RTE News
March 16, 2010
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0316/abuse.html
IRELAND -- The Catholic Communications Office has said that in 1975, Bishop Francis McKiernan advised that the Norbertine order should have paedophile priest Brendan Smyth treated by a psychiatrist.
In a statement on the role Cardinal Séan Brady played when he was a priest in dealing with Fr Smyth, a spokesman says the advice was given at the same time that Bishop McKiernan withdrew Fr Smyth's right to celebrate Mass, hear confession and perform his other functions as a priest.
The spokesman says the two boys at the centre of the inquiry were asked to confirm the truthfulness of their statements and that they would preserve the confidentiality of the interview process.
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| Cardinal Seán Brady - Rejected claims that he failed to act |
He says it was important to ensure the process was robust enough to withstand a challenge by the perpetrator, Fr Smyth.
Meanwhile, another group representing victims of clerical child abuse has questioned Cardinal Brady's decision to remain in office .
Voice of the Faithful, a lay organisation of Catholics, questioned how the Cardinal believed he could now provide the leadership that was needed to draw a line under all that had happened.
The group says it cannot understand why Cardinal Brady believes he should not resign after his own statement in December in which he said he would do so if he thought any failure of his to act had caused a child to suffer.
It says the Cardinal's failure to challenge the culture of Church silence surrounding clerical child sexual abuse in the period of 1975 to 1994 is a most serious matter and leaves the Irish Catholic Church without a leader that survivors in particular can have full confidence in.
Cardinal Brady has already rejected claims that he failed to act in 1975 when two young victims of the late Fr Smyth were asked to sign an oath of secrecy.
Cardinal Brady said he was not the designated person responsible for contacting the relevant statutory authorities.
On RTÉ's The Frontline programme last night, lecturer at University College Dublin Fr Brendan Purcell said Cardinal Brady had been through a process of learning how to deal with clerical sex abuse and his departure as head of the Catholic Church in Ireland would deprive it of a very experienced leader.
One helpline recorded a significant increase in calls following the latest revelations.
The Rape Crisis Centre said it had to bring in extra staff to cope with the rise in calls last night.
HELPLINES
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre: 1800-778888 (24 hour helpline)
HSE helpline: 1800-235234 (office hours)
One in Four: 01-6624070 (office hours)
The Samaritans: 1850-609090
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