Catholics of the diocese in the spotlight of a Vatican abuse inquiry were warned yesterday to brace themselves for a period of “pain and shame” as investigators establish the truth behind the shock resignation of their bishop.
Archbishop Malcolm McMahon of Liverpool said in a pastoral letter to the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle that he understood the feeling of “shock”, “bewilderment” and “anger” felt by many people at revelations in the media concerning the sudden departure in December of Bishop Robert Byrne.
The 66-year-old Oratorian stepped down almost a decade before he was due to retire, saying that the demands of his office were “too great a burden”.
It emerged last week, however, that an allegation of abuse made against him by a priest of another diocese has been referred to the police.
Newspapers have also reported that “sex parties” were held at cathedral house during a period of lockdown, though the bishop might have been unaware of them.
Reports also said that Bishop Byrne attempted to move Timothy Gardner into cathedral house even though the former Dominican priest was convicted in 2014 of making 5,005 images of child pornography.
Archbishop McMahon, who has been appointed apostolic administrator of Hexham and Newcastle, said in his letter that the diocese has entered “unsettling times”.
“I want to be clear that I do not underestimate the difficulties that we are in,” the archbishop said in the letter that was read out at all Masses in the diocese at the weekend.
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