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  Kenny Attacks Vatican over Abuse Scandal

UTV
July 20, 2011

http://www.u.tv/News/Enda-Kenny-attacks-Vatican-over-abuse/c050c128-3d49-4cee-9c1c-c43892b23e84

[with video]

Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny has launched an unprecedented attack on the Vatican over the clerical abuse scandal and subsequent cover-up in the Cloyne diocese in Co Cork.

Mr Kenny warned that the latest inquiry into such cases had exposed a dysfunctional, elite hierarchy determined to frustrate investigations.

"The rape and torture of children were downplayed or 'managed' - to uphold instead the primacy of the institution, its power, standing and 'reputation'," he said.

Mr Kenny's attack, which opened a special Dail debate, followed the publication last week of the fourth major report in six years into the Catholic Church's response to clerical abuse.

Delinquency and arrogance of a particular version of a particular kind of morality will no longer be tolerated.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny

The 400-page document revealed that the diocese failed to report all complaints and allegations to police, with Newry-born former bishop John Magee singled out for misleading investigators and being responsible for "dangerous" failures on child protection.

Bishop Magee's resignation was accepted by Pope Benedict last year.

The findings of the damning Cloyne report sparked shock and outrage as, unlike previous reports, it dealt with incidents after 2006 - the year the Catholic Church brought in child sex abuse guidelines and protection policies.

"For the first time in Ireland, a report into child sexual abuse exposes an attempt by the Holy See to frustrate an inquiry in a sovereign, democratic republic as little as three years ago - not three decades ago," Enda Kenny said.

"And in doing so, the Cloyne report excavates the dysfunction, disconnection, elitism, the narcissism that dominate the culture of the Vatican to this day."

Irish Justice Minister Alan Shatter has already warned that in future anyone - including priests and doctors - could be jailed for not reporting sexual abuse allegations.

New laws to be brought in by the autumn will leave no 'grey areas' and will not allow for the sanctity of confessionals or doctor/patient confidentiality.

In the Dail on Wednesday, the Taoiseach also warned: "This is not Rome.

"Nor is it industrial school or Magdalene Ireland, where the swish of a soutane-smothered conscience and humanity and the swing of a thurible ruled the Irish Catholic world.

"This is the Republic of Ireland 2011."

 
 

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