Irish bishops ask forgiveness, denounce ‘depravity’ of abuse

December 10, 2009

Suspending their planned agenda, the bishops of Ireland apologized for the clerical abuse scandal whose extent in the Archdiocese of Dublin was documented in the recent Murphy commission report.

“We, as bishops, apologise to all those who were abused by priests as children, their families and to all people who feel rightly outraged and let down by the failure of moral leadership and accountability that emerges from the Report,” the bishops wrote in statement. “We are deeply shocked by the scale and depravity of abuse as described in the Report.”

The bishops continued:

We are shamed by the extent to which child sexual abuse was covered up in the Archdiocese of Dublin and recognise that this indicates a culture that was widespread in the Church. The avoidance of scandal, the preservation of the reputations of individuals and of the Church, took precedence over the safety and welfare of children. This should never have happened and must never be allowed to happen again. We humbly ask for forgiveness.

The Report raises very important issues for the Church in Ireland, including the functioning of the Bishops’ Conference, and, how the lay faithful can be more effectively involved in the life of the Church. We will give further detailed consideration to these issues.

In response to the many concerns raised about the use of ‘Mental Reservation’, we wish to categorically state that it has no place in covering up evil.

“Charity, truthfulness, integrity and transparency,” they added, “must be the hallmark of all our communications.”

 

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Further information:

• Statement from the Winter General Meeting of the Irish Bishops' Conference
• Irish Bishops Apologise to Victims of Clerical Sex Abuse (Vatican Radio)
• Full text of Murphy commission report (Commission of Investigation, Dublin Archdiocese)