Call to Archbishop Eamon Martin to withdraw
invitation to Cardinal Dolan
WE ARE CHURCH IRELAND endorses the call by The DROMORE Group* of
abuse survivors (25 August 2023) to Archbishop Eamon Martin to withdraw the
invitation to the Archbishop of New york, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, as the chief
celebrant at the cathedral’s 150th anniversary Mass on Sunday (27th August).
We make this call because we believe Archbishop Martin’s invitation is grossly
insensitive and disrespectful to the Dromore survivors and their fellow clerical abuse
survivors in the United States. We believe it is alarmingly tone-deaf and sends out a
message of “business as usual” from the hierarchical church.
Cardinal Dolan has a terrible record in Milwaukee and New York for protecting
church financial assets ahead of any concern for survivors of clerical sex abuse. He
is a most unsuitable person to preside at the 150 th anniversary in Armagh.
In Prague in February 2023 Archbishop Eamon Martin said: It was significant that
the voice of the Irish was heard loudly and clearly in the Synod Hall here in
Prague, and in particular our emphasis that the Church is wounded by the
horrific experience of abuse.
Archbishop Eamon Martin has repeatedly stressed the deep and raw wounds of
the abuse crisis. If he withdraws the invitation to Cardinal Dolan – even at this late
stage – it would confirm he is first and foremost on the side of the survivors.
Ursula Halligan and Colm Holmes
Joint Co-ordinators