Bishop Eamon Casey apologised many times for scandal he bought to Church but many remain hurt 25 years on, mourners were told today
Neither his son nor Peter’s mother, Annie Murphy, were present at the funeral Mass
Bishop Eamon Casey apologised many times for the scandal he bought to the Church but some people remained hurt and wounded 25 years later, his funeral Mass heard today.
Hundreds of mourners at Galway Cathedral were told by the Bishop of Achonry, Brendan Kelly, that Bishop Casey had done a lot of good things throughout his life in all of the parishes and dioceses in which he served, but it was understandable that the disclosure in 1992 that he had fathered a son, had caused enormous upset, some of which lingers to this day.
Neither his son nor Peter’s mother, Annie Murphy, were present at the funeral Mass which was con-celebrated by the Bishop of Clonfert, John Kirby, and among the many other clergy members was Bishop Nicholas Hudson, representative of the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols.
Archbishop Eamon Martin, the Primate of All Ireland, and Archbishop of Tuam, Michael Neary, were unable to attend due to prior Confirmation commitments.
President Michael D Higgins, as a friend of the late bishop, led the dignitaries at the funeral Mass, before Bishop Casey’s remains were interred in the Cathedral Crypt following the afternoon ceremony.
Bishop Kelly paid tribute to the work carried out by Bishop Casey in the many areas in which he worked.
“Eamon Casey, whose mortal remains are with us today in this Cathedral, had a long life as priest and bishop. He did much good,” said Bishop Kelly.
“As a young priest with the Emigrant Mission in London, he enabled many young couples to acquire their first home, to rise out of tenements and homelessness and thereby anchor their families in positive community environments.
“Later, back in Ireland, as bishop, in Kerry first and then in Galway, he acquired an even bigger profile as a man of energy and initiative.
"He was a doer. Not just within his dioceses, but on the national and international scene with the development, from 1973, of Trocáire, and as a defender of the rights of people who were oppressed and poor.
“He is particularly remembered for his courage as he attended dozens of stricken people when soldiers opened fire and many people were killed and injured at Archbishop – now ‘Blessed’ – Oscar Romero’s funeral in San Salvador in March 1980.
“There are those of us who remember, with gratitude, his kindness and encouragement when personally we most needed it.”
Bishop Kelly acknowledged that the revelation that Bishop Casey had had a relationship and fathered a child had reverberated around the world.
“Then 25 years ago, the emergence into the light of other hidden realities in his life, beginning with the fact that he had a son, Peter, were profoundly upsetting for the Church and for people in general. This is neither the time nor the place to go over the details which in any case are very well known, not only in Ireland, but all over the world.
“Yes we are all sinners, but irresponsibility, infidelity and sin are particularly shocking in the lives of those who preach the Gospel.
“In 1992 Bishop Eamon resigned and left the country. He expressed his sorrow many times, apologised and asked for forgiveness. He spent a number of years working on the missions in South America, and later in the south of England, before eventually coming home to live in Shanaglish, Co Galway.
“But people had been hurt and wounded...wounds that do not always heal easily or quickly. We remember these people too today. We acknowledge their suffering. We pray for continued healing and peace for them.”
During the ceremony, prayers were said for members of Bishop Casey’s family who were unable to attend including his sister, Ita Furlong, and his brother Fr Michael, who lives in Perth, Australia.
As part of the ceremony, Bishop Casey’s niece, Helena O’Hara presented the Casey and Shanahan family crests, while his sister-in-law, Vera Casey, offered a Trocáire box representing his work with the charity.
Readings were read by Tina Earley from Shanaglish and Michael Clifford, Bishop Casey’s nephew, while six prayers of the faithful were also read by three of the bishop’s nieces, Ita Furlong, Helen Donovan and Helena Casey; Breda Ryan, a founder member of Meitheal; Martin O’Connor, assistant CEO of Cope Galway; and John Acton, a clerical student from Galway.