Cowen critical of Church handling of abuse cases
TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has criticised the handling of abuse cases by Catholic bishops and senior prelates, in a reaction to the Murphy report on the handling of cases in the Dublin archdiocese.
He stated "The Report of the Murphy Commission is truly shocking and disturbing.
It is a crushing verdict that the good name and standing of the Church as an institution was placed above the basic safety of children. Where this was facilitated by servants of the State, it was a betrayal of trust and a complete abandoning of duty.
It is a savage irony that a policy of cover-up that may have been borne of a misguided effort to avoid scandal has shaken the faith and confidence of many people.
Mr Cowen added, however that "the Report is supportive of the very substantial changes in policy and practice over recent years, both in terms of the Archdiocese and the agencies of the State, including the Garda".
"I believe that just as there must be no ambiguity about the fact that all institutions and individuals are answerable to the law of the land, whatever their status, it is for those institutions and their members to determine the appropriateness of any individual to hold ecclesiastical office."
Meanwhile, criticism has been growing of a number of bishops who are mentioned in the Murphy report, who served as auxiliaries in the Dublin archdiocese before being given their own dioceses.
Among them was Dr James Moriarty, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, whose diocese includes the eastern half of Offaly. The criticism centres on his handling of a complaint about a priest, referred to under the pseudonym of Fr Edmondus.
This was the priest who abused Marie Collins in 1960 when she was a patient at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin.
"No attempt was made by archdiocesan authorities to check the archives or other files relating to Fr Edmondus when these complaints were received," the report said.
It added "Bishop Moriarty pointed out to the commission that he did not have access to the archives but he could have asked the archbishop to conduct a search."
The failure to check about other complaints "meant that the concerns were not taken as seriously as they should have been. There was no proper investigation of these concerns."
Dr Moriarty's letter read at Masses in his diocese on Sunday did not refer to criticisms of himself. Ms Collins has said that this was a typical example of the response by the church leadership, which made her "even more disillusioned with them, if that is possible".
Dr Moriarty said "The report of the Dublin Archdiocese Commission of Investigation has once more confronted us with the terrible truth of child sexual abuse by priests and religious. This is a dark and dispiriting chapter which has scandalised and shamed our Church and I wish to apologise to all who have been hurt.
First and foremost, we think of those who have suffered abuse. We can never forget that the suffering inflicted in childhood remains an often crushing burden in adult life. We must continue to pray for them and for all those in our community who carry such pain, whatever the source. May they find healing and new hope in their lives.
Outrage has rightly been expressed in all quarters, not only that this abuse took place but also very particularly because Church authorities failed over many decades to respond properly to such criminal acts.
Past practice in the matter was all too clearly seriously flawed. It is of the highest importance that everyone should now feel assured that, as Pope Benedict has urged, we are taking all necessary steps to ensure that nothing of this kind ever happens again."
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