Priests" Dioceses Failed to Reveal Abuse Convictions

By Ralph Riegel
Irish Independent
September 6, 2012

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/priests-dioceses-failed-to-reveal-abuse-convictions-3221642.html

FRESH concerns emerged over how church dioceses share information after a report revealed that three priests who retired to Ireland had child abuse convictions.

The National Board for Safeguarding Children (NBSC) published its review of child protection practices in the diocese yesterday.

The NBSC focused particular attention on priests who retired to the diocese from overseas, or who spent considerable time here in their retirement .

Three of these were found to have child abuse convictions from overseas. One man has now been removed from the priesthood.

None are the focus of any abuse complaints in relation to the Diocese of Cork and Ross -- and none had any involvement with church activities or children's groups here. But the NBSC said it was crucial that proper information be shared between dioceses.

"Information on the status of these priests was not as forthcoming as it should have been from their home dioceses, which resulted in a lack of awareness of potential risk," the report added.

Bishop of Cork and Ross Dr John Buckley said: "The clear message here is that we never accept a priest for our diocese from either a religious congregation or a diocese abroad without a statement saying that this priest is in good standing."

Dr Buckley said that priests felt "very demoralised" by the clerical abuse controversies.

But the bishop once again apologised to all abuse victims.

"We seek forgiveness for what they have suffered . . . they were let down," Dr Buckley said.

The also report found that the Diocese of Cork and Ross now boasts one of Ireland's most effective child protection regimes.

The NBSC found that the diocese was in full compliance with 42 of its 47 safety criteria -- and is in partial compliance with five other criteria.

Full compliance is expected before Christmas.

The main recommendation is that Dr Buckley now issues a pastoral letter to all 68 parishes, inviting clerical abuse victims to come forward.

Other findings include that abuse allegations were made against 26 diocesan priests since 1975, and were made by 50 individuals.

Of the 26 priests against whom allegations were levelled, eight are now deceased, and 15 have left the ministry. Four priests have been convicted of offences against children in the diocese since 1975.

And three priests were restored to full ministry after being cleared following exhaustive garda, Health Service Executive (HSE) and church investigations.