IRELAND
Online Catholic
By Frank Purcell
Another sexual abuse scandal made our papers last week. This time it was in Ireland and the details of the cover-up by bishop, police and the state will deepen alienation and disgust among the Irish people. So far, analyses of these scandalous and painful episodes in many parts of the world have failed to highlight a fundamental problem which the Church has yet to address. Our leadership refuses to accept four fundamental principles of a just society – the rule of law, equality of all of us before the law, the accountability of all office holders and an independent judiciary.
All too often within the Church, complaints about sexual abuse, or the unjust treatment of individuals or parishes by authoritarian bishops or priests, are simply ignored. There has never been a tradition of equality before the law which applies to higher clerics. My own personal experience in the 1970’s taught me that.
I was condemned by the Cardinal Prefect of Propaganda for violating confidentiality. As a member of the leadership team of a religious order, I had serious doubts about the justness and legality of a decision not to investigate a complaint from a member alleging unjust treatment. I requested that we get legal advice on our obligations under Church law. My request was denied. I decided that I had an obligation to find out if I was being asked to be party to an unjust and illegal act. I consulted a canon lawyer who confirmed my opinion, and on that basis, I appealed to Rome on behalf of the member.