Irish groups slam Pope Benedict statement on child sex abuse as 'charade'

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Charade: Christine Buckley dismayed at Pope Benedict's statement

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Irish groups have reacted angrily to the statement from Pope Benedict XVI on the Irish child sex abuse scandals.

Christine Buckley, who was raised in the infamous St. Vincent's Industrial School at  Goldenbridge said she was “dismayed” by the statement which she called “a charade.”

Christine Buckley almost single-handedly dragged the darkest secrets of the Irish church out into the open.

In February 1996, a documentary called "Dear Daughter," exploded onto Irish television screens.

It told the story of St. Vincent's Industrial School, Goldenbridge where children were forced to work for their keep.

From the 1940s and 1960s, children made rosary beads according to a strict quota, 60 decades a day during the week and 90 decades on Saturdays.

One of those children was Christine Buckley.

Today, she says the church has failed her - again.

Psychotherapist Maeve Lewis who directs an Irish support group called One in Four said the Vatican should have addressed the role the Irish church played in covering up the crimes.

Lewis said her group was appalled that “the Vatican has accepted no responsibility for its role in facilitating the sexual abuse of children."

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