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Why clerical sex abuse probe must recognise no boundaries
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
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It was in the 1970s that the Irish bishops of the Roman Catholic Church were having one of their regular meetings in St Patrick's College, Maynooth. On these occasions they were provided with an ample luncheon.
After lunch on that day, the Bishop of Galway, Dr Michael Browne, a formidable character known to many of his people as 'Cross Michael', was still enjoying a post-prandial cigar when he strolled into the adjacent library of the college to collect a book.
The official at the desk mentioned to the bishop that, regrettably, there was a no-smoking rule in the library. But the bishop continued on his way unabashed and duly rejoined his colleagues.
Some time later, though, he had cause to re-enter the library. He was still smoking. "Second offence," he said jauntily to the attendant at the desk, waving the cigar in his fingers. In an era like our own, when the church has its back to the wall, facing public onslaught over the misdeeds of its clergy, this little cameo is not only interesting: it is significant.
It displays perfectly the extent to which the Irish Catholic bishops regarded themselves in those days as the ultimate arbiters, a race apart. Concurrence with petty rules, in the mind of the bishop, was for lesser breeds.
His behaviour - can one call it anything other than arrogant? - points to the supremacy of the church in Ireland: something socially and politically unique in a state claiming to be democratic and which today's youth would find quite inconceivable; including those at Trinity College, which Dr Browne once condemned as a "centre for atheist and communist propaganda".
Today's crashing downfall, amid the shocking disclosures of sexual crime by priests against children and the shameless attempts by the bishops to ignore the victims and cover up the crime, is sensational, not only for its nature; it is also sensational because of the bishops' old, unquestioned authority. When they issued a fiat they expected to be obeyed - and usually were.
In 1966, Bishop Browne rang up RTE to complain about an incident on the Late Late Show when Gay Byrne asked a young woman what colour of nightie she had worn on her wedding night and she answered that she might not have worn one. In Dr Browne's lexicon, this was "filthy" and he obviously expected the producers to take note. It was in the mid-1990s that the key change in public attitudes occurred. When Bertie Ahern became Taoiseach in 1997, he felt able to come clean about his relationship with Celia Larkin (below) and his failed marriage.
Four years later there followed the uncomfortable episode of the reception at Dublin Castle for Cardinal Connell, returned from Rome after receiving his red hat. The invitations went out from Mr Ahern and Ms Larkin; but, although Cardinal Connell appeared, none of the other invited bishops from the 25 dioceses outside Dublin turned up.
In the meantime, practising homosexuals had been decriminalised and the constitutional ban on divorce swept away. In the first, the church was not consulted; in the second, a vigorous campaign for a 'No' vote by the bishops failed - though they succeeded in reducing the 'Yes' majority to a very narrow margin.
But if the church's old role as the unchallenged arbiter of society has crumbled, what can replace it?
As we ponder the answer, a moral vacuum is opening. The recently-formed Sex Workers' Alliance of Ireland, representing prostitutes and others concerned with the industry, has just held its first conference - in Dublin Castle.
Cynicism about the new libertarianism is strongest among the young; and two-thirds of the population of the Republic is under 44. These are the victims of the drug-pushers, with queues for treatment in most provincial towns.
In the prisons, drugs are beyond control. In Dublin, one gang is suspected of 12 murders, six of them since the start of this year.
Meantime, the young sneer at their elders in the Dail, where the speaker, a passionate follower of the turf, was found to have made two official trips to Paris, where the hotel cost €1,000 a night - both visits happening to coincide with the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamps. He subsequently resigned.
The process of disillusionment has not yet run its course. Northern Ireland so far has not been included in the diocesan investigations.
But there is now a demand for a full-scale inquiry into priests' sex abuse in every Irish Catholic diocese. Victims are pressing for action by the Executive to ascertain the facts north of the border and legal action is being considered against named religious orders and the Government agencies then responsible for child welfare here.
On no account may northerners look smugly southwards: victims here live with the problem and society at large shares the symptoms of an increasingly sceptical age.
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people should remember their grandparents who had nothing but faith in their lives give their last penny to the church! When one thinks of the vile creatures that lurk within its doors the blood boils!!The clergy has always lived in 10 roomed houses with all the mod cons in their day and indeed right up to the present time! They never did without food and had a housekeeper thrown in! Not a bad life for a humble follower of Jesus!!!
Posted by Maggie long | 22.12.09, 13:44 GMT
While I wouldn't lay this at the feet of the Vatican (afterall we've been through several Popes since then, and lets face facts, Rome is not kept up to date with the various on-goings of theese small parishes, I do think that this is the opportunity for the Vatican to step in and lay down the law so to speak. Priests who are either guilty of involvement - or had knowledge of it and did nothing must be defrocked and brought to trial WITH Rome's support...it's the only way for us to trust the church again.
Posted by Sean | 10.12.09, 19:43 GMT
Eric: I agree. Let's hope a similar investgation goes on in the Protestant churches now the Protestant Church Elder John William McConaghy has been convicted of his paedophilia. I wonder who else knew about this over his 8 year abuse? I doubt this is an islolated case.
We must also investigate other organizations where predatory homosexuals and paedophiles have access to minors.
As you say, we must recognize no boundaries in the protection of children.
Posted by Colin | 06.12.09, 16:25 GMT
Charges should be brought against the Holy See and the hierarchy for their crimes against humanity and most specifically for their violations of The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to which the Holy See is a signatory.
Where is the outrage?
Sister Maureen Paul Turlish, Victims' Advocate, New Castle, Delaware, USA
Posted by SMPTURLISH | 03.12.09, 17:19 GMT
Do we really need churches to honour God? We are all equal under God. the clergy a lot of the time apply judgement on those who they deem sinners but not on themselves! Surely this is contradictary of what Jesus has taught? Predatory clergy of all persuasions misuse the church and it becomes a front for mostly homosexual actions as the victims are 98% boys! Remember there is good and bad in all churches and people!!
Posted by Mike Irvine | 02.12.09, 23:57 GMT
Regardless of what institute these vile animals belong to they should be publicly shamed.
Reverend, with all due respect, where was the 'Saviour' when his representatives on earth were destroying the lives of children and their families?
Posted by Mark | 02.12.09, 14:49 GMT
Is this sorry episode any different to the social workers who ignored sex abuse complaints and allowed victims to be continually abused. It seems so in the media as that story was relegated to an inside page of the Daily Telegraph last weekend and not even picked up by the BBC or other media outlets. This shows a grave injustice to these victims of abuse and seeks to categorise those abused by clerics or attached to religious communities and those that are not. As someone below has commented what about Kincora? Where was the inquiry there? Are we happy that the Bryn Estyn report in North Wales reached the right conclusions and have the proper levels of compensation been paid? What about the number of teachers jailed for sex abuse? Why are we not investigating every school in the country? Do these pupils not matter? You are right we should have a clean sweep but as most sex abuse takes place in families I await your proposals how we as a society can carry out investigations!!
Posted by Tony | 02.12.09, 11:09 GMT
'Why clerical sex abuse probe must recognise no boundaries'
I agree that there should be no hiding place for such clerics, accomplices, collaborators and sympathizers. There needs to be a diligent examination of the background, circumstance and consequence of such a despicable crime, so that due process can be applied.
Moreover, there ought to be severe censorship brought on these clerical offenders from the Vatican.
For the abused, offended, disillusioned and despairing, there is a Saviour to turn to; 'Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden..'
Posted by Rev Mervyn Cotton | 01.12.09, 22:15 GMT
The writer has hung our dirty linen out to dry. That is his right, albeit much of it is old hat by now.
I look forward to a similar article about dirty linen in NON Catholic organizations, and perhaps even the old Stormont, by the same writer. but I am not holding my breath.
Lisburn Dave - you are quite right, the INSTITUTION (like Stormont did) needs a complete overhaul, and the guilty named and jailed. These people - the guilty priests etc - are however the MESSANGERS, and not the message itself (Catholicism - founded by Jesus Christ).
Ireland will emerge freer, better and stronger for all of this.
Posted by Evergreen | 01.12.09, 21:33 GMT
the catholic church is a disgrace. they ve protected known sex offenders for years. everyone involved should be rounded up and prosecuted to the full extent of the law
Posted by Lisburn Dave | 01.12.09, 15:09 GMT