The Vatican has branded as "excessive" some reactions to a damning
clerical child abuse inquiry after recalling the Pope's ambassador to
Ireland.
Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, Papal Nuncio in Dublin, has already returned to Rome in a rare move ordered by the Holy See.
The recall comes just days after an unprecedented attack by Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the Catholic Church hierarchy.
Vice-director
of the Vatican press office Father Ciro Benedettini said it should be
seen as a measure of the gravity of the fall-out over Ireland's response
to the Cloyne report into the mishandling of paedophile priest
allegations.
"The recall of the Nuncio, being a measure verily
adopted by the Holy See, denotes the seriousness of the situation and
the Holy See's desire to face it objectively and determinately," he
said.
"Nor does it exclude some degree of surprise and disappointment at
certain excessive reactions."
Fr Benedettini added: "The recall
of the Nuncio should be interpreted as an expression of the desire of
the Holy See for serious and effective collaboration with the (Irish)
Government."
Two weeks ago, Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore
ordered Archbishop Leanza to get answers from the Vatican on claims it
allowed priests to ignore mandatory reporting guidelines on suspected
child abusers within the Church.
The Pope's envoy was told to take
a message to the Holy See that the Irish Government believes its
conduct has been disgraceful and unacceptable.
In a statement, Mr
Gilmore said the decision to recall Archbishop Leanza was a matter for
the Holy See.
"The Government is awaiting the response of the Holy See
to the recent report into the Catholic Diocese of Cloyne and it is to be
expected that the Vatican would wish to consult in depth with the
Nuncio on its response," he added.
Mr Kenny told the MacGill
Summer School in Glenties, Co Donegal, he had received thousands of
messages of support from around the world after his outspoken remarks in
the Dail.