THE fate of the besieged Bishop of Limerick hung in the balance last night as arrangements began across his diocese for a series of meetings to decide whether he should stay or resign.Dr Donal Murray is anxiously waiting to hear back from the parishes of the Limerick diocese to gauge the public and priests' reaction to the shocking revelations in the Murphy report.
The bishop has been under severe pressure to resign after the report labelled his failure to investigate a paedophile priest during his time as an auxiliary bishop in the Dublin Archdiocese as "inexcusable".
This week, Dr Murray asked for guidance from the clergy and people living in the diocese and said the question of his resignation is a matter of whether his presence is a help or a hindrance to the diocese.
Further meetings are due to take place over coming days throughout Limerick after a meeting of 80 people -- including priests, diocesan workers and volunteers -- who declared their "unanimous, unequivocal support" for the beleaguered clergyman.
Controversy
Limerick priest Fr Eamonn Fitzgibbon,said future meetings to discuss the ongoing controversy will take place at all levels. He said the consultation process will try to take in the views of as many people as possible.
A clear picture on Dr Murray's future is not expected for some time.
"We will shortly be calling for meetings at pastoral area level, the newly established pastor areas, and also for meetings at parish level with pastoral councils," said Fr Fitzgibbon.
He said the initial meeting of diocesan workers was the first step in responding to Dr Murray's request for assistance.
"There will certainly be other meetings as we widen out that process of consultation amongst the people of the diocese to offer that guidance to our bishop," Fr Fitzgibbon said.
Dr Murray had no scheduled public appointments yesterday and has remained silent since appearing at a Sunday morning Mass at St Joesph's Church in Limerick city.
A spokesman for Dr Murray said his position had not changed since his weekend homily. Neither has the Limerick Bishop received any communication from the Vatican since the Murphy report was published.
Yesterday, a relative of sex abuse victim Peter McCloskey, who took his own life in 2006 after he repeatedly unsuccessfully sought redress from Dr Murray, said the family were reserving their position and did not wish to make any comment.
A prominent theologian has also urged there to be no scapegoating of Dr Murray. Fr Eamonn Conway is a professor of theology at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick. He said: "It is one thing not to protect someone who has done wrong; it is another to collude in his scapegoating.
"There are many respects in which Bishop Murray has served the Irish Church and its people well, and this should not be forgotten when the focus is on his failings and when resignation is being considered."
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