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	'End Cover-Up Culture' - Ridge Tells Church Donegal Democrat March 16, 2010 http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/donegalnews/39End-coverup-culture39--Ridge.6153491.jp IRELAND -- The author of a book on clerical child abuse in Donegal has called for an end to the 'culture of cover-ups' in the Catholic Church. Martin Ridge, a retired garda, says this will only be done by setting up an independent inquiry in every diocese throughout the country. "Are we saying that our diocese is unique, that they didn't know what happened? I believe that the same culture prevails through every diocese in the country where there was sexual abuse by the clerical system. "Now they will argue that there was also abuse in families, we know that. But these people in families don't go up on the altar of God, the altar of innocence, and talk about morality." Mr Ridge made the comments in the wake of Cardinal Seán Brady saying he would not resign over allegations that he did not act appropriately when made aware of allegations against Fr Brendan Smith in the 1970s. He said Cardinal Brady cannot use the governance of canon law as a way of defending his actions.
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