IRELAND
The Guardian
August 7, 2018
By Harriet Sherwood
Mary McAleese says approach came while inquiries into child abuse involving Catholic church were under way
The Vatican sought a deal with the Irish state in 2003 to keep church archives closed, according to former president Mary McAleese.
The approach from the Vatican came at a time when two statutory inquiries were under way into child abuse involving the Catholic church.
McAleese said the matter was raised with her during a private meeting with a high-ranking Vatican official while she was on a state visit to Italy.
It was “one of the most devastating moments of my presidency”, she told the Irish Times.
According to McAleese’s account, Angelo Sodano, then Vatican secretary of state, “indicated he would like, and the Vatican would like, an agreement with Ireland, a concordat with Ireland”.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.