AN IRISH abuse survivor has said she is
"disappointed but not surprised" at the refusal of Cardinal Sean Brady
to stay away from next month's papal conclave.Christine Buckley, founder of Dublin's Aislinn Centre, had publicly urged Cardinal Brady not to attend the Vatican vote to decide Pope Benedict XVI's successor as a gesture towards Irish abuse victims.
She lodged the formal request with Cardinal Brady, the Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin and the Irish Bishops' Conference.
But Cardinal Brady has now confirmed he will attend the Papal conclave as planned.
Decision
Dr Brady repeated his apology to abuse victims.
A spokesman told the Herald: "Cardinal Brady takes this opportunity to express once again his deep sorrow to all those who were abused as children, their families and to all people who feel rightly outraged and let down by the Catholic Church's failure of moral leadership and accountability."
Ms Buckley said a decision to stay away from the conclave as a gesture towards Irish abuse victims would have been "a small token but very welcome."
She said she was not surprised at his decision.
Cardinal Brady is now scheduled to vote in the election next month having represented the Irish Church in the conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI in April 2005.
That was the first papal conclave in 27 years.
However, the Irish cardinal was one of those identified by the Italian newspaper La Stampa as a potential 'embarrassment' in the conclave.
The newspaper named Cardinal Brady because of the manner in which the Irish Church has been rocked by successive abuse scandals over the past decade.