Irish Central
July 18, 2011
http://www.cathnewsindia.com/2011/07/18/ireland-considering-country-wide-abuse-investigation/
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| Archbishop Diarmuid Martin |
The Archbishop of Dublin has accused fellow bishops of 'hiding' further details of clerical sexual abuse in three reports yet to be published.
Speaking in the wake of the scandalous Cloyne Report, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin claimed some of his fellow bishops are deliberately withholding more damning reports from the public.
In a reference to three such unpublished reports from Irish dioceses, Bishop Martin said: "There is no point having documents that were not published."
He added: "If the bishop feels he is being treated unjustly, publish it and then say this is unjust. But hiding isn't helping."
Speaking to mass goers at Dublin's Pro-Cathedral on Sunday, the Archbishop admitted that great damage has been done to the credibility of his church in Ireland by the poor handling of child abuse allegations in the Cork diocese of Cloyne.
He also said he was 'angered' at the lack of response by Church authorities to children whose lives were ruptured by abuse.
"Irish religious culture has radically changed and has changed irreversibly. There will be no true renewal in the Church until that fact is recognized. The Church cannot continue to be present in society as it was in the past," said Archbishop Martin.
"Those in Church and State who have acted wrongly or inadequately should assume responsibility.
"What is at stake here is not just the past, but the future of our children and our young people and the need to foster a healthy environment across the board in which our upcoming generations are cherished and can grow to maturity."
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