Clerical sex abuse victims take part in papal inquiry
Victims of historical clerical abuse met with the former Archbishop of
Westminster in Newry yesterday as part of a Vatican probe into sex crimes
committed within the Irish Catholic Church.
Last March Pope Benedict announced the probe, formally known as an apostolic
visitation, following the publication of two damning reports by the Irish
government which found a culture of systematic cover-up of paedophile
priests and allegations of abuse.
In an open letter the Vatican said it wanted “to respond adequately to the
situation caused by the tragic cases of abuse” and promote the “spiritual
and moral renewal” of the Irish Church.
Five senior prelates were chosen to carry out the inquiry in the four diocese
of Armagh, Dublin, Cashel-Emly and Tuam.
But their roles are to gather information and report to Rome, not resolve any
issues raised.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-|O’Connor, who is now retired, was appointed to lead
the investigation in Armagh. But the cardinal was himself the subject of
intense criticism over his handling of a paedophile priest.
In 1985 the cardinal, then Bishop of the Arundel and Brighton Diocese,
appointed Father Michael Hill to Gatwick Airport despite experts warning
that he could be a danger to children.
Victims’ groups demanded his resignation in 2002 when Hill was jailed and the
cardinal was forced to apologise to victims.
Last night Jon McCourt, who suffered abuse as a child at the Termonbacca home
in Co Londonderry, said members of group, Survivors and Victims of
Institutional Abuse, were pleased the cardinal had met with them.
He explained the senior clergyman listened along with Dr Sheila Hollins,
professor of the UK Board of Psychiatry, to the stories as well as their
concerns.
He also said they had gone into the meeting with realistic expectations and
were aware the cardinal would only be there to record.
“It was fairly informal and cordial — a lot more informal than I expected it
to be, seeing we were meeting the cardinal,” he explained. “He was very
direct with us. He told us his role wasn’t to make a promise to us as to
where this was going to go. It was simply as a recorder and to report back
to Rome.
“We have no idea of a timescale for that. That is one of the difficulties; we
have no real idea how long this process is going to take.
“The only time frame we know of is that next Tuesday they have a meeting with
the northern bishops.
“Cardinal O’Connor said he will take back to the bishops some of the
suggestions we put to him — mainly that we need to have a direct liaison
between ourselves and the Church so that we are informed as the process
develops because that is one of the things that has been lacking.”
Yesterday’s meeting comes a month after the Stormont Executive announced it
was launching its own inquiry into historical and institutional child abuse
after persistent campaigning from victims.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness welcomed the opportunity for victims
to meet with the apostolic visitor.
He said the abuse suffered by many children and vulnerable young people in
institutions over the years and the totally insensitive manner in which this
was dealt with had “cast a dark cloud over Irish society”.
“There is an onus on us all to ensure that this abuse can never be allowed to
happen again and that necessary safeguarding arrangements are put in place
to guarantee protection for those who are greatest at risk.
“The papal initiative is an important part of the process of putting the needs
of victims first. Those who have perpetrated such heinous crimes must not be
protected, but must be subject to the full rigours of the legal process.”
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