IRELAND
Irish Independent
Monday June 13th 2005
THE Catholic hierarchy begins a crunch three-day meeting in Maynooth today, at which they will discuss the crisis surrounding Cura, the status of the fund established to compensate abuse victims, and proposals to update and expand the Church's child protection service.
The possibility of a visit to Ireland by Pope Benedict is also likely to be on the agenda.
However, Cura - the hierarchy's pregnancy counselling agency - will top the agenda, with the Vatican certain to be watching developments closely.
The crisis began when it emerged last month that Cura's national executive, headed by Bishop of Killala Dr John Fleming, approved a controversial abortion information policy.
The policy means that if a woman wants an abortion, Cura will hand her the contact details of organisations that in turn will give her the phone number of abortion clinics in Britain.
Critics, including some of Cura's own volunteers, have objected to the policy on the grounds that it effectively facilitates abortion and goes against Church teaching.
Another sensitive item on the agenda is the Stewardship Trust.
It was established in 1996 to pay for the Church's child protection service, but mainly to compensate victims of clerical sexual abuse.
Posted by kshaw at June 13, 2005 07:22 PM