Saturday, January 15, 2011

Psychologist to prepare priests for report outcry

A CLINICAL psychologist is coming to Cork this weekend to prepare priests from the diocese of Cloyne for the expected public outcry following publication of the Dublin Archdiocese report into the handling of child abuse in the diocese.

UCD psychologist Dr Marie Murray will meet with priests from 46 parishes across north and east Cork, seminarians and members of the diocese’s safeguarding children training committee on Sunday.

The event has been organised by the diocese’s Apostolic Administrator, Archbishop Dermot Clifford of Cashel and Emly.

According to a letter sent by the archbishop to his priests, Dr Murray will make a presentation on how "we may prepare ourselves personally for the publication of the report and what strategies we might adopt on the day of its publication and immediately afterwards".

When the Dublin Archdiocese report was published over a year ago, Dr Murray was also invited by the Dublin Archdiocese to talk to priests about the expected negative reaction from parishioners and the media.

Safeguarding children training committee chairman Con Lynch and training co-ordinator Rosarie O’Riordan will also speak at the Commons Inn, Mallow Road.

Last summer, Cloyne priests were asked to attend another meeting to discuss expected fallout from the upcoming Commission of Investigation report. 

The report, which took nearly two years to complete, was given to Justice Minister Dermot Ahern before Christmas and is likely to be published before Easter. 

A copy of the report has been sent to the Attorney General’s Office.

The Murphy Commission investigated the handling by the Cloyne Diocese of allegations of abuse made against 19 priests over a 13-year period between 1996 and 2009.

The Murphy Commission’s work was extended to Cloyne early last year by Minister for Children Barry Andrews after his department raised concerns about child protection practices in the diocese. 

SIC: IEX/IE