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Survivors of clerical sex abuse voice anger at Papal speech

Survivors of clerical sex abuse have labelled the Pope’s speech in Dublin Castle this after...
Newstalk
Newstalk

15.35 25 Aug 2018


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Survivors of clerical sex abus...

Survivors of clerical sex abuse voice anger at Papal speech

Newstalk
Newstalk

15.35 25 Aug 2018


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Survivors of clerical sex abuse have labelled the Pope’s speech in Dublin Castle this afternoon a wasted opportunity.

Campaign groups have warned that Pope Francis’ words did not go far enough.

Speaking at the state reception in the capital this afternoon, Pope Francis said the failure of Church authorities to adequately address clerical child sex abuse within the Church remains a “source of pain and shame” for Catholic leadership.

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He said he “could not fail to acknowledge the grave scandal caused in Ireland by the abuse of young people by members of the Church charged with responsibility for their protection and education.”

He also noted that he shares the “pain and shame” of the Catholic community over the failure of Vatican hierarchy to “adequately to address these repugnant crimes.”

Inadequate

Following the speech however, survivors of abuse, including Amnesty International director Colm O’Gorman warned that the comments were inadequate.

“He talked about the failings and the sins of others but he said nothing of the covers and conspiracies orchestrated at a global level by the Vatican – and driven by it,” he said.

“What we saw, it seemed to me was, was a deflection of responsibility again off on to ordinary Catholics.

“He was saying he feels shame and pain and he shares their feelings.

“Well ordinary Catholics are not responsible for the cover-up that his institution directed.”

"Wasted opportunity"

The One in Four group meanwhile said the speech was a “missed opportunity to finally tell the world exactly what concrete steps he intends to take to deal with the crimes of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.”

The group’s executive director Maeve Lewis said: “The Vatican has been well aware of the sexual abuse scandal since the 1980s if not before and has utterly failed to act.”

“It has thousands of files on sexual abuse allegations in its archives which it consistently refuses to release to civil authorities across the world,” she said.

She warned that the Church had “until recently” encouraged bishops to deal with allegations discreetly – putting other children at risk.

“No Pope has ever accepted responsibility for the Vatican’s role in the cover-ups,” she said.

“Acknowledgement of this complicity would have been a good start in Dublin Castle today.”

Action

 

She warned that survivors now expect “real action” form the Vatican.

“How hard would it be for the Pope to announce a policy of mandatory reporting of all allegations to the civil authorities across the world?” she asked.

“How hard would it be to accept the recommendation of his own Commission on the Protection of Minors to establish a special Council charged with dealing with all bishops and cardinals who shield and protect clerical sex offenders?

She welcomed the Taoiseach’s acknowledgement of the “role of the Irish State in colluding with the Catholic Church in the abuse of women and children.”

“He was wholly unequivocal in calling for zero tolerance of child sexual abuse,” she said. “What a missed opportunity for the Pope to do the same.”

Pope Francis listens to the Taoiseach’s speech in St Patrick's Hall, Dublin Castle, 25-08-2018. Image:  Yui Mok/PA Wire/PA Images

"Zero tolerance"

In his speech, Mr Vardkar urged Pope Francis to use his power and influence to offer justice for all those who suffered at the hands of members of the clergy.

He warned that there “can only be zero tolerance for those who abuse innocent children or who facilitate that abuse.”

The Pope will meet with survivors of abuse during his 36 hours in Ireland – however, it is not known where or when that will happen.


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