Papal Visit In Doubt As Relations Worsen/ Irish Independent/John Cooney

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/papal-visit-in-doubt-as-relations-worsen-2822410.html

John Cooney/Irish Independent
"THE prospects of a visit by the Pope to Ireland next summer have receded , as the Government's relations with the Vatican sharply deteriorated.
In his first comment on the Cloyne Report, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said it was "disgraceful" that the Vatican ignored child protection safeguards agreed by the Irish bishops.
Mr Kenny's criticism was a prelude to the Papal Nuncio being summoned to Iveagh House, where Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore demanded an explanation for Rome's "inappropriate" intervention in Irish affairs. "



Bridget Mary's Reflection
Kudos to the Irish head of state, Enda Kenny and the current Irish government for holding the Vatican accountable for its outrageous disregard of child protection policies that its own bishops accepted. It is time that governments across the world do likewise.

The Irish government should not allow the Vatican to hide behind diplomatic immunity, a flimsy excuse to get away with crimes against children. No church or religious group should be allowed to protect anyone who rapes, sodomizes or sexually abuses children by claiming canon law trumps civil law.

"Their focus on the Congregation of Clergy's dismissal of the Irish bishops' 1996 Groundwork Document as "a mere study document" at loggerheads with canon law has put the Vatican in an indefensible position."

The issue here is the Vatican's abuse of power and violation of the rights of children. It is outrageous that the Vatican did not even support its own bishops when they stepped up with such child protection policies. So much for a "pro-life" church that emphasizes fetal rights before birth, but fails to protect children and youth from sexual abuse by priests, covers up such abuse, and then blatenly downplays the seriousness of such crimes. The Vatican has lost its moral credibility. Jesus, Mary and all the saints would weep!

Yes, by all means, cancel the papal visit. It would be an exercise in pomp that Ireland can ill afford either financially or spiritually. Send a message to the Pope.
The protection of children, comes first, a papal visit at this time would be an exercise in hypocricy!

Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
http://www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org/
sofiabmm@aol.com