Bishop Deeply Upset by Double Trauma of Victims, The Connaught Sentinel, December 1, 2009

Bishop "Deeply Upset" by Double Trauma of Victims

The Connaught Sentinel
December 1, 2009

http://www.galwaynews.ie/9937-bishop-deeply-upset-double-trauma-victims

Speakers at a major national conference on sexual violence in Galway on Friday organised by the Galway Rape Crisis Centre, were Senator Ivan Bacik; former Mayor of Clonmel Michael O’Brien, who was a resident of St Joseph’s Industrial School in Clonmel; and Ailbhe Smyth of UCD Women’s Education Research and Resource Centre.

THE Bishop of Galway Martin Drennan – who was found to have correctly handled allegations of inappropriate behaviour by a priest in the Dublin Archdiocese some years ago – has said he is “deeply upset” by the trauma suffered by victims of clerical sex abuse.

Bishop Drennan, who was auxiliary bishop in Dublin between 1997 and 2005, is one of five bishops who still hold office mentioned in the shocking report by Ms Justice Yvonne Murphy.

However Bishop Drennan’s handling of one case was described as correct by the Commission of Investigation into the handling by Church and State authorities of allegations and suspicions of child abuse against clerics of the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin.

In a statement on the report, Bishop Drennan said the survivors of sexual abuse had felt that the Church put its own protection ahead of the welfare and protection of children when abuse was reported.

“The double trauma they endured upsets me deeply. I humbly offer my apologies to all who suffered in these ways,” he said.

“My fervent desire is that, learning from this report, we will understand why Church authorities failed these people and their families and why, in the past, the Church didn’t act decisively in favour of the safety and welfare of children.

“Above all, I pray that all of those who have been hurt and abused in this sad chapter of our history will be able to move towards the healing and peace they are looking for and deserve.”

Bishop Drennan added that he wanted to assure the faithful of the diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora that the highest possible training and standards apply to child welfare and safety in all parishes so that such events may never happen again.

A small band of protesters taped a poster to the door of Galway Cathedral before weekend services calling on Bishop Drennan to resign, while a lone protester, Margaretta D’Arcy, stood outside the Cathedral wearing a placard during the 8.30am Sunday Mass calling on him to respect the children of Galway and resign.

Speaking at a conference in Galway on Friday to mark the 25th anniversary of the Galway Rape Crisis Centre, Senator Ivana Bacik said the culture of cover-up evident at the highest levels in the Church caused the continuance of horrific levels of sexual abuse against children for many decades.

“The Church needs to acknowledge its institutionalfault in this. Any of those bishops named in the report as having handled child sexual abuse complaints badly, who are still in office, should now resign as a matter of conscience,” she said.

“Extraordinary levels of hard work and personal commitment are invested willingly by all of those involved in setting up and running rape crisis centres nationally. This selfless commitment shown by rape crisis centre volunteers and staff to the survivors of sexual abuse must be contrasted with the selfish, callous and cruel behaviour of clerical sex abusers and their superiors, who actively worked to protect them.”

For more on this report see page 8 of this week's Sentinel