I have been informed by a very reliable clerical source in Birmingham that there was a secret meeting recently between the “disgraced” bishop Robert Byrne and the current archbishop of Birmingham, Bernard Longley.
There were two items on the agenda.
1. Did Longley have any objection to Byrne moving back into the Oxford Oratory, which is in Birmingham archdiocese?
2. Byrne wanted to know if he could exercise his priestly and episcopal orders in Birmingham.
In no uncertain terms, Longley replied:
1. “I have no problem with you seeking refuge anywhere”.
2. “Until the investigation into you is complete, you can not minister.”
Byrne was quite taken aback and reminded Longley about the suicide of the cathedral Dean in Newcastle – Canon McCoy
Byrne reminded Longley of how clerics can go on to do extreme things when their superiors, etc, put too much pressure on them !!!
Robert Byrne has been accused of sexually assaulting a priest of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton.
Malcolm McMahon, Archbishop of Liverpool, informed me by email that the Byrne case has been reported to the UK police and to the Vatican.
When the police are finished with the matter,there will be a church investigation.
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 