A priest has said he feels “a great sense of relief” after being
cleared of an abuse allegation, an experience he describes as “any
priest’s worst nightmare”.Co. Louth-based Fr Oliver Brennan (67) also said he feels let down by Church authorities who he said failed to show him compassion and respect.
Fr Brennan, who stepped down following an allegation in August 2010, also expressed dismay that he was only cleared by Cardinal Seán Brady at the weekend despite the civil authorities saying he had no case to answer almost a year ago.
During the more-than-two-years that Fr Brennan has been out of ministry he has been unable to say Mass publicly or celebrate the sacraments.
“It has been my worst nightmare,” he admitted to The Irish Catholic this week after 40 years service in the priesthood.
He was immediately forced to step aside and leave his parish under guidelines that have been criticised by priests’ representatives as too draconian.
“I felt very let down by the cardinal and diocesan authorities. When they make the announcement to parishioners, there is an insistence in the statement about the need for the presumption of innocence. But it doesn’t feel like that, the treatment you receive is very different,” he said.
“I would have to say that I didn’t feel compassionately supported by our diocesan authorities. The aim of our diocese is to be compassionate, but I didn’t feel it.”
As time went on there was occasional contact [from senior diocesan authorities] but I certainly didn’t feel there was the compassionate support I deserved,” he said.
Fr Brennan recalls as “very painful” a decision by the diocese not to allow him to attend the annual gathering of Armagh priests.
Fr Brennan says this contributed to a “sense of alienation” he felt from the diocese.
However, he is thankful for the great support he “received from many priests and parishioners – that’s what kept me going”.
Fr Brennan said that the long, drawn-out nature of the Church process was “particularly stressful”.
He received a letter from Cardinal Brady which revealed the findings of the Church inquiry, namely that “the allegations against Fr Oliver Brennan have not been substantiated” and therefore “Fr Oliver Brennan remains a priest in good standing and is to be restored to active ministry forthwith”.
He expects to receive a new parish appointment in coming days.