In his own remarks accompanying the release of the Holy See’s
response to the Irish government concerning the Cloyne Report, the
Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Jesuit Fr. Federico
Lombardi highlighted the document’s frank recognition of the gravity of
the abuse that occurred, as well as the serious deficiencies evidenced
in the report regarding the handling of abuse allegations.
Fr. Lombardi
also notes the Response’s expressions of horror and powerful
condemnation of the abuse committed in the Cloyne diocese.
He says there
is regret and understanding for the feelings of anger, confusion and
bitterness so widespread among the population and innocent members of
the clergy – who, he notes, are a majority of clergy in the diocese.
The comments from the Director of the Holy See’s Press Office go on
to consider the Response’s expression of the Holy See’s deep concern
over the diocesan government’s failure to apply both the guidelines
proposed by the Church in Ireland, and the norms from the Holy See to
all the bishops of the world, in what he calls, “The most serious matter
of child protection.”
“The clear affirmation that none of [that which is detailed in the
report] ought ever to have happened,” says Fr. Lombardi, “is
unmistakably the starting-point of the Holy See’s reponse,” adding that
the Response also notes, “the steps [already] taken by the Church in
Ireland to come to grips with the crisis, and the need for adequate
protection of children.”
In this regard, says Fr. Lombardi, “The Cloyne
Report itself recognizes that the lines adopted by the Church are
appropriate,” and must therefore be put into practice effectively.
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