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	Church Bracing Itself for Fallout from Publication of Ferns Report By David Quinn Eircom.net [Ireland] July 12, 2005 THE archdioceses of Armagh and Tuam have used two separate meetings of priests to prepare them for the potentially explosive outcry and damaging effect on priestly morale that may accompany publication of the Ferns report. The Ferns report, an investigation into clerical sex abuse in the Ferns diocese undertaken by the State, is thought likely to be published in the autumn when the Dail reconvenes. One participant at the Tuam meeting said that the basic intention was to tell priests to "steel yourselves". In addition to Ferns, the Stewardship Trust, the fund established by the bishops to compensate clerical abuse victims and run the Church's child protection office, was discussed. A spokesman for Archbishop Sean Brady, who organised the gatherings, said the meetings were arranged following a promise the bishops made at their quarterly meeting in March to consult with priests and laity about the sources of funding for the Stewardship Trust. He said the Ferns report was also discussed in the context of how the report might affect the "pastoral relationships" of priests with their parishioners. The feeling among bishops is that publication of the report could re-ignite public anger at the Church's handling of the scandals. The Ferns report was originally expected to have been published in March, but publication has repeatedly been put back as more witnesses came forward and because of the need for all those named in the report to study the portions relating to them for legal reasons. The report is now expected to be published in October at the earliest. Colm O'Gorman, head of the victim support group, One in Four, and himself a victim of one of the most notorious abusers, Fr Sean Fortune, has said his organisation would prefer if publication of the report could be delayed until the Dail reconvenes in the autumn. He said: "We want the report to be properly debated and it won't be properly debated if the Dail is still in recess and a lot of people who ought to be debating it are away. There is a danger it would disappear into the ether. Our preference therefore is for it to be published in the autumn." Former Health Minister, Micheal Martin set up the inquiry following the broadcast by the BBC of the documentary, 'Suing the Pope', in April 2002. Following the broadcast, Dr Comiskey was forced to resign as Bishop of Ferns as a result of a major public outcry. It is believed that the report could lead to the prosecution of both priests and gardai in the diocese on the grounds that investigations into criminal behaviour were obstructed.