Responding to the report on child abuse in Ireland, Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has urged all church organizations involved in the report to "seriously examine how their ideals became debased by systematic abuse." Ireland primate, Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh, also expressed the hope that its publication will help heal wounds and right past wrongs, Zenit reports.
The cardinal's statement, publicized on the Irish bishops' conference Web site, noted that the report "throws light on a dark period of the past."
Cardinal Brady affirmed that the "publication of this comprehensive report and analysis is a welcome and important step in establishing the truth, giving justice to victims and ensuring such abuse does not happen again."
He acknowledged that "great wrong and hurt were caused to some of the most vulnerable children in our society," and that the report documents a "shameful catalogue of cruelty: neglect, physical, sexual and emotional abuse."
The prelate stated: "I am profoundly sorry and deeply ashamed that children suffered in such awful ways in these institutions. Children deserved better and especially from those caring for them in the name of Jesus Christ."
The cardinal expressed the hope that the publication will help to "heal the hurts of victims and to address the wrongs of the past."
"The Catholic Church remains determined to do all that is necessary to make the Church a safe, life-giving and joyful place for children," he affirmed.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Martin emphasized the report's recommendations for safeguarding children in the future, saying, "We must find ways of ensuring that the cries and anxieties of children are heard and listened to."
"If we truly regret what happened in the past we must commit ourselves to a very different future," the archbishop affirmed.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Source (CTHUS)
SV (ED)