Towards Healing and Renewal

13 Jul 2011

To mark the first anniversary of the Pastoral Letter of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI to the Catholics of Ireland, published in March 2010, the bishops of Ireland launched a pastoral response entitled Towards Healing and RenewalIts contents represent part of a wider response and longer journey by the Church in helping to bring healing and peace to survivors of abuse.

Dedicated prayers of support and appropriate liturgical resources are available here.

Recent statements and reflections from Irish bishops and the Holy See

17 December 2010 | Statement of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on Publication of Chapter 19 of Murphy Report

12 December 2010 | Homily of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin for the Third Sunday of Advent in Ballyfermot Parish

7 December 2010 | Statement of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on sentencing of Tony Walsh

25 November 2010 | The Murphy Report One Year Later – Opinion article by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin

15 November 2010 | Statement of clarification from Archdiocese of Dublin Communications Office

12 November 2010 | Statement of Archbishop Clifford, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Cloyne

12 November 2010 | Press release of the Holy See at the Beginning of the Apostolic Visitation in Ireland

  • Norms
  • Letter to the bishops of the Catholic Church and to the Ordinaries and Hierarchs, regarding the modifications introduced in the Normae de gravioribus delictis
  • The norms of the Motu Proprio “Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela” (2001): Historical introduction
  • A brief introduction to the modifications made in the Normae de gravioribus delictis, reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
  • The significance of the publication of the new “Norms concerning the most serious crimes”. Note by Fr. F. Lombardi

6 June 2010 | Guide to Understanding Basic CDF Procedures concerning Sexual Abuse Allegations (published by the Vatican)

17 May 2010 | Statement by Cardinal Seán Brady on the publication today of the Annual Report of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland 

15 May 2010 | Statement from Archbishop Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly

10 May 2010 | Address of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on the future of the Catholic Church in Ireland

7 May 2010 | Dublin Archdiocese appoints new Director of Child Protection

22 April 2010 | Statement by Cardinal Seán Brady on the resignation of Bishop James Moriarty as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin 

22 April 2010 | Statement from Bishop Jim Moriarty on the Holy Father’s acceptance of his resignation as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin 

22 April 2010 | Announcement by Pope Benedict XVI on the resignation of Bishop James Moriarty 

4 April 2010 | Homily by Cardinal Seán Brady for Easter Sunday 

2 April 2010 | Homily delivered by Bishop Noel Treanor on Good Friday in St Peter’s Cathedral

2 April 2010 | Homily by Cardinal Seán Brady at St Patrick’s Church, Dundalk, on Good Friday

28 March 2010 | Homily of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin at Palm Sunday Mass

25 March 2010 | Statement of Bishop William Lee

24 March 2010 | Statement by Cardinal Seán Brady on the resignation of Bishop John Magee

24 March 2010 | Statement by Archbishop Clifford on the resignation of Bishop Magee

24 March 2010 | Statement from Bishop John Magee on his resignation

24 March 2010 | Announcement by Pope Benedict XVI concerning Bishop John Magee

20 March 2010 | Homily notes of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin for the Fifth Sunday of Lent

20 March 2010 | ‘Pastoral Letter of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, to the Catholics of Ireland’ including the full text of the Pastoral Letter, extracts from the Pastoral Letter, and related Vatican videos.

20 March 2010 | Statement from Archbishop Martin on the Pastoral Letter of Pope Benedict

20 March 2010 | Cardinal Brady welcomes the Pastoral Letter of Pope Benedict XVI to the Catholics of Ireland

19 March 2010 | Correction note from the Catholic Communications Office concerning Irish Independent published article of 18 March 2010

19 March 2010 | Cardinal Brady to welcome “Pastoral Letter of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI to the Catholics of Ireland”

18 March 2010 | Statement of Bishop Séamus Hegarty, Bishop of Derry, regarding article in Belfast Telegraph

18 March 2010 | Statement from Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh, regarding Fr Joseph Quinn

17 March 2010 | Information Update on media reporting on Cardinal Seán Brady

17 March 2010 | Cardinal Brady welcomes Pope Benedict’s announcement of forthcoming Pastoral Letter

17 March 2010 | Homily of Cardinal Seán Brady, Mass for St Patrick’s Day, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh

16 March 2010 | Note from the Catholic Communications Office to clarify media reporting on Cardinal Seán Brady

10 March 2010 | Extract from press release following the Spring 2010 General Meeting of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference

9 March 2010 | Note by Fr Federico Lombardi SJ, Holy See Press Office Director, on cases of sexual abuse

2 March 2009 | Bishop Brennan’s comments at the Diocesan Finance AGM

23 February 2010 | Bishop John Buckley’s statement following the meeting between Pope Benedict and the Irish Bishops

23 February 2010 | Bishop John Kirby’s statement following the meeting between Pope Benedict and the Irish Bishops

22 February 2010 | Lenten Message from Bishop Lee

22 February 2010 | Letter from Archbishop Michael Neary to priests of the diocese following the meeting with Pope Benedict XVI

21 February 2010 | Homilies by bishops for the First Sunday of Lent

16 February 2010 | Press release on the meeting of the Holy Father with senior Irish Bishops and high-ranking members of the Roman Curia

15 February 2010 | Irish bishops celebrate Mass before meeting with Pope Benedict XVI

12 February 2010 | Information for journalists covering the meeting with Pope Benedict XVI and Irish Bishops

8 February 2010 | Statement following meeting between bishops and survivors of institutional abuse

22 January 2010 | Statement by Bishop Philip Boyce in relation to comments on RTÉ Radio 1’s ‘Morning Ireland’

22 January 2010 | Meeting of Bishops in St Patrick’s College Maynooth

24 December 2009 | Bishop Éamonn Walsh and Bishop Raymond Field offer their resignation to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

23 December 2009 | Statement by Bishop Jim Moriarty

17 December 2009 | Statement by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on the resignation of Bishop Donal Murray

17 December 2009 | Statement by Cardinal Seán Brady on the resignation of Bishop Donal Murray

17 December 2009 | Statement by Bishop Donal Murray on his resignation as Bishop of Limerick

17 December 2009 | Announcement by Pope Benedict XVI concerning Bishop Donal Murray

11 December 2009 | Statement following meeting between bishops and survivors of institutional abuse

11 December 2009 | Irish bishops meet Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican

9 December 2009 | Statement from the Winter General Meeting of the Irish Bishops’ Conference

29 November 2009 | Homily Notes of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on the Feast of St Andrew

29 November 2009 | Bishop Donal Murray’s homily for the First Sunday of Advent

28 November 2009 | Bishop Murray’s letter to the people and priests of Limerick on the Dublin report

27 November 2009 | Address of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin at Our Lady’s Hospital Foundation Day 2009

26 November 2009 | Statement by Bishop Philip Boyce, Bishop of Raphoe following the publication of the Commission of Investigation into the Archdiocese of Dublin

26 November 2009 | Statement by Bishop Noel Treanor, Bishop of Down and Connor, in Response to the Dublin Report

26 November 2009 | Bishop of Limerick Donal Murray responds to report of the Dublin Archdiocese Commission of Investigation

26 November 2009 | Statement by Archbishop Michael Neary in response to the report of the Dublin Archdiocese Commission of Investigation

26 November 2009 | Statement by Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, in response to the publication of the Report of the Commission of Investigation into the sexual abuse of children by priests in the Archdiocese of Dublin

26 November 2009| Comments of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on the occasion of the publication of the Commission of Investigation in the sexual abuse of children by priests in the Archdiocese of Dublin 

22 November 2009 | Archbishop Martin’s statement on the ‘unity and integrity’ of the Dublin report

19 November 2009 | Statement by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on today’s High Court ruling

8 October 2009 | Extract from press release of the Autumn General Meeting of the Irish Bishops’ Conference

10 June 2009 | Extract from press release of the Summer General Meeting of the Irish Bishops’ Conference

5 June 2009 | Statement on behalf of Cardinal Brady and Archbishop Martin