THE prospect of Pope Benedict XVI visiting Ireland later this year has been dramatically reduced by the continued refusal of Bishop John Magee to resign over the Cloyne controversy. Last night, informed Vatican sources revealed that Pope Benedict and his chief advisers may be forced to reconsider tentative plans to come to Ireland, because they are alarmed at the gravity of the abuse crisis in the Cloyne diocese.
"We are monitoring closely developments in Cloyne which are putting at risk a visit by the Pontiff to Ireland in late summer or early autumn," a high-placed Vatican source told the Irish Independent.
This newspaper has learned that the Irish Episcopal Conference had been increasingly confident that Pope Benedict would make his first trip to Ireland next September.
This would be timed to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the historic visit of Pope John Paul II.
There was also growing optimism among senior Irish bishops that Pope Benedict would include on his itinerary a trip across the Border into Northern Ireland, to be welcomed in the See of St Patrick by Cardinal Sean Brady, the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.
According to Vatican officials, Pope Benedict has expressed his personal wish to visit the North.
The late Pope John Paul II had to abandon such a visit reluctantly in 1979, after the murder of Queen Elizabeth's uncle, Lord Mountbatten, by the Provisional IRA.
However, Vatican officials fear that the fame of Bishop Magee, as a former secretary to three Popes who accompanied John Paul on his visit to Ireland 30 years ago, has brought renewed international focus on the scandals here.
Sources say that the bishop's refusal to step down is at odds with the Pontiff's pledge to avoid cover-ups by bishops.
Abuse
Meanwhile, the Office of the Minister for Children confirmed last night that a section of the Cloyne report was dropped because bishops "felt unable" to supply all the requested information, as it presented "insurmountable" confidentiality issues.
The HSE request for details of specific cases of alleged clerical abuse was made in October 2006.
But bishops felt "unable" to provide details for reasons of confidentiality and the constitutional right of an individual to their good name.
A spokeswoman said that this section of the audit sought detailed information on complaints and allegations of child sexual abuse against members of the clergy, and whether these allegations had or had not been brought to the attention of civil authorities.
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(Source: II)