DOES BISHOP Willie Walsh realise how much he has let down the Catholic laity?Has the papal nuncio any conception that the majesty of the Roman Catholic Church won’t cut it any more?
The days of bending the knee in Ireland to kiss the ring of men who were, at best, indifferent or, at worst, compliant in covering up and perpetuating the abuse of children have passed.
The last paragraph of the Murphy report into the clerical rape and sexual abuse of children in the Dublin archdiocese quotes one victim, Marie Murray, as saying: “within the institutional church there has been no change of heart, only a change of strategy”.
It could be dismissed as the harsh judgment of a woman who was treated abominably.
But the commission of inquiry itself raises the question: Is she right? The behaviour of various spokesman since its publication would suggest that she is.
The church and political reaction to the Murphy report may be as damaging as the findings themselves.
They are corroborative of the culture.
New and detailed legislation is now required, along with an effective reporting regime and strict criminal enforcement.
The task facing the Roman Catholic hierarchy is more fundamental, involving a re-establishment of trust with its followers; the acceptance of personal responsibility for past failures and the ending of a culture of denial and cover-ups.
It is clear from the report that members of the commission were not satisfied there had been full disclosure of information by Catholic Church authorities.
Documents that should have been in the records of the archdiocese of Dublin were not found.
There was a “disturbing failure” by all bishops – bar one – to accept responsibility for their actions.
Vatican authorities and the Apostolic Nuncio, the Vatican State’s ambassador to Ireland who also has the honorary title, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, ignored requests for additional files. Cardinal Desmond Connell quoted an oath of secrecy when asked if these matters had been discussed within the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome, when Pope Benedict was in charge.
And the notion of “mental reservation”, allowing bishops to lie without consequence, was firmly established.
Publication of the report brought an outpouring of repentance and apology from members of the Catholic hierarchy at the weekend.
Churchgoers were reassured that structures were now in place to ensure the protection of their children and the prosecution of offenders.
No useful purpose, it was suggested, could be served by a comprehensive, diocese-by-diocese investigation into child sex abuse.
There is a distressing air of déjà vu about this. A common feature has been the closing of hierarchical ranks in order to protect colleagues and the institution of the church.
In the process, abused children have been relegated to the status of distasteful and unwelcome problems.
It bears all the hallmarks of a crude, damage limitation exercise.
Where is papal authority and responsibility?
In spite of efforts by Vatican spokesmen to put distance between the pope and the scandals of the Irish church, the buck really does stop in Rome.
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