Christianity Today : Christians Covering Up Crimes of Christians

'Puzzlement' over Catholic bishops' 'abuse' documents

By Alf McCreary
A row in the Catholic Church over the release of thousands of documents to an Irish commission investigating clerical sex abuse will be heard in Dublin's high court today.


Catholic Bishops in Northern Ireland are said to be "puzzled" by the latest developments where former archbishop Cardinal Desmond Connell and his successor, Archbishop Dr Diarmuid Martin, are at odds over some 5,000 documents to the inquiry into abuse in the Church.

It is understood Archbishop Martin agreed last June to release the documents to the Commission - but the Cardinal's lawyers claimed in the High Court in Dublin last week that the Archbishop was not legally entitled to do so.

Today's legal challenge will decide whether or not the documents are legally confidentiality.

It is believed that Cardinal Connell's decision to go to court on the issue has taken the rest of the Bishops, including Dr Martin, by surprise and in the North there is said to be a general " puzzlement" at the latest turn.

It is felt that there has been a significant breakdown in communications in the Dublin Archdiocese, and that the recent developments will not help the image of the Catholic hierarchy in its drive to make the church more open and more accountable in dealing with sexual abuse.

Cardinal Sean Brady, the Primate, has repeatedly stressed in public his determination to deal with such measures and to set in place structures to prevent such abuses happening again.

Over two years ago he announced publicly that the Northern Bishops would voluntarily undergo "vetting", in association with the latest child protection legislation.

It is understood that this has now taken place, and that the system is being applied to all priests throughout Northern Ireland. The Church has also been co-operating fully with the police and the other relevant authorities on measures associated with child protection legislation.

NIO Minister Paul Goggins indicated last July in a written Parliamentary reply to MP David Simpson that the PSNI had advised him that concerning allegations of "historical sexual abuse" allegedly committed by Catholic priests, the Church had co-operated fully in " in supplying all relevant information which has been required or requested. An investigation file is currently with the PPS for consideration."

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk


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