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	Bishop, Minister Criticised over Cloyne Report By Aoife Carr and Patsy McGarry Irish Times December 23, 2008 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/1223/breaking34.htm There is growing criticism of the Catholic Bishop of Cloyne, the Most Rev John Magee, and Minister for Children Barry Andrews in the wake of the publication of a highly critical report into child-protection practices in the diocese. The report by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland, an independent body set up by the Church, found child protection practices in the diocese to be "inadequate and in some respects dangerous". Labour TD for Cork East Sean Sherlock this morning called on the Bishop to resign and criticised Mr Andrews on his handling of the report. "Nothing that anyone can ever do will ease the damage done to a number of young people in this area either through the original acts of sexual abuse by some members of the clergy or the failure of the Diocese of Cloyne to properly act on complaints made to them," he said. "However, the resignation of Bishop Magee would bring some degree of closure for the victims and their families and would be a clear demonstration that lessons have been learned from this terrible affair and hat those in positions of authority will have to take responsibility where such failures occur." Mr Sherlock said Bishop Magee was now an "increasingly isolated" figure whose authority had been seriously undermined. He accused the Mr Andrews of "passing the buck" between his department and the diocese over who should publish the report. "Minister Andrews has been in possession of the report since last July. Even if we accept his assertion that he never read the report, is he seriously asking the public to believe that nobody in his department read the report or that he was not briefed on its contents?" he said. "The indisputable fact is that the Minister was in possession of this damning report which remained unpublished and its findings hidden for six months while the department and the diocese passed the buck between them over who should publish it." Speaking on RTÉ radio this morning, Mr Andrews admitted he had not read the report when it was presented to his department but had passed it on to the Heath Service Executive (HSE). "I passed it on to the HSE as it is their job to investigate child protection issues. It is not a matter for a Government minister to investigate," he said. Mr Andrews said he would be considering whether to refer the Diocese of Cloyne to the Dublin Archdiocese Commission of Investigation. He again called on Bishop Magee to "reflect on his position" after questioning the Bishop's suitability to be patron of national schools in the diocese last night. Mr Andrews said: "I can't really look into whether or not he should be in charge of that diocese, but I have a concern in relation to his role as patron of all national schools in Cloyne and whether or not we have a role to consider in that regard." In relation to the report into child-protection practices in Cloyne, Mr Andrews said "The bishop has to reflect on those findings because they are very serious." A second report on child protection practices in his diocese is due to be presented to Government on January 7th. This HSE report was presented to Mr Andrews on December 4th last. Since then he has been seeking legal advice on it. Mr Andrews said the report was "very worrying" and that "clear lessons must be learned". Asked to comment on a call by One in Four for Bishop Magee to resign, Mr Andrews said it was not up to him to say if the bishop should resign. That "was a matter for the Pope", he said.
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