BISHOP DENIS Brennan's misjudged call for parishes to help meet the cost of compensation to vicitims of clerical sex abuse has undermined the fragile relationship between church authorities and the congregation.The reaction to his statement that 'it will be necessary to invite the parishes to become part of the process financially' was a swift and unequivocal feeling of anger.
'It is about asking for help to fulfill a God-given responsibility,' he said.
While there is no dispute that there is a responsibility to compensate the victims, this responsibility lies with the diocese, and ultimately the Vactican, not the people of Wexford.
Bishop Brennan didn't specify how the money should come – will it be in the form of church collections, donations from parish surpluses, the sale of parochial land in rural areas?
Outside Masses in Wexford on Tuesday, many people reacted with outrage and disbelief to the suggestion that they might have to help pay the reparation bill run up by evil priests who ruined the lives of children and teenagers.
Even some local clergy wondered why the bishop decided to make such an appeal. 'I'm surprised they didn't realise this reaction was going to happen. I'm amazed they didn't,' said one priest who didn't wish to be named.
The bishops's request underestimated the continuing sense of deep hurt and disgust that many people still feel about sex abuse revelations in the Diocese of Ferns.
Allegations of clerical sex abuse were mishandled by the church authorities. In that context, asking parishioners to pay for the horrific offences of priests, is almost too much to swallow for many people.
In recent years, Bishop Brennan and his clergy have done much to bridge the gap of betrayal that opened up between the church and local parishioners as a result of the sex abuse scandal, but it will be a long, long time before it is forgotten.
The vehement public reaction to his appeal for financial help demonstrated that.
It is nearly five years since the Ferns Report was published with all its shocking disclosures and some healing has taken place.
But it is only a few months since the revelations of the Ryan Report into sex abuse in the Archdiocese of Dublin reactivated public feelings in County Wexford and elsewhere.
The diocese is undoubtedly struggling to meet its financial obligations to victims of aberrant priests but many people seem to believe that this is a penance for the church hierarchy to bear, not the blameless congregation.
On his return two weeks ago from Rome where he spoke about the clerical abuse issue with Pope Benedict XVI, Bishop Brennan said 'We understand the damage that has been done'.
Asking people to pay the church's conscience money for that damage, may be a step too far, however.
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