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Kenny issues fresh warning to Vatican over co-operation on abuse allegations

Irish PM has yet to hear from Holy See since damning criticism

By
CATHAL DERVAN,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Wednesday, October 5, 2011, 8:03 AM
Updated Wednesday, October 5, 2011, 12:24 PM

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Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny
Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny
Photo by AP


Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has repeated his call on the Vatican to co-operate fully with all state investigations into clerical sex abuse.

Kenny has told the Irish Parliament that he fully expects the ‘complete and unreserved co-operation of the church authorities’ to ensure the safety of children from further abuse.

The Fine Gael leader also confirmed that he has had no contact with Irish Church leaders or the Vatican since his criticism of the handling of child abuse cases after the publication of the controversial Cloyne Report.

The PM told Sinn Fein’s Gerry Adams that he accepts the Holy See’s sorrow and shame over the clerical abuse of children in Ireland.

“I acknowledge the Holy See is sorry and ashamed for the terrible suffering of victims of child abuse in Ireland and their families and the acceptance of grave failures over the handling of the child sex abuse scandal,” said Prime Minister Kenny.

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Read More:

Irish government denies rift with Vatican over Cloyne Report

War of words between Vatican and Irish government continues

Enda Kenny stands by his attack on the Vatican - VIDEO & POLL

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“I accept the testimony of Cardinal Seán Brady that the Holy See statement was carefully prepared and respectfully presented.

“Many people were disappointed that elements of the Vatican’s response were technical and legalistic, rather than focused exclusively on the Government’s concerns about the welfare of children.

“But I am satisfied the response is of value in coming to terms with the sad history of abuse and the inadequate handling of cases.

“It suggests the way forward is through continuing dialogue and co-operation. With confidence, I require and expect to have the complete and unreserved co-operation of the church authorities and everyone in our society to that end.”
 

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See more: News from Ireland , Irish Catholic Church , Vatican , Enda Kenny
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15 Comments

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Collette2 | Oct 06, 2011, 04:08 AM EDT
John Iv'e been watching that case too. It will be a sealed and done deal, with palms greased, legalities taken care of, forgiveness and heard of no more. That's how things appear to be done downunder. The Sentor concerned deserved a medal as far as I'm concerned.

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barneyjo | Oct 06, 2011, 03:48 AM EDT
@tombegs - but that is just it; the extent of the betrayal felt by many Irish Catholics who, like myself have sought to remain true to the teachings of our church only to find that so many have have not, yet claimed that the moral imperative remained with them....... it is now self evident that this has not been the case for a very long time in my view. I find it very difficult to find Christ within the Clerical church nowadays!!

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JOHNTOBIN | Oct 06, 2011, 01:59 AM EDT
There is a case here in Australia where a Senator under priviledge of Parliament named a prominent Catholic priest as an alleged sex offender.Now,the case against the priest appears to be coming to pieces.However,guilty or innocent,that priest will be branded with that charge for the rest of his life.

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tombegs | Oct 05, 2011, 10:32 PM EDT
No need to pile on "AngelPrecious" except to say that you and the evil people you hope to defend deserve everything you will get from the Common Laws of the Republic of Ireland. A reality whose existence never crossed your imagination until Enda Kenny stood up to your bullying and spoke the truth to your POWER. More POWER to him and anyone who has a hope for the truth to rear its "ugly (only for the hierarchy) heads to defy them and their claim to power because of their ownership of the "thruth." Anyone else believes them now? My mom recalled some people being "called out from the altar." Isn't it about time that good priests would call their surperiors out from the altar and force them to do the same walk of shame (contrition?) and beg the rest of us for our forgiveness?

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barneyjo | Oct 05, 2011, 06:21 PM EDT
@AngelPrecious - Well, same question then; why is there no clamour by Irish Catholics against Enda Kenny for his speech? Could it be that your eyes are (finally) being opened to the awful truth about our church also??

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eiriamach | Oct 05, 2011, 06:14 PM EDT
JuneAnnette, in the article that you wrote of, the CCR "urged that the inquiry should look at [Vatican officials'] roles in directly aiding and abetting the commission of many of these offenses." They should also urge that the inquiry consider canon law itself, which requires bishops to protect the "good name" of an accused priest. It makes the protection of priests' reputations a requirement of justice equal to justice for an alleged victim. In terms of principle, this procedure is grossly wrong. A falsely accused priest would suffer for the sake of justice if the bishops allowed prosecution, but he would have justice in the end, assuming the courts work right ('innocent until proven guilty'). But canon law gives both falsely and truthfully accused priests the "right" to protection from the press and public knowledge of the charges against them. This "right" means that bishops must shield the accused from investigators and prosecutors. To carry out this duty imposed by canon law, the bishops must remain silent, keep evidence secret, and thus deny the possibility of justice to victims! Some of the most egregious offenders have been defrocked by canon law trials, but how many have been prosecuted and imprisoned by the state? I believe we could count them on the fingers of one hand. The system that protects and abets the abusers is required by the Church's canon law--which is a global legal system binding priests and bishops everywhere!

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seanomelbourne | Oct 05, 2011, 05:57 PM EDT
Angel precious seems to defend the indefensible

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eiriamach | Oct 05, 2011, 05:26 PM EDT
I see that a nasty comment about the Taoiseach by one of the usual nasty commenters has been removed. When I read it earlier, I thought it too ludicrously false to reply. But maybe someone at IC was worried about libel? From Irish defamation law: "Article 40.3.2 of the Constitution says "the State shall, in particular, by its laws, protect as best it may from unjust attack (and, in the case of injustice done, vindicate) the life, person, good name and property rights of every citizen." And "a defamatory statement is one which tends to lower the reputation of the subject in the eyes of right-thinking people." Something to keep in mind.

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eiriamach | Oct 05, 2011, 04:40 PM EDT
JuneAnnette, US Catholic bishops are re-issuing their voters' guide (available on the USCCB web site), "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship." It directs Catholics to vote against gay marriage supporters, any candidate who is not anti-choice on abortion, against insurance coverage for contraceptives and laws requiring workers to deal with other issues of Catholic "conscience" in health care and social work, etc., for helping the poor during harsh economic climates, fixing the US immigration system, and ending wars, terror, and violence, "particularly the absence of justice, security, and peace in the Holy Land and throughout the Middle East." The bishops do not urge voters to support laws to protect victims of sexual abuse or laws to prosecute anyone accused of sexual abuse against children or withholding evidence of abuse. I'd like to suggest to Catholics whose consciences are troubled over the ICC charges against their religious leaders that they write to pastors and bishops to demand 1) That they pledge to obey all just laws of the state, 2) That they publicly pledge to provide civil authorities with all records of sexual abuse suspicions and allegations past and present and future, and 3) That they support removing statutes of limitations from child sexual abuse laws. Government officials should have the cooperation of all religious. Why are the US bishops priming their flocks' voting muscle and not pledging cooperation in areas where public officials need it? Thanks for the links!

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CaptainCon | Oct 05, 2011, 04:22 PM EDT
AngelPrecious- Kenny' statement on the Cloyne report in the Dail was moved and passed as a motion in the Oireachtas- he was inundated with praise for his damning indictment of the Vatican and senior catholic clergy. In fairness to Kenny he was right in what he said and I believe there are very good signs that the vast majority of Irish citizens at home and abroad agree with him. Still no arrest though for the Bishop who broke Irish law in faiing to report cases of abuse in Cloynes between 2006-2009. I want to see words followed up with action against the hierarchy of the Catholic Church in Ireland on abuse issues and Bishops and Cardinals jailed where it can be shown they broke the law. The Vatican can either cooperate with the authorities or sit back and watch Ireland walk away from it.

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barneyjo | Oct 05, 2011, 04:19 PM EDT
@Angelprecious - An interesting question which you may have asked and answered in the one breath!!

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Searlit | Oct 05, 2011, 03:01 PM EDT
Politics aside, I think this man is heroic.

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JuneAnnette | Oct 05, 2011, 03:00 PM EDT
eiriamach, I do hope Mr. Kenny presses for the release of the Raphoe Report, originally slated for release in August, but delayed until October? ? ? VIGILANCE is the watchword in these matters. I am sure that the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) would welcome the additional incriminating evidence undoubtedly contained in these documents! The evidence contained in the Ryan, Murphy, Ferns & Cloyne Reports were in part the catalyst for the recent historic charges made by SNAP, in partnership with the Center for Constitutional Rights, and filed with the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, to investigate high-level Catholic Church officials for crimes against humanity in late September. As you probably are already aware, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) has stated: “In the coming months, CCR will continue to gather information and evidence of additional crimes of rape and sexual violence and associated cover ups by the Catholic Church. We continue to urge all members of the clergy, church officials, and anyone else with information about sexual violence against children to come forward. The 22,000 pages of evidence presented in the ICC filing is only a small fraction of the evidence already available. Far more must exist given the nature and magnitude of these crimes and the reach of the church. Hundreds of current and former Vatican employees have information about sexual assaults against children. Silence is complicity. It’s time for church employees at every level to search their consciences and share their knowledge of these crimes and cover ups.”***GOOGLE the Article: In the Case Against Vatican Officials for Rape and Sexual Violence, We’ve come to the End of the Beginning / Source: Center for Constitutional Rights

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eiriamach | Oct 05, 2011, 01:52 PM EDT
I hope to hear this kind of statement repeated every now and then by elected representatives: "I require and expect to have the complete and unreserved co-operation of the church authorities and everyone in our society to that end [correct handling of child abuse cases].” There cannot be a respectable reason for disagreeing with or opposing this demand.

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eiriamach | Oct 05, 2011, 01:48 PM EDT
He has stood firm against the subversion of the state's laws by Church officials anxious to protect their own from criminal prosecution. Is it any wonder that the vast majority of Irish citizens, whether they would vote for Kenny or not, stand behind his declaration that no one who stands on Irish ground is above the laws of Ireland?

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