We can no longer tolerate the clergy's intransigence (Contribution)

There seems to be a crushing inevitability to the continuing clerical sexual abuse scandals, a series of horrors culminating in the recent dark tidings from the diocese of Cloyne.

How could we expect anything else from an institution that has consistently shirked its responsibilities towards those it brutalised, and only paid lip service to the desire to see offenders brought to justice?

Church leaders offer apologies and assurances, yet the fact remains that information is still not being passed to the relevant authorities, and dangerous men -- individuals who pose a real threat to children -- are at large in the community.

The report from Children's Minister Barry Andrews states clearly that Bishop John Magee of the Cloyne diocese was disingenuous in his claims that all abuse allegations were handled according to the agreed child protection procedures, as laid down in the Children First Guidelines.

Crucial

This revelation drives home two crucial points: firstly, that certain members of the Catholic hierarchy remain stalwart in their resolve to block external interference in their affairs; and secondly that, despite everything that has passed, there remains a shocking lack of understanding regarding the dire impact of child abuse on individual victims, on their families, and on wider society.

This is disturbing in itself, but the collective response has been even more infuriating, both from the Church and the Government.

Yet another investigation and report have been commissioned. Bishop Magee has agreed to co-operate fully with this probe, but he hardly presents as either a reliable source of information, or as someone who should be given any kind of responsibility in forthcoming procedures.

Neither the HSE nor the minister have called for the bishop's resignation, and he has stated categorically that he will not step down unless told to do so by his superiors in Rome. The situation has reached a point of stalemate as the painstaking process of wading through files and interviewing traumatised survivors is undertaken.

And this process is absolutely necessary -- these men and women deserve to be heard, and should be dealt with sympathetically within whichever forum suits them best.

I do believe, however, that there are steps that can be taken in the meantime, steps that will clearly demonstrate to those many people who have been hurt so gravely that we as a society are earnest in our desire to conclusively put an end to this reign of secrecy and corruption. First and foremost, the Government must demand the resignation of Bishop Magee. If he still refuses to step down, the Vatican must be lobbied. He has proven to be incompetent in his position, and he must go.

I believe that this call should be echoed by the collective clergy of Ireland. So far, they have been resoundingly silent on this shameful set of circumstances -- Archbishop Diarmuid Martin couching his comments in moderate phrasing and densely political meanderings.

Only the maverick Fr Michael Mernagh stood up to be counted. Every member of the clergy who feels in their heart that what has happened in Cloyne is wrong should be unafraid to say so. By remaining tight-lipped, each and every cleric is complicit in what happened.

The Church remains active on boards of management of schools and is involved in a variety of childcare settings in a variety of ways. Until the entire organisation is given a clean bill of health, it should cease all activities that bring it into contact with children -- even indirectly.

If the Church will not do this voluntarily, then the Government should insist upon it. If that means effectively sacking the Church from its position in education and social care, then so be it. But it should not stop there. During the Ferns Inquiry, the recommendation was made that inaction in the face of abuse allegations should carry a charge of criminal negligence. It is time to see that recommendation enacted.

Having the knowledge that sexual abuse was occurring on your watch, and standing idly by, is not just immoral -- it is wilfully criminal. Charges should be brought to bear against those who choose not to help children at risk.

It is time we, as a nation, a Church, and a legislature, stood up and cried enough.
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Sotto Voce

(Source: II)