Your gift counts double until 5/31: $32,085 to go in our Easter Campaign. Please help now!

Harsh report expected on abuse in Ireland's Cloyne diocese

CWN - April 11, 2011

A report on the handling of sex-abuse complaints in Ireland’s Cloyne diocese will disclose serious mishandling of cases by top diocesan officials, according to informed sources.

Last week Ireland’s High Court authorized publication of the Cloyne report, except one chapter that deals with the case of a priest who is now facing trial. Public release of the report is expected later this week.

Sources familiar with the report say that the criticism of the Cloyne diocese will be considerably harsher than the criticism of the Dublin archdiocese in a similar report issued last year. Both reports were prepared under the direction of Judge Yvonne Murphy.

A sharply critical report on the Cloyne diocese has long been expected. The Irish government commissioned an independent inquiry in 2009, after major questions arose about the way the diocese had handled sex-abuse inquiries. Cloyne’s Bishop John Magee—who had been private secretary to Pope John Paul II before his episcopal ordination—resigned soon thereafter, apparently at the prompting of the Holy See. His successor has not yet been named.

Additional sources for this story
Some links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

An appeal from our founder, Dr. Jeffrey Mirus:

Dear reader: If you found the information on this page helpful in your pursuit of a better Catholic life, please support our work with a donation. Your donation will help us reach five million Truth-seeking readers worldwide this year. Thank you!

Easter Campaign:
Progress toward our Spring 2013 goal ($32,085 to go):
$80,000.00 $47,914.70
40% 60%
Sound Off! CatholicCulture.org supporters weigh in.

All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!

Show 1 Comments? (Hidden)Hide Comments
  • Posted by: opraem - Apr. 11, 2011 8:42 PM ET USA

    dublin and cloyne down, 24 dioceses to go. it will be a very long road to easter for the irish bishops and church.

Catholic World News Email Newsletter
Donate to Support this Site: Your contribution will be put to good work.
Tour the CatholicCulture.org Site
Shop Amazon to Raise Money for Catholic Culture

Recent Catholic Commentary

Learning from the sick, and from the death of a child May 17
The case for change in Irish abortion law: based on a framework of falsehood May 17
The Smell of the Sheep May 16
Too many missing funds: Catholic institutions need tighter financial controls May 16
What capitalists should learn from the Pope's critique May 16

Top Catholic News

Most Important Stories of the Last 30 Days
Pope strongly supports call for reform in religious life CWN - May 8