Dublin Archbishop shocked by the lack of understanding in Rome

La Croix International
October 29, 2018

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Catholic Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin says he is surprised by the lack of understanding in Rome that the basis of the current clergy sex abuse crisis lies within its religious culture.

Speaking at the National Child Safeguarding Conference in Kilkenny Oct. 28 the archbishop also warned against "slippage into false confidence," reported independent.ie.

He pointed out that church leaders were too slow to open up to victims and survivors, or understand the role they could play in addressing abuse. More work needs to be done to "bring healing to those who have suffered" he said.

"The church all too slowly began to open up to them, not just as victims and survivors, but also with the realization without their participation and protagonism we would never understand and address the challenge," he said.

"Things have moved on, progress has been made.

"This is not to be complacent, but rather to find the courage and confidence to continue to do those things we know need to be done to bring healing to those who have suffered.

"It is worrying that today problems regarding data protection are giving rise to new difficulties about sharing information.

"There should be no need to have to relearn an important lesson: proper sharing information is vital," he said.

Martin, who was appointed Archbishop of Dublin 14 years ago, said he was at that time surprised by a lack of awareness of church abuses by the hierarchy.

Abuses of "power" and "conscience" had also contributed to scandals that alienated the church from younger people, he said.