4NI
February 15, 2010
http://www.4ni.co.uk/northern_ireland_news.asp?id=106830
VATICAN CITY -- A two-day meeting between Irish bishops and the Pope Benedict XVI has begun in the Vatican over the shocking revelations on clerical child abuse in Ireland.
The talks, which are believed to unprecedented, involve 24 senior Irish clergymen discussing the matter with Pope after being called to the Vatican in the wake of the sexual abuse revelations.
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Four bishops have already resigned over revelations contained within the Murphy Report, the revealed "systematic" cover ups of child abuse over three decades by the Catholic hierarchy in the Archdiocese of Dublin.
Last night, the meetings which began at 8am this morning were described by the Primate of All-Ireland Cardinal Seán Brady as "one step in a process…which will lead to a journey of repentance, renewal and reconciliation".
He said that process "hopefully, will gain momentum when we get back to Ireland".
On the eve of the meeting, survivors of clerical abuse demanded leadership and accountability from the Pope and called for financial compensation for victims.
A press conference is scheduled to take place on Tuesday afternoon in the offices of the Vatican were it is expected a summary of the meetings will be given.
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