Martin Will Be Next Catholic Primate Of Ireland

The bishop who is in charge of the diocese of Derry has been named by Pope Benedict as the next Primate of Ireland.

Monsignor Eamon Martin said he was "shocked and humbled" to have been chosen to replace Cardinal Sean Brady as Archbishop of Armagh when he retires in the coming years.

Monsigner Martin, 58, said he had accepted the role with considerable nervousness and trepidation.

Msgr Martin is a staunch pro-life champion, who is nicknamed "The Machine" and he is certain to be a leading voice as the government brings forward legislation and regulation on abortion later this year.

He said the Catholic Church had to have the courage to speak out.

"Sometimes it is a voice that people would prefer not to hear, particularly on the issue of abortion," Monsignor Martin said.

"But the protections for the equal right to life of the mother and the unborn child are already there and that could be clarified in the form of guidelines and made clearer so that none of our doctors and none of our nurses feel that they do not know or they would not be secure in doing what they believe is the best thing to protect life."

Church sources believe Cardinal Sean Brady will retire as archbishop and head of the church in Ireland in the next two to four years.

Aged 73, he has led the church in Ireland for more than 16 years as its influence waned in the face of successive child abuse scandals and investigations.

Cardinal Brady himself was implicated in one of the most notorious cases of all - he was revealed to have instructed a victim of paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth to sign a confidentiality clause in the 1970s.

The scandal led to calls for his resignation.

Msgr Martin said the church had to learn from past scandals.

"I think today of all those who have been abused by clergy, and the hurt and betrayal they have experienced," he said.

"As the words on the Healing Stone at the International Eucharistic Congress remind us - they have been left with a lifelong suffering.

"I am saddened that many good Catholics were let down so badly over the issue of abuse and that some have even stopped practising their faith.

"As a church, we must continue in our efforts to bring healing to victims and ensure that young people are always protected, respected and nurtured."

Former Bishop of Derry Edward Daly said Msgr Martin was seen as "a clean pair of hands" after the church's abuse scandals.

"He does not carry any baggage from the past with him," the retired bishop told the BBC.

"It's a challenging time for the church in Ireland. He has been asked to lead that church."