Vatican Reacts to Child Abuse Anger, by Brian Hutton, The Herald, July 26, 2011

Vatican Reacts to Child Abuse Anger

By Brian Hutton
The Herald
July 26, 2011

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/vatican-reacts-to-child-abuse-anger-2830693.html

[with video]

Papal Nuncio's residence on Navan Road in Dublin

The Vatican has branded as "excessive" some reactions to a damning clerical child abuse inquiry after recalling the Pope's ambassador to Ireland.

Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, Papal Nuncio in Dublin, has already returned to Rome in a rare move ordered by the Holy See.

The recall comes just days after an unprecedented attack by Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the Catholic church hierarchy.

Vice-director of the Vatican press office Father Ciro Benedettini said it should be seen as a measure of the gravity of the fall-out over Ireland's response to the Cloyne report into the mishandling of paedophile priest allegations.

"The recall of the Nuncio, being a measure verily adopted by the Holy See, denotes the seriousness of the situation and the Holy See's desire to face it objectively and determinately," he said.

"Nor does it exclude some degree of surprise and disappointment at certain excessive reactions."

Fr Benedettini added: "The recall of the Nuncio should be interpreted as an expression of the desire of the Holy See for serious and effective collaboration with the (Irish) government."

Two weeks ago, Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore ordered Archbishop Leanza to get answers from the Vatican on claims it allowed priests to ignore mandatory reporting guidelines on suspected child abusers within the church.

The Pope's envoy was told to take a message to the Holy See that the Irish government believes its conduct has been disgraceful and unacceptable.

In a statement today, Mr Gilmore said the decision to recall Archbishop Leanza was a matter for the Holy See.

"The government is awaiting the response of the Holy See to the recent report into the Catholic Diocese of Cloyne and it is to be expected that the Vatican would wish to consult in depth with the Nuncio on its response," he added.

The Vatican became embroiled in the latest Irish church scandal after revelations about a 1997 letter, from the then Papal Nuncio to Irish bishops, a year after reporting guidelines were enforced to enhance child protection.

The correspondence stated that the bishops policy was "merely a discussion document" and that the Vatican had serious moral and canon reservations about mandatory reporting of clerical abuse.

In language never before used by an Irish premier, Mr Kenny last week accused the Catholic hierarchy of putting the Church ahead of child rape victims.

Mr Kenny said the latest revelations had exposed a dysfunctional, elite hierarchy determined to frustrate investigations, and he warned the Holy See that religion does not rule Ireland.

"For the first time in Ireland, a report into child sexual abuse exposes an attempt by the Holy See to frustrate an inquiry in a sovereign, democratic republic as little as three years ago, not three decades ago," he said.

On Sunday night, Mr Kenny told the MacGill Summer School in Glenties, Co Donegal, he had received thousands of messages of support from around the world after his outspoken remarks in the Dail.

"I just wanted people to understand that, when I say we live in a republic with laws and responsibilities and rights, I mean it," he said.

Mr Kenny said he was astounded by the number of clergy who got in touch over the past few days to say it was about time somebody spoke out like he did.