Getting a life?

I was fascinated by M. Hoyle’s letter suggesting that he or she knows all that needs to be known about Bishop Terence Brain’s failure to ensure that Father Thomas Doherty was laicised (removed from the clerical state) following his conviction in 1998 for five offences of indecency against a boy under 16 years (‘Time to get a life’, 1 June 2011).

Unfortunately, M. Hoyle presents a rather selective and somewhat misinformed account of the relevant facts and would be well advised to revisit the contemporary news reports and other information that is readily available about these matters at http://caads.blogspot.com/ and elsewhere.

M. Hoyle writes that “the priest at Todmorden was removed from the parish as soon as Bishop Brain was made aware of the allegations against him.” However, M. Hoyle does not mention other pertinent facts. For example, the Todmorden News reported on 27 February 1998 that “Priests saw Father Doherty's obscene photographs of a young boy months before telling the police.” and that “Three months passed before police were informed after the alarm was raised …” The Todmorden News noted “a strong feeling amongst the Catholic community that many questions remain unanswered” and reported that Father Hickford who had found the original evidence “immediately went to his superior, Dean Leo Heakin of St John the Baptist Church, Burnley, … But Dean Heakin did nothing.” (see http://caads.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2009-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=2 ).

M. Hoyle claims that “the priest died before Bishop Brain could finish the job and laicise him.” M. Hoyle does not comment on the admission by the Chair of the Salford Safeguarding Commission, Michael Devlin, at a meeting in September 2010 that Bishop Brain had not pursued Doherty’s laicisation, despite Doherty giving him authority to do so (see http://www.mediafire.com/?se3udyzz3jql7gr for an audio-recording of the meeting. The section concerning Doherty’s case is approx. four minutes long and starts approx. 33 minutes into the recording). Nor does M. Hoyle explain why during the nine years following his promise, in November 2001, to implement the recommendations of the Nolan Report, Bishop Brain did not send the relevant request to the Vatican or justify his decision not to do so.

M. Hoyle says “we all know”, but does not explain how we are supposed know the things he or she asserts. When has Bishop Brain or those he commissions ever provided full and accurate information to the people of the Diocese of Salford about Father Doherty? When, until the facts leaked out in September 2010 (see http://www.todmordennews.co.uk/news/convicted_priest_was_never_laicised_1_1997754 ) had Bishop Brain or those he commissions ever said anything to correct the widespread and mistaken impression that Doherty had been laicised?

Perhaps, Bishop Brain responds when M. Hoyle asks him questions. However, Bishop Brain has never responded to any of the questions I have asked him, in good faith and as a concerned parishioner and parent. I wrote to Bishop Brain, in October 2008, as soon as I became doubtful about whether Doherty had been laicised or whether he had, in fact, remained - according to the Church - ‘alter Christus’ (another Christ). Several letters later and, despite advice from the papal nuncio and Archbishop (now Cardinal) Vincent Nicholls that this was a matter for my diocesan bishop, I have yet to receive any acknowledgement of my letters, let alone any answers, from Bishop Brain.

M. Hoyle concludes by saying “We all know what happened.” I can only respond by saying ‘Yes, we do all know what happened and continues to happen. In November 2001, Bishop Brain, along with all the Catholic bishops of England and Wales, told us all that “If a bishop, priest or deacon is convicted of a criminal offence against children and is sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more, then it would normally be right to initiate the process of laicisation. Failure to do so would need to be justified.” (see http://www.bishop-accountability.org/resources/resource-files/reports/NolanReport.pdf 3.5.32, p44). However, this did not happen in the case of Doherty and has continued not to happen in other cases of Salford diocesan priests, such as William Green (see http://www.wigantoday.net/news/paedo_priest_anger_1_2866892 ), convicted of abusing children.’ I will continue to ask 'why?' I suggest that M. Hoyle should do the same.

Philip Gilligan