“God’s judgment will follow” those clergy who abused the trust of the people of Dublin and sexually abused children, the Anglican Archbishop of Dublin, Dr John Neill said this week in response to the public release of the Murphy Report by the Irish government.The capacity for evil existed within every human breast, the Archbishop said, and “sadly the very structures of both church and of society which were there to protect the most vulnerable ended up merely protecting themselves. This does not excuse the betrayal of trust and the misuse of authority at every level” he said on Dec 1.
The Murphy Report investigated the Roman Catholic Church’s handling of allegations of sexual abuse laid against 46 priests of the archdiocese of Dublin between Jan 1, 1975 and April 30, 2004.
The report identified 440 victims and stated that Archbishops John Charles McQuaid, Dermot Ryan, Kevin McNamara, and Desmond Connell, had acted improperly in investigating and responding to the allegations.
It also faulted the Gardaí, accusing the police services of covering up the scandal.
The report documented a culture of cover-up within the church over clergy sexual abuse. One priest who admitted his guilt, confessed to having committed sexual abuse over 100 times, while a second admitted to having abused children for 25 years.
The former Archbishop of Dublin, Cardinal Connell offered his apologies for his actions saying he bitterly regretted “that failures on my part contributed to the suffering of victims in any form.”
Ireland’s police commissioner, Fachtna Murphy offered his apologies as well. "Because of acts or omissions, individuals who sought assistance did not always receive the level of response or protection which any citizen in trouble is entitled to expect," he said.
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern pledged that those “who committed these dreadful crimes — no matter when they happened — will continue to be pursued"
Dr Neill said the report “makes horrific reading,” but he applauded those victims who had come forward.
“In having the courage to bring to light the dreadful experiences of their own childhood, the victims of abuse have challenged the whole of Irish society. They have performed an invaluable service to those who might be at risk now or indeed into the future,” he said.
“The tragedy is that abuse and the secrecy surrounding it has ruined so many young lives,” he said, citing the words of Mark 9:42. ‘If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.’
“As Churches, we have continually to monitor and supervise all who are involved in the care of the young and of vulnerable adults, and it is encouraging that this process is now well established both in churches and in the wider community,” Dr Neill said, adding that “such processes must be under constant review. It is only with constant vigilance, coupled with honesty and openness that the evil of abuse can be countered.”
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