LEICESTER (UNITED KINGDOM)
Crux
August 9, 2018
By Charles Collins
Another former official in Ireland has claimed that the Vatican sought a deal to protect the Catholic Church from the legal repercussions of the clerical sexual abuse crisis.
Former foreign minister Dermot Ahern said he was approached by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who was the Vatican Secretary of State, in 2004 asking for an understanding from the Irish government in relation to what might happen with future claims in Ireland against the Catholic Church.
Speaking to RTÉ News, Ahern said the meeting took place during celebrations in Rome marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the Holy See.
“I got the impression he had just come from the United States, that there had been a major settlement costing millions, which, he said, was over and above their moral responsibility,” he told the broadcaster.
“As the conversation went on, it was quite clear he was referring to some sort of an indemnity, or part indemnity, from the Irish taxpayer in relation to anything that might come down the tracks. [He said this was] particularly in the context of the educational connection that priests have with our educational system,” Ahern said.
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