BishopAccountability.org
	Irish Bishops in Rome to Meet Pope Irish Independent October 28, 2006 http://www.unison.ie/breakingnews/index.php3?ca=9&si=100491 Thirty-two Irish Bishops are meeting the Pontiff in the Vatican this morning for what's being described as the state of the church address. Pope Benedict will focus on what he believes are the major issues and challenges that the church in Ireland is facing, in particular the issues of child protection and clerical sexual abuse. The Irish church has over the last number of decades been greatly troubled and scandalised by the level of such abuse. Irish Catholic reporter in Rome, Michael Kelly, said that one clear message had emerged: "He's very strong on this issue that Church authorities must report abuse to the civil authorities, that child abuse is a crime that should be dealt with by the health authorities and the police and that is something that the Bishops must be aware of. "They must respect the laws of the state. While Canon Law exists, it only affects internal Church procedures and they must speak to the state, they must report issues to the polive and they must co-operate with health authorities," he said.
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