Brendan Comiskey
Encyclopedia
Brendan Comiskey, is the Roman Catholic Bishop
Emeritus
of the Diocese of Ferns
. He was born on 13 August 1935 in Clontibret
, County Monaghan
, Ireland
.
He resigned on 1 April 2002, over charges that he had failed to deal adequately with allegations that Fr. Seán Fortune
and others were sexually abusing children.
He was ordained a priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
on 25 June 1961, and appointed Bishop of Ferns
on 4 April 1984. He had served as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin since 1979.
, published by the Irish Government
on 25 October 2005 into child sex abuse in this diocese describes a catalogue of abuse between 1962 and 2002 involving 100 individual cases involving 21 priests during the tenures of Bishop Donal Herlihy (1964–1983) and later Bishop Comiskey.
It is alleged that Tomás O'Fiaich, Cardinal Archbishop of Armagh, had been told about the allegations, as had the Holy See
.
personality and Comiskey admits he found him difficult to deal with. Fortune committed suicide while on bail.
According to the founder of the abuse victims' charity One in Four, Colm O'Gorman, Comiskey was not alone in his responsibility to report the allegations to civil authorities. O'Gorman is quoted as saying, "It would be sad if he (Comiskey) was ultimately scapegoated in all this and the church failed to accept full responsibility".
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
of the Diocese of Ferns
Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns
The Diocese of Ferns is a Roman Catholic diocese in south-eastern Ireland. It is one of six suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin and is subject to the Archdiocese of Dublin. The incumbent Ordinary is Denis Brennan....
. He was born on 13 August 1935 in Clontibret
Clontibret
Clontibret is a village and a parish in County Monaghan, Ireland.-Village:The village is situated close to the border with Northern Ireland, between the towns of Monaghan and Castleblayney, along the N2 National primary road, which links Dublin and Derry. The village population in 2006 was...
, County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
He resigned on 1 April 2002, over charges that he had failed to deal adequately with allegations that Fr. Seán Fortune
Seán Fortune
Fr. Seán Fortune was an Irish priest accused of child molestation, who allegedly used his position to gain access to his victims. He was never tried, but committed suicide before any charges were proved against him,...
and others were sexually abusing children.
He was ordained a priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
The Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and of the Perpetual Adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar is a Roman Catholic religious order of brothers, priests, and nuns...
on 25 June 1961, and appointed Bishop of Ferns
Diocese of Ferns
Diocese of Ferns can refer to:*The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns*The Church of Ireland diocese of Ferns within the united Diocese of Cashel, Waterford, Lismore, Ossory, Ferns & Leighlin...
on 4 April 1984. He had served as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin since 1979.
Early career
Comiskey's early clerical career was extremely promising. He was head of his order in Ireland and the UK by the age of 34, became a Bishop at age 45 and had his own diocese by age 47.Diocese mired in clerical sexual abuse
The Ferns ReportThe Ferns Report
The Ferns Report was an official Irish government inquiry into the allegations of clerical sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns in County Wexford, Ireland.-Scope:...
, published by the Irish Government
Irish Government
The Government of Ireland is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland.-Members of the Government:Membership of the Government is regulated fundamentally by the Constitution of Ireland. The Government is headed by a prime minister called the Taoiseach...
on 25 October 2005 into child sex abuse in this diocese describes a catalogue of abuse between 1962 and 2002 involving 100 individual cases involving 21 priests during the tenures of Bishop Donal Herlihy (1964–1983) and later Bishop Comiskey.
It is alleged that Tomás O'Fiaich, Cardinal Archbishop of Armagh, had been told about the allegations, as had the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
.
Resignation
Comiskey resigned in 2002 amid allegations that he did not report allegations that Fr Sean Fortune had abused a number of children while Comiskey was in control of the diocese. Fortune was a serial paedophile with a manipulativePsychological manipulation
Psychological manipulation is a type of social influence that aims to change the perception or behavior of others through underhanded, deceptive, or even abusive tactics. By advancing the interests of the manipulator, often at the other's expense, such methods could be considered exploitative,...
personality and Comiskey admits he found him difficult to deal with. Fortune committed suicide while on bail.
According to the founder of the abuse victims' charity One in Four, Colm O'Gorman, Comiskey was not alone in his responsibility to report the allegations to civil authorities. O'Gorman is quoted as saying, "It would be sad if he (Comiskey) was ultimately scapegoated in all this and the church failed to accept full responsibility".
See also
- Roman Catholic Church sex abuse scandal
- Roman Catholic priests accused of sex offenses
- Crimen sollicitationisCrimen sollicitationisCrimen sollicitationis is the title of a 1962 document of the Holy Office codifying procedures to be followed in cases of priests or bishops of the Catholic Church accused of having used the sacrament of Penance to make sexual advances to penitents.It repeated, with additions, the contents of an...