BishopAccountability.org
	Progress on Clerical Abuse Irish Times December 1, 2011 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2011/1201/1224308420630.html AT LAST, some relatively reassuring news has emerged concerning up-to-date responses by Catholic bishops to allegations of child sexual abuse. An audit of procedures within six dioceses by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church, suggests most bishops have learned from past unacceptable behaviour. Others are now applying “best practice” on child protection policies. The audits are published against a backdrop of public anger over persistent failure by bishops to recognise and confront the issue of clerical abuse; a commitment by Government to introduce child protection legislation and a dramatic cooling of relations between Ireland and the Vatican. All three elements may be influenced by these findings for, while the audits provide unsettling information on the number of priests who abused children and failures by bishops, they also identify structures and initiatives designed to ensure these do not recur. Progress has been significant but patchy in the dioceses surveyed. And while all diocesan files were opened to Ian Elliott who conducted the audits, some were strangely incomplete, suggesting traditional attitudes may persist. The diocese of Raphoe, with its dreadful history of long-standing clerical abuse, the transfer of offenders and cover-ups to protect the church’s authority, came in for particular attention. The review concluded that “significant errors of judgment” had been made by a succession of bishops. In response, the present incumbent Bishop Philip Boyce admitted to “poor judgment”. But, while accepting that “horrific acts of abuse by individual priests” had taken place, he sought legal indemnity in the phrase that these acts, “if suspected” should have been dealt with immediately. Kilmore diocese was held up as a model of best practice because of the commitment of Bishop Leo O’Reilly. The review noted “any concerns” there related to the period before Bishop O’Reilly arrived. One of those concerns most likely involved an investigation in 1975 conducted by Cardinal Sean Brady then a priest and teacher in Kilmore. His Archdiocese of Armagh made a financial settlement in the High Court yesterday with a man sworn to secrecy when Cardinal Brady was investigating his abuse allegations. Four months ago, the Murphy commission laid out in stark detail the results of its investigation into a systematic cover-up of child sexual abuse by the Catholic Church in Cloyne; a reliance on canon law to flout laws of the State; a resistance to new child protection procedures and a failure by the Vatican to co-operate. Apologies by the hierarchy followed, along with promises to cooperate with the civil authorities. But 15 years of foot-dragging, denials and broken promises had done their work. Taoiseach Enda Kenny vented public anger in the Dail; the papal nuntio was withdrawn in protest and Ireland closed its oldest embassy. These audits suggest bishops are finally implementing their own guidelines. There is progress but not enough. Comprehensive legislation on sexual abuse reporting and child protection is needed. Nobody should be above the law.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.