Statement from Bishop Leo O’Reilly, Bishop of Kilmore on the publication of the Cloyne Report
I welcome the publication of the Report of the Commission of
Investigation into the handling by Church and State authorities of
allegations and suspicions of child sexual abuse against a number of
clerics in the Diocese of Cloyne.
My first thoughts are for those who have been abused.
I feel great
disappointment and dismay that the authorities whose responsibility it
was to implement nationally agreed procedures failed to do so and left
children at risk.
Their failure has compounded the suffering of those
who have been abused and their families.
The publication of this report is a reminder of how necessary it is
for bishops and for those in positions of responsibility to be
continually vigilant and pro-active in ensuring that the Safeguarding
Children procedures are fully and consistently implemented in dioceses.
The guidelines and standards are about ensuring that our Church is a
safe place for children.
It is particularly heartening that it was the work of the National
Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church that drew public
attention to practices that were of concern.
Hopefully this will go a
long way to building confidence that the Catholic Church takes the
safety of children as a paramount concern.
Finally, I repeat the appeal I have made before, that anyone with
information regarding child sexual abuse by priests in Kilmore diocese
make contact with one of our Designated Persons, the Garda Síochána, the
Health Service Executive or a support service of their choice.
If they
wish to access counselling they may contact the free, confidential
helpline of the independent counselling service, Towards Healing.
Contact details of the Diocesan Designated Persons and of Towards Healing are on Church notice boards and on the diocesan website: www.kilmorediocese.ie