A nephew of Bishop John McAreavey has said his uncle has "always acted with people's best intentions at heart" and that to see him "vilified in recent times... causes great pain and anger".
John McAreavey, the widow of murdered schoolteacher Michaela McAreavey, also hit out on social media at those "celebrating his resignation".
Bishop McAreavey resigned on Thursday after it emerged he had concelebrated Mass in 2000 with Fr Malachy Finegan, who has been accused of the sexual abuse of multiple children.
The bishop had previously apologised for officiating at the priest's funeral in 2002.
His nephew John wrote that he was praying for healing for all victims of Fr Finegan, adding: "Uncle John has dedicated his life to God and to serving others. He has always acted with people's best intentions at heart."
In 2010, Bishop McAreavey celebrated the wedding of his nephew to Michaela Harte, the daughter of Tyrone GAA boss Mickey Harte.
Just a few weeks later, he officiated at the 27-year-old's funeral after she was murdered while the couple were on honeymoon in Mauritius.
Referring to the murder of his wife and his decision to remarry, Mr McAreavey wrote: "In the past seven years, I've lived with people questioning my decision to seek life and and love again, I've been accused of unspeakable acts, I've endured injustice of a great magnitude... but to see my uncle vilified... causes great pain and anger.
"To see some media use vulnerable people to achieve a 'demonstration of perceived power' is both callous and vindictive.
"We need to care for people by listening and trying to right the wrongs of the past, not using their plight for personal gain. Celebrating his resignation as some sort of 'win' does not help victims."
Mr McAreavey's comments drew criticism, with Donegal All-Ireland winning footballer Eamon McGee replying: "I'd imagine he is a good man but he was rightly vilified, hard to say otherwise. His actions were inexcusable."
However, Tom Kelly, who has stepped down from his role as spokesperson for the Diocese of Dromore in the wake of the bishop's resignation, has said a Catholic Church "bereft of people like John McAreavey is a much poorer place".
Writing in today's Irish News, Mr Kelly said most of what has been written has been "negative and by people who don't know the man. I do know him".
Describing some of the criticisms levelled as "justified", Mr Kelly added: "He was paralysed at times by indecisiveness... caused by the real dilemma of balancing the competing and conflicting needs of the victims he met.
"Had he protected himself as many bishops do by being more aloof, less hands on, by being more procedural than pastoral, he may not have felt the need to resign last Thursday.
"The John McAreavey I know is no victim and would not want to see himself as such. More than any priest I know and certainly any bishop, he is the most pastoral, thoughtful and kind man I have ever met."
Of priests, Mr Kelly says: "Their mistakes are ours too. They are not endowed with super mystical powers."
