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Pope Benedict set to cancel Irish visit after harsh criticism of Vatican

Cork diocese sex abuse report creates new tensions

JAMES O'BRIEN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Reporter

Published Saturday, July 16, 2011, 8:10 AM

Updated Saturday, July 16, 2011, 8:10 AM

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Pope Benedict XVI

Photo by AP

Pope Benedict is said to be reviewing his planned trip to Ireland next year after the Irish government issued harsh criticism of the Vatican over the latest church cover up scandal, according to the Irish Independent.

Prime Minister Enda Kenny and Deputy Leader Eamon Gilmore have slammed the Vatican for their policy of urging bishops not to accept the guidelines laid down by the Irish hierarchy on reporting child abuse.

The criticism came after the retired Bishop of Cloyne John Magee was harshly criticised after 19 priests in his diocese suspected of pedophilia were given kid gloves treatment, apparently at the behest of the Vatican.

Enda Kenny stated it was "disgraceful" that the Vatican ignored child protection safeguards agreed by the Irish bishops while the Papal Nuncio was summoned to the Foreign Ministry by Gilmore who demanded an explanation for Rome’s "inappropriate" intervention” in Irish affairs.

Kenney’s parliamentary party chairman Charles Flanagan called for the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, to be expelled, a move that had 72 percent public support according to a journal.ie poll

The Vatican had declared the Irish bishops' 1996 Groundwork Document, which urged strict reporting to police and a major crackdown on pedophiles, as "a mere study document."

They claimed it conflicted with canon law.

Benedict was expected in Ireland in June for the Eucharistic Congress in Ireland but the harsh reaction to the Cloyne report has put those plans on hold.

There will be great interest in government circles about how Pope Benedict handles the Cloyne report when it is given to him. Bishop Magee, now retired is in the US and has been out of contact after the outraged media and public reaction to the report.

Nster.com

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TriciaG28 | Jul 21, 2011, 06:39 AM EDT

A very large number of people in Ireland would be absolutely furious if their taxes were to be used to fund a State visit by the Pope. The Vatican's assertion that they have done nothing wrong and that the decisions taken in Cloyne were entirely the responsibility of the hierarchy of that diocese are not backed up by the evidence. The Vatican have, repeatedly, blocked, ignored and actively discouraged any cooperation. They have completely lost any moral authority they had and have repeatedly shown they are more interested in protecting themselves then ensuring criminals are reported to and investigated by the relevant CIVIL authorities. To quote Enda Kenny: "Cardinal Josef Ratzinger said: 'Standards of conduct appropriate to civil society or the workings of a democracy cannot be purely and simply applied to the Church.' As the Holy See prepares its considered response to the Cloyne Report, as Taoiseach, I am making it absolutely clear, that when it comes to the protection of the children of this State, the standards of conduct which the Church deems appropriate to itself, cannot and will not, be applied to the workings of democracy and civil society in this republic. " The Pope should cancel his visit. He and his cohorts are not welcome.

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nottbrian | Jul 20, 2011, 08:10 PM EDT

Herr Ratzinger is not welcome in Ireland. This man represents an institution that has has violated the most innocent and vulnerable in our country, and has steadfastly stood with the rapists and paedophiles. Yet Ratzinger and his institution still believes they can preach to us on moral questions. Thankfully for many the Taoiseach's speech today signals the beginning of the end of church influence in our schools, on our laws and in the wider polity.

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jacersagain | Jul 19, 2011, 03:00 PM EDT

eiriamach, my friend in antipathy – pls don’t butt in on a challenge that I have given to CitizenWhy. In response to your own post, surely through all your studies you must know that the Pope is but the Servant of the Church and fully accountable to us members? Twisting interpretations to “in effect” suit one’s own agenda simply confuses the issue. To my simple knowledge, no Pope has ever said “I am Christ. I answer only to me!” I await CitizenWhy’s proof that such was ever said - or a retraction of that posted blasphemous lie.

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jacersagain | Jul 19, 2011, 02:41 PM EDT

@seanomelbourne – if you’re so happy to be an atheist why do you comment on subjects of religion (which you don’t believe in) on ICentral? Why don’t you just stick w/ yr pals on the atheists’ web sites? >> I must admit that I don’t KNOW that God exists but I BELIEVE God exists. Amongst my reasons for that belief, are the manifestations of His existence that he has blessed this world of ours with: the multitudes of miracles that have occurred throughout the history of the Christian Church. Did you know, for example, that the vast majority of miracles that have happened in Lourdes occurred during the procession of the Holy Eucharist and comparatively few in the miraculous waters that St. Bernadette found? This fact shows to me that God is present in the Holy Eucharist through the Body of His Son, Jesus Christ. He lives in a Tabernacle - near YOU, seano! Go get to know or rediscover Him. You’ll be a better man for it.

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eiriamach | Jul 19, 2011, 02:20 PM EDT

jacersagain, more than once the current pope has said-- in effect-- that he answers to no one but himself. When he replied to Bishop Morris' request for a reason why the Vatican wished him to step aside, the pope replied that he is not compelled to give any reason at all for sacking a bishop (the letter used more eloquent language, but to the same point). And he did indeed remove bishop Morris of Toowoomba without offering any explanation at all-- he's answerable to no one.

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jacersagain | Jul 19, 2011, 01:45 PM EDT

@ unconvinced – where is your proof that the Papacy is evil? Indeed one could ask where is your proof that we Catholics are wrong to follow and try and practice Christianity through the Vatican’s leadership. I am quite satisfied, after years of doubt and gnashing of me teeth, that I am privileged to be a member of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Sure, leaders are human and many human errors are made but the intrinsic work of the Catholic Church has never wavered in its dedication to Christ’s mission on earth. If you ever visit the Vatican, you will see a huge slab containing the names of all the Popes ‘descended’ from St. Peter, to whom Christ gave the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. You can also see all the names of all Popes from St. Peter on, high up on the walls of the Cathedral of St. Paul Outside the Walls of Rome. The names are identical. You can also see St. Paul’s burial casket on display there (it was discovered only recently during excavations). It might help you become less unconvinced. @ CitizenWhy - I have never ever heard the present Pope or of any other Pope utter the words that you've posted at 08.11 yesterday. Why post lies?

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CitizenWhy | Jul 18, 2011, 08:11 PM EDT

The pope says: "I am Christ. I answer only to me!" ... Ireland finally says: "Take a hike. Walk those little red Versacci slippers somewhere else. "

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TiocfaidhArmani | Jul 18, 2011, 02:15 PM EDT

I don't like him, but he was conscripted and went AWOL.

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pilib04 | Jul 18, 2011, 01:10 PM EDT

Gearoid4, as for Pope Benedict’s Nazi past, it is true he joined the Hitler Jugend (Youth) after it was made mandatory. It needs to be highlighted that even though it was mandatory the most that could happen was the parents might be fined if their child refused to join. More importantly, 10% of Germans refused to join even when it became conscription. It is a LIBEL to print that ALL German youth joined the GJ. Tens of thousands refused to become part of the Nazi machine. Although you were required to join, a majority of Catholics living in predominantly Catholic areas refused to join. Slan go foill, mo chara.

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pilib04 | Jul 18, 2011, 12:50 PM EDT

If the Holy Father is using his visit to Ireland in order to defend, in any way, shape or form, pedophile bishops and priests, he should STAY HOME!

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unconvinced | Jul 18, 2011, 05:52 AM EDT

I have always said the papacy is an evil and wicked system but sadly the people within it won't listen and continue to go to mass and bring their children putting them in furthur danger The pope needs to be proceuted alonf with magee and brady after it was revealed he promoted magee even though brady knew there was an alligation against magee

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Collette2 | Jul 17, 2011, 09:16 PM EDT

barneyjo, wait and see. I'll bet the up and coming WYD in Madrid isn't cancelled. They've still got it all under control there.

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seanomelbourne | Jul 17, 2011, 08:54 PM EDT

Thank God I'm an atheist,I've uncluttered my mind with all your mystic mumbo jumbo.

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Gearoid4 | Jul 17, 2011, 04:56 PM EDT

What an idiotic comment bonbon1, regarding the defamatory accusation that the present pope was an ideological bedfellow of hitler's. Like other german youth of his generation, he had no other option but to serve in the hitler youth. He came from a Bavarian family who were known for their anti-nazi leanings. He escaped from this nefarious organization when he was not shadowed and tried to find his way home. Intercessor, the so called 'celtic' church never existed as the early Irish Church was part of the church universal before it broke into the schismatic parts that we see now. In relation to the current sex-abuse crisis, I feel as sickened as anyone else about the revelations and those found guilty of this abominable crime along with those who sheltered them should face the full rigors of the secular law. But using such malign epithets as 'nazi' exhibits a complete loss of perspective as well and does not add to the debate. Righteous anger indeed should be directed at those who betrayed their vows by their criminal activity and maximum compassion shown to the victims.

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bonbon1 | Jul 17, 2011, 04:43 PM EDT

I think all of you better be careful of what you say about the Pope! In his heart he is a Nazi-German first and a believer in the Churchs office of inquisition which is generaly dorment at present. However, during the thousand or so years when it was active they murdered between 30 to 40 million so called heritics.If you piss of the Pope he may retaliate like an Adolph Hitler and decide that the good Irish Catholics in Ireland need to be taught a lesson . Be careful or you may be disposed of.

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