Menu
20/03/2012
Victims' Group Criticise Vatican Report
One in Four has said the Vatican is still not accepting responsibility for its role in creating the culture of cover-ups of the sexual abuse of children.
Speaking today as the Vatican released its report into the church and child abuse the abuse survivors support group expressed disappointment over the Vatican's failure to acknowledge that its interventions in the abuse scandal had allowed church leaders to to ignore guidelines and to protect the Church at the expense of the safety of children.
"While we welcome the findings of the Visitation that the Irish Church now has good child protection practices in place we feel it is a lost opportunity to address the role played by the Vatican in perpetuating the policy of protecting abusive priests at the expense of children,” said executive director Maeve Lewis.
While the group welcomed the recommendation that the Church devote more time to listening to abuse survivors and attending to their needs they said One in Four had noticed a hardening of attitude on the part of church authorities the question of compensation for victims.
"We have had grotesque situations where senior Churchmen meet with survivors, assure them of their remorse for what happened while at the same time are instructing their legal teams to file full defences in relation to civil compensations suits. This only compounds the pain and hurt of survivors. It brings into question the authenticity of the Church’s repentance,” said Ms Lewis.
One in Four founder Colm O'Gorman said the seven-page document offered very little of value and was "almost farcical" in place.
Speaking on Newstalk, he said that despite the Church putting a number of guidelines in place, it had resolutely failed to follow or to respect them.
"Nowhere in this statement or in any statement the Vatican has ever made, has it acknowledged its responsibility for the cover-up of these crimes (and) for its failure to properly address these crimes at any point," he said. "There's a big difference between expressing sorrow of saying that you are truly sorry for the suffering of another and accepting responsibility for that."
Speaking today as the Vatican released its report into the church and child abuse the abuse survivors support group expressed disappointment over the Vatican's failure to acknowledge that its interventions in the abuse scandal had allowed church leaders to to ignore guidelines and to protect the Church at the expense of the safety of children.
"While we welcome the findings of the Visitation that the Irish Church now has good child protection practices in place we feel it is a lost opportunity to address the role played by the Vatican in perpetuating the policy of protecting abusive priests at the expense of children,” said executive director Maeve Lewis.
While the group welcomed the recommendation that the Church devote more time to listening to abuse survivors and attending to their needs they said One in Four had noticed a hardening of attitude on the part of church authorities the question of compensation for victims.
"We have had grotesque situations where senior Churchmen meet with survivors, assure them of their remorse for what happened while at the same time are instructing their legal teams to file full defences in relation to civil compensations suits. This only compounds the pain and hurt of survivors. It brings into question the authenticity of the Church’s repentance,” said Ms Lewis.
One in Four founder Colm O'Gorman said the seven-page document offered very little of value and was "almost farcical" in place.
Speaking on Newstalk, he said that despite the Church putting a number of guidelines in place, it had resolutely failed to follow or to respect them.
"Nowhere in this statement or in any statement the Vatican has ever made, has it acknowledged its responsibility for the cover-up of these crimes (and) for its failure to properly address these crimes at any point," he said. "There's a big difference between expressing sorrow of saying that you are truly sorry for the suffering of another and accepting responsibility for that."
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
20 March 2012
Vatican To Publish Child Abuse Report
A Vatican report of the child abuse crisis in the Catholic Church is to be published in Rome today. Teams of Vatican-appointed foreign church leaders have compiled the report following visits to Ireland.
Vatican To Publish Child Abuse Report
A Vatican report of the child abuse crisis in the Catholic Church is to be published in Rome today. Teams of Vatican-appointed foreign church leaders have compiled the report following visits to Ireland.
11 December 2009
Pope Shares 'Shame' Felt By Irish
After a meeting with Ireland's most influential clergy today, Pope Benedict has said he shared the "shame" felt by the Irish people over the findings of the Murphy Report into clerical abuse. The statement followed a meeting with Primate of All Ireland Cardinal Seán Brady along with Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin.
Pope Shares 'Shame' Felt By Irish
After a meeting with Ireland's most influential clergy today, Pope Benedict has said he shared the "shame" felt by the Irish people over the findings of the Murphy Report into clerical abuse. The statement followed a meeting with Primate of All Ireland Cardinal Seán Brady along with Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin.
09 September 2011
Kenny Calls For Vatican Support
The Vatican and government continue to debate with Taoiseach Enda Kenny calling for full Vatican support in ensuring children are safe from paedophile priests. The Irish Cabinet said it stood by Kenny's unprecedented attack on the Catholic hierarchy over issues concerning sexual abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cloyne.
Kenny Calls For Vatican Support
The Vatican and government continue to debate with Taoiseach Enda Kenny calling for full Vatican support in ensuring children are safe from paedophile priests. The Irish Cabinet said it stood by Kenny's unprecedented attack on the Catholic hierarchy over issues concerning sexual abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cloyne.
09 February 2010
Abuse Victims Write To Pope
Surviving victims of clerical sexual abuse have written an open letter to Pope Benedict XVI regarding the Ryan and Murphy Report revelations. The letter from victims group One in Four, and signed by abuse survivors Marie Collins, Maeve Lewis and Andrew Madden, comes just as Irish bishops prepare to meet the Pontiff in the Vatican next week.
Abuse Victims Write To Pope
Surviving victims of clerical sexual abuse have written an open letter to Pope Benedict XVI regarding the Ryan and Murphy Report revelations. The letter from victims group One in Four, and signed by abuse survivors Marie Collins, Maeve Lewis and Andrew Madden, comes just as Irish bishops prepare to meet the Pontiff in the Vatican next week.
24 April 2013
Church Watchdog Critical Of Former Bishop's Handling Of Abuse Claims
A former bishop has been criticised after a report was published into claims of child abuse allegations and the behaviour of priests. The National Board for Safeguarding Children (NBCS) in the Catholic Church has published audits of many dioceses. Dr Joseph Duffy said he regretted the management of some cases.
Church Watchdog Critical Of Former Bishop's Handling Of Abuse Claims
A former bishop has been criticised after a report was published into claims of child abuse allegations and the behaviour of priests. The National Board for Safeguarding Children (NBCS) in the Catholic Church has published audits of many dioceses. Dr Joseph Duffy said he regretted the management of some cases.
-
Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
