The Roman Catholic Church – and especially the Vatican was heavily criticised by Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister at Stormont on Tuesday. It is certainly changed times in Ireland when such a criticism is aired and furthermore by a nationalist politician at Stormont. No one so far has suggested it is the outcome of sharing office with Ian Paisley. Bishop Donal McKeon had previously questioned the motives of politicians and others who had attacked Cardinal Brady. Another cloud in this sad area has gathered over Cork. Links to four reports follow.
Church braced for new child sex abuse scandal in Republic of Ireland
Belfast telegraph – The Catholic Church is bracing itself for another potential child abuse scandal, with a file to be sent to the Republic of Ireland’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) about allegations of physical and sexual abuse at a boarding school. Colaiste an Chroi Naofa in Carraig na bhFear in Cork — which was formerly run by the Order of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (OMSH) — is the focus of a garda probe into abuse complaints lodged by almost 20 former pupils. The complaints all relate alleged events at the school in the 1970s and 1980s. Three men have been arrested as a result of the complaints.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/catholic-church-braced-for-new-child-sex-abuse-scandal-in-republic-of-ireland-16156076.html
‘People using pain of victims for own agenda’
Newsletter – Cardinal Sean Brady has been unfairly singled out for criticism over child sex abuse cover-up allegations, according to the Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor. Although he stopped short of defending the under-fire Cardinal’s actions, Bishop Donal McKeown has pointed an accusing finger at influential people in other spheres, saying some could be using the “pain of victims to further their own agendas”.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/local/people-using-pain-of-victims-for-own-agenda-1-3816848
Rome ‘miserably failed’ victims
BBC – Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness accuses the Vatican of “miserably failing” the victims of child sexual abuse.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17992242
McGuinness: Vatican failed sex abuse victims
Irish Examiner – The Vatican has miserably failed the victims of child sex abuse within the Catholic Church, Martin McGuinness has claimed. Amid continuing calls for Irish Primate Cardinal Seán Brady to resign over his involvement in a controversial Church probe that …
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/mcguinness-vatican-failed-sex-abuse-victims-550692.html