Letter to Michael Devlin re. his recent comments on the failure of the Church to laicise diocesan priests convicted of offences against children

18 Dean Head

Todmorden Road

Littleborough

OL15 9LZ

11 April 2011

Dear Mr Devlin,

Re. Your recent comments on the failure of the Church to laicise diocesan priests convicted of offences against children

I write to say that I very much welcome your comments on the ‘Sunday’ programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on10 April 2011(see http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnbd ). I fully support your view that the fact that William Green is still not laicised, thirty months after he was sentenced for his many offences against children, is “unsatisfactory”.

I also welcome the fact that you, now, seem able and willing to comment on such issues, when, in the recent past, you have stated that you cannot. I refer, for example to what you wrote to me in your letter of 22 July 2010. I had asked,

“What trust can you or the people of the Diocese have in its Safeguarding Commission when almost 8 years after our Bishop committed himself to fully implementing Lord Nolan’s recommendations, it appears that Doherty has still not been laicised and is, now, living in a house owned by the Diocese?” (see http://caads.blogspot.com/2010/04/letter-to-michael-devlin-chair-of.html )

In July 2010, you replied,

“In relation to the issue of laicisation of Father Doherty and in respect of any financial arrangements between the diocese and Father Doherty, these are not matters over which the Salford Diocesan Safe Guarding Commission has any authority or responsibility. For that reason I do not and cannot make any comment on these issues” (see http://caads.blogspot.com/2010/04/letter-to-michael-devlin-chair-of.html )

As I said above, I welcome the fact that you can now comment on such matters and agree with your view that the situation as regards the laicisation of such diocesan priests is “unsatisfactory”. I trust that this new-found ability will enable you and other members of the Safeguarding Commission to ask your own questions

For example, I would suggest that you ask Bishop Brain,

Why Green was not asked by the Diocese to apply for laicisation until January 2009 (see http://www.wigantoday.net/news/paedo_priest_anger_1_2866892 ), when he had been arrested on 17 December 2008 and sentenced on 1 October 2008?

And that you ask the Vatican and others,

Why in the wake of the much vaunted changes made to Church Law, while Pope Benedict was in charge of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Green has not yet been laicised?

The changes did, after all (and according to the bishops) include, “the establishment of fast-track dismissal from the clerical state for offenders” (see Bishops Conference of England and Wales and the Bishops' Conference of Scotland (2010) Heart speaks unto heart. The visit of POPE BENEDICT XVI. The Universe Media Group Ltd: Cheadle Hulme – distributed in parishes in the Diocese of Salford on 20 June 2010).

I look forward to hearing news that the Commission is taking action to attempt to remedy this unsatisfactory situation. Thirty months and counting is not what most people understand by “fast track”!

Yours sincerely,

Philip Gilligan

Copies to:

Uschi Műller, Safeguarding Adviser, Salford Diocese Safeguarding Commission, Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP

Detective Inspector Michael Montford, Safeguarding and Vulnerable Persons Unit, Greater Manchester Police HQ, Chester House, Boyer Street, Stretford, M60 ORE.

Dr Maria Cunningham, Brunswick Health Centre, Hartfield Close, Manchester, M13 9TP.

Mark Wiggin, Director Caritas Diocese of Salford 390 Parrs Wood Road,
390 Parrs Wood Road, Didsbury, Manchester M20 5NA

Marie Corran, Strategy and Performance Manager, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, Stopford House, Piccadilly, Stockport, SK1 3XE. marie.corran@stockport.gov.uk

Fr John Flynn, Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford M3 6DP j.flynn@salford.ac.uk

Fr Christopher Dawson, Chancellor and Judicial Vicar, Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP tribunal@dioceseofsalford.org.uk

CORRECTION
The date of Mr Devlin's letter was, in fact, 22 July 2009, not 22 July 2010.