Mishandling of Clergy Abuse Hits Close to Home

Boston –A bishop stands accused of not reporting claims of abuse to the proper authorities. His fellow bishops line up behind him in support.  The laity calls loudly for his resignation.  Does this sound familiar?  It should. It was just seven years ago when this exact situation happened right here on our shores.  Now the Catholic Church in Ireland faces a crisis of the same caliber. Many years after bishops in Ireland first promised to follow guidelines to protect children, they stand against allegations that they failed to do so.

Voice of the Faithful in the United States joins the efforts of our Ireland affiliate in seeking accountability for serious lapses in the investigation and reporting of sex abuse by clergy. The failure of Bishop John Magee of the Cloyne diocese of Cork to report sex abuse to the proper authorities, coupled with support of Bishop Magee from the Ireland Primate Cardinal Sean Brady, serve as a harsh reminder that the Catholic Church remains unable to hold its leaders accountable for failures. Clearly in Ireland as in the United States, many bishops continue to put the needs of predator priests before those of the children of the Church.

Sean O’Conaill of VOTF in Ireland says, “There is an overwhelming need for a credible process of inquiry into existing child safeguarding practice, and into the handling of all allegations of clerical abuse in recent decades, in every Irish diocese.” 

His statement could be applied to the Church worldwide.  The spectacle of the Catholic hierarchy evading responsibility for actions and being encouraged to do so by ecclesial advisors in the U.S., Ireland, Australia and beyond gives the wrong message to devoted Catholics across the globe.

In support of our brothers and sisters in Ireland, we request that Pope Benedict XVI and church leaders everywhere hold accountable those whose actions continue to place children in harm’s way.

For more information about the VOTF Ireland and Sean O’Conaill, please email Jessica at votfpr@votf.org or call 617-558-5252. For the most recent news in Ireland please visit www.votfi.com.