Cardinal Brady's move described as `stunt'

A priest who has worked to expose Church cover-ups of abuse has described as a ''publicity stunt'' Cardinal Seán Brady's request a year ago for an additional bishop to help him with Church renewal and meeting with victims.

It comes as a spokesman for the cardinal confirmed to The Irish Catholic that he is apparently still waiting to hear back from Pope Benedict XVI on his May 2010 request.

Fr Patrick McCafferty said ''Cardinal Brady is incapable of leading renewal, he has no intention of it and the smoke screen of an additional bishop has now been exposed as the publicity stunt it was''.

Following calls for his resignation last year after it emerged he was aware of the activities of the notorious abuser Fr Brendan Smyth but didn't report it to the police, Cardinal Brady took a period of reflection during which many people believed he would decide to resign.

However, in May last year he announced that he would not be resigning but instead was asking the Pope to appoint another bishop to assist him ''in addressing the vital work of healing, repentance and renewal'' and ''engagement with survivors of abuse''.

Fr McCafferty said Cardinal Brady had ''done nothing to bring about healing in the Church. Every child that was abused since 1975 by Brendan Smyth is a reason why [Cardinal] Brady should be gone.''

Source