Thursday, May 21, 2009

Cardinal ashamed that children suffered

Cardinal Sean Brady apologised tonight for the harrowing abuse and neglect inflicted on children by Catholic priests and nuns in Ireland.

The country's most senior cleric said he was ashamed and that the Church was determined to do all it could to prevent abuse.

“This report makes it clear that great wrong and hurt were caused to some of the most vulnerable children in our society,” the Cardinal said.

“It documents a shameful catalogue of cruelty, neglect, physical, sexual and emotional abuse, perpetrated against children.

“I am profoundly sorry and deeply ashamed that children suffered in such awful ways in these institutions. Children deserved better and especially from those caring for them in the name of Jesus Christ.”

Cardinal Brady said he hoped the report would help heal the hurts of victims and address the wrongs of the past.

The five volume report running to more than 2,500 pages will be followed this summer by a second damning report detailing the abuse of hundreds of children in the Dublin Archdiocese from 1940 onwards.

More than 100 priests are facing allegations and 400 people have been identified as victims of paedophile priests.

The report is due out by the end of June.

The Christian Brothers also apologised for the abuse in the state and church run institutions.

In a statement the order, which ran some of the most fearsome schools, described the actions of some of its Brothers as “deplorable”.
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