A CONFIDENTIAL 1997 Vatican letter did encourage some clerics not to co-operate fully with the state in protecting children, the Government has insisted.
The letter "provided a pretext" for clerics to "evade full co-operation", the Coalition said last night.
In a strongly worded statement on the Vatican’s response to the Cloyne report, the Government stood over its criticisms of the Holy See.
It also reiterated public anger at the failure of both the Vatican and the Irish Catholic Church to deal adequately with clerical child sex abuse.
"Having considered carefully the Cloyne report and the response of the Holy See, the Government of Ireland remains of the view that the content of the confidential letter in 1997 from the then apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Storero, to the Irish bishops, regardless of whether or not it was intended to do so, provided a pretext for some members of the clergy to evade full cooperation with the Irish civil authorities in regard to the abuse of minors."
The Coalition pointed to "appalling" Vatican failures in dealing with abuse cases and expects full co-operation with state authorities from the Holy See in the future.
The letter also offered the prospect of repairing relations between the two states — provided the Vatican co-operates fully with Irish authorities in future.
Last night, the Catholic Communications Office said: "In light of the Government’s statement, the Catholic Church restates its commitment to best practice in safeguarding children, and to working with state authorities in achieving this. The focus should now be on the future."
In a strongly worded statement on the Vatican’s response to the Cloyne report, the Government stood over its criticisms of the Holy See.
It also reiterated public anger at the failure of both the Vatican and the Irish Catholic Church to deal adequately with clerical child sex abuse.
"Having considered carefully the Cloyne report and the response of the Holy See, the Government of Ireland remains of the view that the content of the confidential letter in 1997 from the then apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Storero, to the Irish bishops, regardless of whether or not it was intended to do so, provided a pretext for some members of the clergy to evade full cooperation with the Irish civil authorities in regard to the abuse of minors."
The Coalition pointed to "appalling" Vatican failures in dealing with abuse cases and expects full co-operation with state authorities from the Holy See in the future.
The letter also offered the prospect of repairing relations between the two states — provided the Vatican co-operates fully with Irish authorities in future.
Last night, the Catholic Communications Office said: "In light of the Government’s statement, the Catholic Church restates its commitment to best practice in safeguarding children, and to working with state authorities in achieving this. The focus should now be on the future."