A woman raped by a priest aged 20 in the Cloyne Diocese has broken
her silence and accused the Catholic Church of being unable to
comprehend the damage done by abusive priests.
The woman, who
cannot be named, said she believes the clergy thought of her as a
nuisance, wanted to cover up her story and only tried to help when the
scandal was reported in the media.
"It's all a media circus with them," she said.
"They (the Church) still don't get it and they still don't understand
the damage that has been done through them hiding it and them trying to
box it up and put it away in a box and hoping it will never come up.
"But like me it's come back to haunt them."
The woman only reported the attack to the gardai after receiving counselling over two and a half years and being urged to act.
"I was afraid to report it because nothing had come out about anyone
else and I thought I was on my own. I felt in fear of this man. I
suppose I just wasn't strong enough," she said.
She spoke as the cleric overseeing the diocese pledged that
structures have been put in place to ensure the devastating revelations
of the Cloyne Report never happen again.
Archbishop of Cashel and Emly Dermot Clifford said the diocese now
manages complaints, suspicions and concerns in accordance with the
guidelines issued by the National Board for Safeguarding Children.
He said there was full co-operation and information-sharing between
the gardai and Health Service Executive, while garda vetting has been
carried out for all priests of the diocese in active ministry.