Cardinal Desmond Connell, the retired Archbishop of Dublin, has told friends that he would rather go to jail than release confidential documents to a commission investigating sexual abuse by clerics, Ireland's largest Catholic newspaper reports.The Irish Catholic reveals that Cardinal Connell-- who has appealed to the High Court to block release of certain documents to the Dublin Archdiocese Commission of Investigations-- feels himself obligated to honor promises of confidentiality that he made while he was Archbishop of Dublin.
The cardinal is unhappy that his successor, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, has agreed to release the confidential documents.
Further, the Irish Catholic reports, although the investigating commission indicated a willingness to consult with the former archbishop about the documents to be released, that message may not have been relayed to Cardinal Connell.
Cardinal Connell, the newspaper says, "is trying to protect the confidentiality agreements he entered into with victims and some priests, and that he has made no secret of this since he left office in 2004."
The cardinal is adamant about protecting the rights of victims and concerned about "priests were accused of abuse but whose cases have been left in a legal limbo or who have been accused but not convicted."
Although Archbishop Martin has said that he plans to cooperate fully with the investigating commission, he has set some of his own limits on the documents to be released.
For instance, the archbishop has not waived his confidentiality rights regarding documents that concern the insurance coverage of the archdiocese.
The Irish Catholic report, written by editor Garry O'Sullivan, raises questions about the discussions between Archbishop Martin and his predecessor.
The Dublin Archdiocese Commission of Investigations reportedly told archdiocesan officials that interested third parties, such as Cardinal Connell, could be involved in discussions on the release of documents.
"Was Cardinal Connell informed that all the files were being handed over and that he had the right to make submissions?" O'Sullivan asks in his front-page story.
"If he wasn’t informed, why not?"
"What has become clear," the Irish Catholic says, "is that Cardinal Connell’s decision to go to the High Court was as a result of feeling unfairly treated in this process."
The cardinal's case is now pending before the High Court, with the case due to come up for consideration again next week.
The Irish Catholic exclusive will appear in the February 7 edition of the paper, which is Ireland's largest Catholic newspaper. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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