PRAYERS were offered for Bishop Donal Murray in parishes across Limerick yesterday as he served out the last hours of his post in Rome. Back in Limerick, the dark, rainy skies reflected the mood of up to 150 people going to Mass at St Saviour's church yesterday.
While Dr Murray had made the trek to the Vatican on Sunday, he was the main topic of conversation throughout his diocese yesterday.
The vast majority of the congregation were elderly, but there were some young attendees too.
All thoughts were towards Italy. Fr Brendan Clifford told those assembled that yesterday was the feast day of St Ambrose of Milan, but in the prayers of the faithful, the Limerick priest remembered their bishop in Rome.
The congregation were asked to pray for the bishop to receive God's guidance, as he had asked in his letter to the diocese at the weekend. The priest also asked that prayers be offered to the "childhoods that have been damaged by abuse".
Guidance
Outside the church, it was clear that the mention of Dr Murray's name invoked passionate discourse.
Turlough McNamara, from Garryowen, said the hierarchy in the Church have not backed him up.
"They (senior church members) more or less told him to go and made his mind up for him. I do hope that when Bishop Murray goes, as it now appears he more than likely will, that he is not the only fall guy for this. There are other senior church members here who are not saying anything about their role in all this," Mr McNamara said.
Rita Sexton, of Rosbrien, said Dr Murray was a good bishop. "I am worried as to who might replace him, who will come in and take over," she said.
David Constable, from Wolfe Tone Street, said it was his belief that Dr Murray had to resign.
"I think he had to go. The odds were stacked against him and it is a pity because he was a good man," Mr Constable said.
Fianna Fail's Peter Power said he had sympathy for Dr Murray, but admitted that the Murphy report's findings were very damaging.
Fine Gael's Michael Noonan said the controversy surrounding the bishop had overshadowed his contribution to the Church in Limerick.
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