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.
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