep quiet to preserve their credibility.

"We've learned that that is damaging, it's wrong, it's dishonest and it requires that very hard recognition ... which ought to be natural for the Christian church based as it is on repentance and honesty," he said.

___

Associated Press Writers Jennifer Quinn, and Nicole Winfield in Rome, contributed to this report.

Given that Anglican church under Williams lost even the meagre immediately-post-Runcie credibility it had managed to retain (its credibility measure was never large due to its founding by "Crazy Hank"), and its American branch (Episcopal) is now moribund due to its own stack of shenanigans, Williams' comment itself was of "pot/kettle" variety.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7550211/Rowan-Williams-apologises-for-claiming-Catholic-Church-has-lost-all-credibility.html

Rowan Williams apologises for claiming Catholic Church has lost 'all credibility'

The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has been forced into a humiliating apology after claiming the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland had lost all credibility over the child abuse scandal.

Bob Mendick

Following a torrent of criticism, Dr Williams admitted his "deep sorrow and regret" over his earlier comments in a telephone conversation with the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin.

A statement issued last night by the Dublin Archdioces said: "The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, this afternoon telephoned Archbishop Diarmuid Martin to express his deep sorrow and regret for difficulties which may have been created by remarks in a BBC interview concerning the credibility of the Catholic Church in Ireland.

"Archbishop Williams affirmed that nothing could have been farther from his intention than to offend or criticise the Irish Church."

Dr Williams had told the BBC radio 4 programme Start the Week which is not even due to be broadcast until tomorrow [Monday] that the failure of the Catholic church to deal with child abuse had seriously damaged it.

He said: "An institution so deeply bound into the life of a society suddenly becoming, suddenly losing all credibility that's not just a problem for the church, it is a problem for everybody in Ireland."

The comments prompted stinging criticism from not only Catholic but also Protestant church leaders in Ireland. His Church of Ireland counterpart Dr John Neill said he had listened to the remarks with "deep regret".

The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin had previously said: "The unequivocal and unqualified comment in a radio interview of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, that the Catholic Church in Ireland has 'lost all credibility' has stunned me.

Earlier, Archbishop Martin's Church of Ireland counterpart Dr John Neill said he listened to the remarks of Archbishop Williams with "deep regret", while his fellow Bishop in Meath and Kildare, Richard Clarke, branded the comment careless and reckless.

Archbishop Martin expressed his thanks to the two clergymen for their supportive statements, which he said reflected the depth and warmth of ecumenical relations in Ireland.

"In his Easter night homily Archbishop Martin will once again recall the significance of the common baptism which Anglicans and Catholics share and the consequences of that fact for common ecumenical witness," the statement read.

Earlier, Archbishop Martin said Archbishop William's remarks would be immensely disheartening to those working to renew the church and would challenge their faith even further.

The senior Irish clergyman - who has called for full accountability in the Church over child abuse - said he had rarely felt so personally discouraged.

"The unequivocal and unqualified comment in a radio interview of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, that the Catholic Church in Ireland has "lost all credibility" has stunned me," Archbishop Martin said.

"As Archbishop of Dublin, I have been more than forthright in addressing the failures of the Catholic Church in Ireland. I still shudder when I think of the harm that was caused to abused children. I recognise that their Church failed them.

"But I also journey with those - especially parents and priests - who work day by day to renew the Catholic Church in this diocese and who are committed to staying with their Church and passing on the faith in wearying times.

"Archbishop Williams' comments will be for them immensely disheartening and will challenge their faith even further."

Speaking to BBC Radio 4 Programme Start the Week, to be broadcast on Monday, Archbishop Williams said: "I was speaking to an Irish friend recently who was saying that it's quite difficult in some parts of Ireland to go down the street wearing a clerical collar now.

"And an institution so deeply bound into the life of a society suddenly becoming, suddenly losing all credibility - that's not just a problem for the church, it is a problem for everybody in Ireland."

Archbishop Neill said he supported Archbishop Martin and his work.

"It is with deep regret that I heard the remarks of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primate of All England, stating that the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland had lost all credibility," he said.

Church of Ireland Bishop of Meath and Kildare Richard Clarke said he believed the remark was thoughtless and hurtful.

"Whereas it is clearly true that the Roman Catholic Church in this country (Ireland) is facing deep and serious challenges to its authority as a consequence of clerical abuse scandals, this careless and reckless use of language by Archbishop Williams is extremely unfortunate," he said.

Bishop Clarke, Chairman of the Church of Ireland Commission for Christian Unity and Dialogue, said most Bishops, priests and religious of the Roman Catholic tradition minister faithfully and selflessly under very difficult conditions.

"All credibility has most certainly not been lost to the Church, and it is deeply hurtful to Roman Catholic clergy and laity alike, and indeed to those of other Christian traditions, that such a thoughtless remark should be made by Archbishop Williams," he added.

But rushing to the Archbishop's defence, Conservative MP Peter Bottomley called on the BBC to broadcast the full interview immediately.

Mr Bottomley, a member of the Ecclesiastical Committee, said he believed the interview would show the Archbishop was not in fact intending to make an attack on the Catholic Church.

The Worthing West MP said: "The BBC should broadcast the whole interview today and not wait until Monday morning.

"I believe that some of those commenting on the Archbishop's words have not heard the full interview.

"The public do not know whether this is a real row or whether Archbishop Williams was expressing sympathy with the position of the Catholic Church in Ireland."

The Catholic Church in Ireland has been rocked in recent months after revelations that paedophile priests got away with decades of horrific child sex abuse.

Pressure mounted this month on its leader, the Primate of All-Ireland Cardinal Sean Brady, after he admitted being at a meeting where children abused by notorious convicted sex offender Fr Brendan Smyth were forced to take a vow of silence.

The abuse scandal has also engulfed Pope Benedict, who faced claims he failed to properly investigate a serial abuser in a children's home for the deaf in Wisconsin in the US in the late 1990s.

Yesterday the Vatican provoked more controversy after the Pope's personal preacher likened the criticism of the Church over the sex abuse scandal to "collective violence" suffered by the Jews.

The Rev Raniero Cantalamessa said in a Good Friday homily with the Pope listening to him in St Peter's Basilica that a Jewish friend wrote to him to say the accusations remind him of the "more shameful aspects of anti-Semitism".

Earlier this week, Archbishop Martin told worshippers the Church's response to paedophilia had been hopelessly inadequate.

The Archbishop is due to celebrate Easter Sunday Mass in St Mary's Pro Cathedral in Dublin tomorrow morning.

Edited April 5, 2010 by Saddle Bronc

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Yeah what a totally outrageous, unfounded opinion Williams has. From now on all church leaders should just STFU.

If you don't detect any sarcasm in my post, don't worry. You are a moron.