Child Protection Issues
In 2006 the government set up a Commission of Enquiry to investigate the handling by the diocesan authorities of child sexual abuse by clergy working in the Archdiocese of Dublin. The Commission of Investigation is expected to present its report to the Minister for Justice in the near future and the report will be published. It will bring to the surface once again many things we would prefer to forget; but we can’t afford to forget them. As Jesus once remarked “the truth will set you free.” I am alerting you now because I don’t want people to be taken unawares when the report is published.
It will be a painful time for all of us, priests and parishioners alike. Our instincts may be to distance ourselves from it and say it has nothing to do with us. By accepting the pain, however unfair it may seem, we will be in solidarity with the many children whose innocence was stolen from them, and with their parents and all who love them. Their pain is surely far greater than ours.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has devoted an enormous amount of time and energy to ensuring that children are safe-guarded in all activities associated with the Church. From time to time he has also provided an up-date on child protection issues in the Archdiocese of Dublin. The most recent up-date includes statistics which indicate that during the period from 1940 up to the present time:
• Allegations have been made against 77 priests of the Diocese.
• Suspicions have been raised concerning 9 priests of the Diocese.
• Allegations have been made against 54 Religious priests or priests from other Diocese who held an appointment in Dublin.
• Allegations have been made against 9 Religious priests or priests from other Diocese which related to their doing supply in Dublin.
• Suspicions have been raised concerning 3 Religious priests who held appointments in the Diocese.
These statistics date over a period of 68 years. Since 1940 over 1,350 Diocesan priests have served in Dublin and around 1,450 priests from Religious Congregations have held appointments from the Archbishop of Dublin.
These statistics include all the allegations made irrespective of the eventual outcome of the investigation. It is the policy of Archbishop Martin that all allegations and suspicions are reported to the civil authorities, in accordance with the policy document Our Children Our Church. Eight priests have been convicted in the criminal courts. Three Dublin Diocesan priests who have been the subject of allegations of child sexual abuse are currently before the courts.
One thing we can do is to ensure that our Parish Child Protection procedures correspond with best practice. I want to be sure that Parish property is the safest possible place for children. To that end I am calling all individuals, groups and organising working with children and or young people, under the aegis of the Parish or using Parish property, to a meeting on Monday 30 March at 8.30 pm in the Parish Centre. The purpose of the meeting will be to spell out the implications of our Parish Child Protection Policy for all ad rem individuals, groups and organisations. That meeting will be followed by a Child Protection Training Day which will take place on Saturday 18 April from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm in the Parish Centre.
In the meantime, can I ask you all to be vigilant and, if you become aware of any indication that children may be at risk, please don’t remain silent. I am sorry that you will have to go through all of this again, but I am all the more sorry for the pain that has been caused to children and their families through the actions of priests or, in some cases, the failure to act of the Church authorities.
The Parish Child Protection Policy is on display in our two Churches and in the Parish Centre and copies of it are available to take away. The text of what I have just said is also available to take away.
Fr Michael Murphy, 1st March 2009.