No going back

There is no end in Ireland to the pain caused by the findings of the government Report on sexual abuse on minors and disabled youth in religious institutions. One week after the Irish bishops’ meeting with the Holy Father, the issue continues being addressed. In fact, the Irish Bishops briefed their parishioners on the meeting with Benedict XVI in homilies on Sunday February 21st. The question was also addressed by father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, in a Vatican radio broadcast: “The Holy Father prayed and acknowledged the bishops’ reflections on the situation of the Church of Ireland, where many sins and many mistakes were committed. The scandal of sexual abuse by priests caused much suffering and deeply humiliated the Church as a whole. The Pope encouraged them to plea for the mercy of God and the gift of the Spirit for the renewal of the Church”.Listening and devoting attention. The length of the meeting, the personal presence in the colloquiums of pope Benedict XVI, the mass participation of 9 representatives (including cardinals and bishops) of Rome’s curia are a sign of the “gravity” which the Holy See ascribes to the findings of the Murphy Report. The bishops of Ireland said they were impressed with the “seriousness” adopted by the Vatican in addressing the situation. “The Murphy Report – said bishop Michael Smith of Meath – underlines the grave mistakes and the terrible suffering of too many children”. The Holy Father – the bishop told the faithful – “listened attentively to comments and suggestions made by all present” and “conversely to what has been written, the meeting with Pope Benedict was the most open, honest and engaged meeting that I have attended”. A wound that is hard to heal. Bishop Noel Treanor of Down and Connor also saw the meetings as an indication of the Pontiff’s serious concern. Last week’s meeting, he said, “is a measure of the importance Benedict XVI gives to addressing the crime, sin and horror of sexual abuse of children, minors and vulnerable adults”. “”The Pope expressed his distress at what had happened here in Ireland”, the bishop added. A “wound” was inflicted “in the lives of the victims, in the life of the Church and by extension in society” which, “of itself, this meeting cannot heal”. During the meeting with the Pope the bishops repeatedly underlined that these facts have “emerged in the life of the Church”, and faulted “the failure” of Irish Church authorities and the “covering up”, causing the victims to experience further “pain, anger and shame”. Now it’s important to look at the future, and bishop Treanor recalled that an office for the protection of minors run by professionals is part of his diocese of Down and Connor.An ongoing process. For the bishop of Ferns, Msgr. Dennis Brennan, the colloquium with Benedict XVI “marks another stage in the vital search for healing.” “Since our return home on Tuesday last, we have witnessed, once again, the pain of deeply wounded survivors, who feel great disappointment because the outcome of our meeting fell far short of their expectations”. The bishop assured that “the visit to Pope Benedict by the bishops is only one part of an ongoing process”, “from which there is no going back”, “a path where reconciliation with survivors – based on justice and respect – remains priority”. The offer of resignation of Msgr. Moriarty. The offer of resignation submitted by Msgr. James Moriarty, current bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, “is proceeding. It is not a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’. It will not happen immediately but should not go too far beyond Easter”, announced Msgr. Moriarty himself during his homily for the First Sunday of Lent. Msgr. Moriarty is one of the bishops explicitly accused in the Murphy Report of having covered up sexual abuses on children by clerics in the archdiocese of Dublin. Until now Pope Benedict XVI only accepted the resignations of Msgr. Donal Murray, bishop of Limerick. Last week – the bishop of Kildare said – after the meeting of the Irish bishops with the Pope, Msgr. Moriarty discussed his offer of resignations “in a private meeting with Cardinal Re, the Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops. “The amount of time and attention given personally by Pope Benedict was very impressive”, he revealed. Benedict XVI’s pastoral letter to Ireland is expected in mid-March.