THE DIOCESE of Cloyne and possibly one or two other Catholic dioceses may today be referred to a commission of investigation into clerical sexual abuse. Minister of State for Children Barry Andrews will this afternoon publish the report of the Health Service Executive (HSE) audit of child-protection policies and protocols in every Catholic diocese in the State.
His office said that at a press conference this afternoon Mr Andrews will outline a comprehensive series of actions and responses that will be taken on foot of the report's findings.
Mr Andrews will seek approval for the measures at this morning's meeting of the Cabinet.
The HSE audit is understood to have raised concerns about the adequacy of child protection in a number of other dioceses, but particularly in Cloyne.
The diocese, which covers most of rural Co Cork, has already been the subject of an internal church report which criticised its handling of abuse allegations levelled against members of the clergy.
Arising from the controversy, the Bishop of Cloyne John Magee has faced a large number of calls for his resignation but has signalled his intention to remain.
Later today, Cloyne, and possibly one or two other dioceses, may by referred by Mr Andrews to the commission investigating clerical abuse in the Dublin archdiocese.
The terms of reference of that commission allow it to widen its investigations to look at other dioceses if there is evidence they failed to uphold guidelines and protocols that emerged in the wake of the 2005 report into clerical sexual abuse in Ferns.
A spokeswoman for Mr Andrews said this week that a referral of Cloyne to the Dublin Archdiocese Commission was one of the issues "under consideration" and would form part of today's press conference.
Mr Andrews received the report of the HSE audit on December 4th and said he would publish it at the first available opportunity in the new year.
Labour Party TD Seán Sherlock also called for an early Dáil debate on the audit and on the Catholic Church's internal report on the manner in which allegations of clerical sexual abuse were dealt with in Cloyne.
The report was critical of the handling of allegations within Cloyne and prompted calls for the resignation of the bishop, John Magee.Mr Sherlock, whose constituency of Cork East is in the diocese of Cloyne, has called for Bishop Magee's resignation.
This week, he said that those in authority in the diocese, including Bishop Magee, had failed in their obligations.
He also criticised Mr Andrews for what he asserted was the Minister's failure to publish the church report on Cloyne which he received last summer.
Mr Andrews said he passed the report on to the HSE without reading it, arguing he was statutorily required to take such action.
Mr Sherlock also called for the Cloyne diocese to be referred to the Dublin Archdiocese Commission. "There certainly appears to be a prima facie case that the Ferns recommendations were not acted on in Cloyne and there can be little doubt that this has led to significant public concern.
A full inquiry with legal powers of a commission of investigation is now required," he said.
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(Source: IT)