Bishop in abuse apology

A CATHOLIC bishop who said he used to think paedophilia was friendship gone too far has apologised.

The Rt Rev John Kirby, Bishop of Clonfert, in East Galway, made the remarks after a Church child abuse watchdog revealed he moved two priests from parish to parish after allegations against them.

In a letter sent to 24 parishes, the bishop admitted he had made a mistake over the transfers and the subsequent paedophilia reference.

“I may have given the impression that I was somehow minimising the gravity of the criminal activity which we know to be child sexual abuse,” he said. “This was never my intention and I wish to apologise, especially to all survivors, on this point.”