BishopAccountability.org
	Call for Data in Irish Abuse Case By John Murray Brown Financial Times May 28, 2009 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7db95bd0-4b9e-11de-b827-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1 The Roman Catholic Church in Ireland may have to disclose the profits it made during the country's recent property boom in order to pay additional compensation to the victims of child abuse. Brian Cowen, the Irish prime minister, is to meet representatives of the 18 orders named in a shocking report published last week that said sexual abuse of children was "endemic" in the so-called "industrial schools" run by the orders on the state's behalf. Those who ran the children's homes will have to provide an inventory of their assets. Following the report by the government-appointed commission, headed by Justice Sean Ryan, the orders are facing growing calls from ministers – and more discreet pressure from the Catholic bishops – to increase the compensation. In 2002 the orders struck a controversial deal with the government whereby in exchange for offering priests indemnity from prosecution they would provide €128m ($179m, £112m), which at the time was estimated to be half the likely cost of claims. The orders insist the terms were agreed "in good faith" but the total of claims processed has escalated to more than €1bn. Moreover the properties transferred to the state in 2002 were valued at 2002 prices, which have fallen as Ireland's property market has collapsed. Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Mr Cowen said: "I do not have a preconceived notion of what is adequate. I must see the full resources available to these congregations to make that judgment." John Gormley, environment minister and Green party leader, said the government would consider introducing legislation to force disclosures if the orders failed to comply. In Ireland, the religious orders ran institutions for young offenders, children with disabilities and orphans, which for budgetary reasons the state in effect "outsourced" with the department of education, retaining what was meant to be a supervisory role. Even today, the orders own several hospitals and most of the state's schools – which is believed to be one reason the government did not negotiate the 2002 deal more aggressively. But in the wake of the Ryan report – and with victims going public with horrific individual stories – ministers are under mounting pressure to revisit the deal as many ordinary people believe the orders deliberately misled the authorities and must have known the extent of the likely claims. In the Ryan report, none of the perpetrators is identified. On Thursday, however, the president, Mary McAleese, a law professor by background, raised the possibility of criminal prosecutions.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.