LEADING clerical child sex abuse survivors have hailed Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s powerful Dáil stance as a moment historians may one day describe as the time when Ireland became a genuine republic.
One in Four founder Colm O’Gorman said the remarks were "groundbreaking" and that there were not enough superlatives to explain just how important the Mr Kenny’s comments are to the future of this country.
In a clear rebuke of former governments who were in power when previous clerical child sex abuse reports were published, Mr O’Gorman said the Taoiseach’s response to the Murphy Commission was something he had personally been waiting to hear for more than a decade.
And he added that the comments are likely to finally draw a line in relation to Irish politicians’ previous deference to the Catholic church hierarchy.
Mr O’Gorman’s views were mirrored by Andrew Madden, who said the Dáil position was "a very welcome change in tone and content to the Government’s predecessors".
Mr Madden said the Taoiseach was "very honest" and had made it clear that some bishops are failing not only their institution but the Irish state itself by not putting all the information they have into the public domain.
He added that at a "practical" level changes such as the provision of a full ministry for children, the upcoming children’s referendum and the possibility of independent audits of church files were signs that there is likely to be action behind the words.
A Cloyne clerical child sex abuse survivor whose details were highlighted in the Murphy Commission report told the Irish Examiner the remarks hold out hope for those who have been abused.
"I never thought I’d hear a Taoiseach make such a strong speech against the Vatican. It was brilliant and I was very proud of him and thankful to him.
"I just hope ministers Frances Fitzgerald [Children] and Alan Shatter [Justice] now do all they’ve promised," the survivor explained.
In a clear rebuke of former governments who were in power when previous clerical child sex abuse reports were published, Mr O’Gorman said the Taoiseach’s response to the Murphy Commission was something he had personally been waiting to hear for more than a decade.
And he added that the comments are likely to finally draw a line in relation to Irish politicians’ previous deference to the Catholic church hierarchy.
Mr O’Gorman’s views were mirrored by Andrew Madden, who said the Dáil position was "a very welcome change in tone and content to the Government’s predecessors".
Mr Madden said the Taoiseach was "very honest" and had made it clear that some bishops are failing not only their institution but the Irish state itself by not putting all the information they have into the public domain.
He added that at a "practical" level changes such as the provision of a full ministry for children, the upcoming children’s referendum and the possibility of independent audits of church files were signs that there is likely to be action behind the words.
A Cloyne clerical child sex abuse survivor whose details were highlighted in the Murphy Commission report told the Irish Examiner the remarks hold out hope for those who have been abused.
"I never thought I’d hear a Taoiseach make such a strong speech against the Vatican. It was brilliant and I was very proud of him and thankful to him.
"I just hope ministers Frances Fitzgerald [Children] and Alan Shatter [Justice] now do all they’ve promised," the survivor explained.
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