A LEADING priest has launched a broadside against the Catholic Church hierarchy, saying they are sticking their heads in the sand over a number of crucial issues, such as women priests.

Fr Joe McGuane, who is based in Youghal, Co Cork, warned that if the current church regime continued, Mass attendances in Ireland would soon be reduced to small groups of old women.

His comments came as relations between the church and the Government sank to a historic low after Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore confirmed the forthcoming shutdown of Ireland’s embassy in the Vatican.

The financial problems facing the church could leave some clerics “filling supermarket shelves at night or on the dole if they have bad backs,” the priest said.

In a hard-hitting assessment of the crisis that now faces the church, he warned: “The Papal Nuncio knows as much about the abuse-rocked Diocese of Cloyne as a cow knows about a holiday.”

Fr McGuane said that some Dublin parishes now had greater populations than some west of Ireland dioceses.

He said the Eucharistic Congress, to be held in Dublin next summer, was “designed as a distraction”, with interest in it — on a scale of one to a 100 — ranking as minus three.

He added: “Priests will have to drag themselves along to — I suppose — the Phoenix Park or Croke Park for a ridiculous jamboree, and dragoon as many parishioners as possible along with them.”

Fr McGuane told the Irish Independent that he took no pleasure in his assessment of the problems facing the church — but warned that those problems could only be overcome with honesty, courage and transparency.

He said a crucial issue now facing the church was the role of women.

“We are the only profession that excludes women; the only one who insists that it (the vocation) is for life.

“Unless we have married women, we will soon have tiny numbers.

“But then they will only be catering for a few, so I suppose there is no need to panic. Furthermore, there will be income only for a few.

Leadership

“Is it any wonder we are in the mess we are in? Seventeen years after the late Brendan Smyth was convicted of child sexual abuse, not alone are we still at square one but we have actually gone backwards.

“This is because of our dearth of leadership,” he said. “Our prelates are, by and large, incapable of initiative and innovation. They are almost entirely bereft of ideas. They have no idea what to do.”

The Diocese of Cloyne did not respond to Fr McGuane’s comments last night.

Fr McGuane — who is chaplain at the St Raphael’s Centre — insisted that the church’s problems started at the top.

“There have been proposals that all bishops appointed before Diarmuid Martin should resign. This would be useless while the present system of appointments is in place. Clones would replace them,” he said.

“They, in turn, would appoint similar clones to all positions and their characteristic would be blind knee-jerk unconditional obedience, no matter how stupid the instruction.”

- Ralph Riegel

Irish Independent

www.independent.ie

A priest in the scandal-hit diocese of Cloyne in Co Cork has urged his fellow clerics to speak out and defy the “culture of fear” that pervades the Catholic Church.

Fr Joseph McGuane has become the first ordinary cleric in Cloyne to comment on the child abuse controversies that rocked the diocese and the entire church in Ireland.

Fr McGuane – who is a chaplain in St Raphael’s Centre, a community hospital in Youghal – said ordinary people were very angry that “justice has taken a back seat”.

“The leadership has sailed us into a perfect storm and there must be a new way of thinking to get us out,” he said.

“The church is in a bigger crisis now than it was back in 1994 when the Fr Brendan Smyth scandal brought down the government.”

Fr McGuane argued that the church needed to totally transform itself and guarantee greater transparency.

But he acknowledged that ordinary diocesan clerics faced the task of rolling back “a culture of cover-up and dictatorship”.

“It would be a great help if my peers spoke out – sadly, I am the only one.

“There is a culture of fear within the diocese. Good people are afraid of the repercussions if they do speak out – it is hard to break ranks,” he said.

The cleric said that the emphasis within the church has been on authority and control from the top down, with desperately negative consequences.

Fr McGuane also hit out at former Bishop John Magee, who vanished weeks before the Cloyne report was published.

The whereabouts of the Newry-born bishop, a former private secretary to three Popes, is still a mystery.

In Dr Magee’s absence, Archbishop Dermot Clifford of Cashel and Emly had to handle queries over the shocking revelations in the Cloyne Report last month.

Fr McGuane said it was now clear that Dr Magee should have resigned three years ago when Cloyne’s problems over its handling of clerical abuse allegations were first highlighted by the church’s own watchdog body, the National Board for the Safeguarding of Children (NBSC).

“I said back in 2009 that Bishop Magee should resign,” Fr McGuane said. “The head of FAS, the Taoiseach, the Financial Regulator and the heads of the banks all fell on their swords. Why should it be any different in the church?”

Fr McGuane insisted there was hope for the future and said men of “courage” like Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin have signalled the way forward.

 

Monday, 8 August 2011

www.belfasttelegraph

The Taoiseach’s speech to the Dáil on the Cloyne report

I move the motion.

The revelations of the Cloyne report have brought the Government, Irish  Catholics and the Vatican to an unprecedented juncture.

It’s fair to say that after the Ryan and Murphy Reports Ireland is, perhaps, unshockable when it comes to the abuse of children.

But Cloyne has proved to be of a different order.

Because for the first time in Ireland, a report into child sexual-abuse exposes an attempt by the Holy See, to frustrate an Inquiry in a sovereign, democratic republic…as little as three years ago, not three decades ago.

And in doing so, the Cloyne Report excavates the dysfunction, disconnection, elitism….the narcissism …….that dominate the culture of the Vatican to this day.

The rape and torture of children were downplayed or ‘managed’ to uphold instead, the primacy of the institution, its power, standing and ‘reputation’.

Far from listening to evidence of humiliation and betrayal with St Benedict’s “ear of the heart”……the Vatican’s reaction was to parse and analyse it with the gimlet eye of a canon lawyer.

This calculated, withering position being the polar opposite of the radicalism, humility and compassion upon which the Roman Church was founded.

The radicalism, humility and compassion which are the very essence of its foundation and purpose.

The behaviour being a case of Roma locuta est: causa finita est.

Except in this instance, nothing could be further from the truth.

Victims
Cloyne’s revelations are heart-breaking. It describes how many victims continued to live in the small towns and parishes in which they were reared and in which they were abused… Their abuser often still in the area and still held in high regard by their families and the community. The abusers continued to officiate at family weddings and funerals… In one case, the abuser even officiated at the victim’s own wedding…

There is little I or anyone else in this House can say to comfort that victim or others, however much we want to. But we can and do recognise the bravery of all of the victims who told their stories to the Commission.

While it will take a long time for Cloyne to recover from the horrors uncovered, it could take the victims and their families a lifetime to pick up the pieces of their shattered existence.

Papal Nuncio
A day post-publication, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade met with the Papal Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza.

The Tánaiste left the Archbishop clear on two things: The gravity of the actions and attitude of the Holy See. And Ireland’s complete rejection and abhorrence of same.

The Papal Nuncio undertook to present the Cloyne Report to the Vatican.

The Government awaits the considered response of the Holy See.

I believe that the Irish people, including the very many faithful Catholics who – like me – have been shocked and dismayed by the repeated failings of Church authorities to face up to what is required, deserve and require confirmation from the Vatican that they do accept, endorse and require compliance by all Church authorities here with, the obligations to report all cases of suspected abuse, whether current or historical, to the
State’s authorities in line with the Children First National Guidance which will have the force of law.

Clericalism
Clericalism has rendered some of Ireland’s brightest, most privileged and powerful men, either unwilling or unable to address the horrors cited in the Ryan and Murphy Reports. This Roman Clericalism must be devastating for good priests…. some of them old… others struggling to keep their humanity….even their sanity……..as they work so hard…..to be the keepers of the Church’s light and goodness within their parishes…… communities… the human
heart.

Church & State
But thankfully for them, and for us, this is not Rome. Nor is it industrial-school or Magdalene Ireland, where the swish of a soutane smothered conscience and humanity and the swing of a thurible ruled the Irish-Catholic world.
This is the ‘Republic’ of Ireland 2011.

A Republic of laws…..of rights and responsibilities….of proper civic order….. where the delinquency and arrogance of a particular version….. of a particular kind of ‘morality’….. will no longer be tolerated or ignored.

As a practising Catholic, I don’t say any of this easily. Growing up, many of us in here learned we were part of a pilgrim Church.

Today, that Church needs to be a penitent Church. A church, truly and deeply penitent for the horrors it perpetrated, hid and denied.

In the name of God. But for the good of the institution.

When I say that through our legislation….. through our Government’s action to put Children First…….those who have been abused can take some small comfort in knowing that they belong to a nation…..to a democracy where humanity, power, rights, responsibility, are enshrined and enacted …..always….always…. for their good.

Where the law – their law – as citizens of this country, will always supercede canon laws that have neither legitimacy nor place in the affairs of this country.

State/Society
This report tells us a tale of a frankly brazen disregard for protecting children. If we do not respond swiftly and appropriately as a State, we will have to prepare ourselves for more reports like this.

I agree with Archbishop Martin that the Church needs to publish any other and all other reports like this as soon as possible.

I must note the Commission is very positive about the work of the National Board for Safeguarding Children, established by the Church to oversee the operation by Dioceses and religious orders. The Commission notes that
all Church authorities were required to sign a contract with the National Board agreeing to implement the relevant standards and that those refusing to sign would be named in the Board’s Annual Report. Progress has been in no small measure to the commitment of Ian Elliott and others.

There is some small comfort to be drawn by the people of Cloyne from the fact that the Commission is complimentary of the efforts made by the Diocese since 2008, in training, in vetting personnel and in the risk
management of Priests against whom allegations have been made. Nevertheless, the behaviour of Bishop Magee and Monsignor O’Callaghan show how fragile even good standards and policies are to the weakness and willful disregard of those who fail to give the right priority to safeguarding our children.

But if the Vatican needs to get its house in order, so does this State.

The Report of the Commission is rightly critical of the entirely unsatisfactory position which the last Government allowed to persist over many years. The unseemly bickering between the Minister for Children and the HSE over the statutory powers to deal with extra-familial abuse, the failure to produce legislation to enable the exchange of soft information as promised after the Ferns Enquiry, and the long period of confusion and disjointed responsibility for child protection within the HSE, as reported by the Commission, are simply not acceptable in a society which values
children and their safety.

For too long Ireland has neglected its children.

Just last week we saw a case of the torture of children, within the family, come before the courts. Just two days ago, we were repulsed by the case of a Donegal registered sex offender…and school caretaker…

Children and young adults reduced to human wreckage. Raising questions and issues of serious import for State agencies.

We are set to embark on a course of action to ensure the State is doing all it can to safeguard our children.

Minister Shatter is bringing forward two pieces of legislation – firstly, to make it an offence to withhold information relating to crimes against children and vulnerable adults; and secondly, at long last, to allow for the exchange of ‘soft information’ on abusers.

As Taoiseach, I want to do all I can to protect the sacred space of childhood and to restore its innocence.

Especially our young teenagers, whom I believe to be children. Because regardless of our current economic crisis, the children of this country are, and always will be, our most precious possession of all.

Safeguarding their integrity and innocence must be a national priority. This is why I undertook to create a Cabinet ministry for Children and Youth Affairs.

The legislation ‘Children First’ proposes to give our children maximum protection and security without intruding on the hectic, magical business of being a child.

Conclusion
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.

Not purely, or simply or otherwise.

CHILDREN…. FIRST.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork East Sandra McLellan has welcomed the Government response to the Cloyne Report, but said that the deeds which made it necessary were a shameful disgrace.

Speaking in the Dáil today on an all-party motion Deputy McLellan said:

“What astonishes most people with regards this report is that it related to a time when the Catholic Church in Ireland had put in place detailed procedures for dealing with child sexual abuse, and during a period of constant revelations with regards child abuse by priests. Best practice as contained in guidelines and rules doesn’t matter one iota if there isn’t implementation. There was abject failure on behalf of the church and to a lesser degree the state.”

She added:

“I am very glad that the Government have taken issue with the disgraceful lack of engagement by the Papal Nuncio with the Commission and the outrageous interference of the Vatican in matters of child protection in this state. I welcome the Government’s stated priority of bringing abusers to justice and in particular the appointment of the Assistant Commissioner to examine the possibility of doing this. In addition, I would make a personal call on all abuse victims to go straight to the Gardaí as the body best able to deal with allegations of abuse.”

“Sinn Féin are heartened by the ‘Children First’ child protection guidelines being placed on a statutory footing. The government has made firm commitments following the Cloyne report. We are determined to see that these commitments are delivered upon.

She concluded:

“This has been a long and painful chapter in Irish history and the reports and investigations are set to continue. We must make sure that no child, from this day forth, is ever subjected to the horrors visited on the victims detailed in this and previous reports. This must end. Immediately.”

Wed, Jul 13, 2011 at 6:23 PM
Sinn Féin’s TD for East Cork, Sandra McLellan, says the Cloyne Report highlights a disgraceful litany of concealment and evasion by the Catholic Church.

Commenting on the publication of the Cloyne Report, Deputy McLellan said:

“The Cloyne Report provides a window into a very dark and shameful episode in our recent past. It is a shocking indictment, above all, of the Catholic Church, which ignored its own guidelines and procedures designed to protect children from child abuse. What is especially shocking is that this report brings the clerical sexual abuse scandal right up to 2009.”

“Instead of a policy of child protection the Church implemented a policy of deliberate cover-up, concealment and evasion. Their obvious priority was the protection of the institution of the church while the lives of children were being destroyed.”

“I extend my deepest sympathy to the victims of these despicable acts. The publication of this report is undoubtedly a painful reminder for them. The Government must ensure that the lessons of this Report are learned.”

Welcoming the Government’s commitment to act on the recommendations of the Report, Deputy McLellan said:

“I welcome the strong response of the Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald and the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter to this Report. The commitment to place the Children First guidelines on a statutory basis and to legislate on the issue of soft information is very welcome.”