Taoiseach Enda Kenny has launched an unprecedented attack on the
Vatican, accusing Catholic hierarchy of putting the Church ahead of
child rape victims.
In a damning assessment of Rome's attitude to
paedophile priests, Mr Kenny claimed the latest inquiry into clerical
abuse cover-ups has exposed a dysfunctional, elite hierarchy determined
to frustrate investigations.
The Holy See was also warned that religion does not rule Ireland.
"For the first time in Ireland, a report into child sexual abuse
exposes an attempt by the Holy See to frustrate an inquiry in a
sovereign, democratic republic as little as three years ago, not three
decades ago," he said.
"And in doing so, the Cloyne report excavates the dysfunction,
disconnection, elitism, the narcissism that dominate the culture of the
Vatican to this day.
"The rape and torture of children were downplayed or 'managed' to
uphold instead, the primacy of the institution, its power, standing and
'reputation'."
The Taoiseach's attack, which opened a special Dail parliament
debate, followed the publication last week of the fourth major report in
six years into the Church's cover-ups of clerical abuse.
Cloyne Diocese in Co Cork is the latest part of the Church to be
exposed with former bishop John Magee - a Vatican aide to three Popes -
singled out for misleading investigators and "dangerous" failures on
child protection.
His resignation was accepted by Pope Benedict last
year.
The Taoiseach went on to describe the Vatican of having a "calculated
withering position" on clerical abuse, which he said was "the polar
opposite of the radicalism, the humility and the compassion upon which
the Roman Church was founded".
Mr Kenny said the Vatican's reaction to evidence from victims of abuse was to have it parsed and analysed by a canon lawyer.