(left, Marie Collins, Andrew Madden (dark suit),
Irish Survivors of Sexual Abuse, right Bridget Mary Meehan
Castlebar, Ireland at Humbert Summer School)
http://www.independent.ie/search/?q=there+is+no+one+to+watch+the+vatican+watchmen&eceExpr=there+is+no+one+to+watch+the+vatican+watchmen
By John Cooney
Monday October 04 2010
"Behind the closed Vatican portals Roman officials and "apostolic visitors" will "offer assistance" to the Irish "as they seek to respond adequately to the situation caused by the tragic cases of abuse perpetrated by priests and religious upon minors".
The sparse wording clearly implies that Rome is not yet satisfied that the Irish bishops have adequately repaired the basket. Overseeing them in its remaking to Roman specifications will be two cardinals, three archbishops, two male religious and two nuns.
So the Irish visitation bears all the hallmarks of being a Roman affair with the imprint of pontifical secrecy...
The ultra-loyal collaboration of the four Irish church leaders with the apostolic visitation is a sad sign that they are more intent on being Roman courtiers than leaders of their Church in Ireland.
Veteran commentator TP O'Mahony hits the nail on the head in his new book, 'Why the Catholic Church needs Vatican III', when he writes that the Irish visitation "is just Rome-speak for a group of enforcers who, with the Pope's full approval, will camp out here and seek to reinforce the Vatican's system of centralised control".
"Will we get an explanation, for example, as to why two Irish bishops, Eamonn Walsh and Raymond Field, who resigned after being named in the Murphy report into clerical sexual abuse, had their resignations rejected by the Vatican? Or hear any apology for the Vatican's past failure to communicate with the Murphy investigation?
Irish priests and Catholics deserve explanations for decisions which further wounded and alienated victims such as Andrew Madden, Marie Collins, Michael O'Brien and Christine Buckley.
Will the four Irish churchmen have the moral courage to say to Rome: "Physician, heal thyself."
- John Cooney
Bridget Mary's Reflection:
John Cooney raises important questions that the Vatican needs to answer. Until Pope Benedict demands the resignation of bishops who kept pedophiles in ministry, he will have little credibility. Indeed, our pope needs to explain his decisions to delay the dismissal of well-known pedophiles when he was head of the CDF. Why did protection of a corrupt clerical system so often trump the protection of children? Again, the visitation of Ireland by outside prelates appears like another exercise of Vatican power and control when what is needed is a top-down shakeup and reform of the Roman Catholic Church. What do you think Jesus would say to Pope Benedict , the Vatican, the Irish bishops, and survivors of sexual abuse? Are the people of Ireland leading the way, including the new Association of Irish Priests and courageous women, who are calling for equality? Perhaps, they are the prophetic voice of God to the Vatican.
Bridget Mary's Reflection:
John Cooney raises important questions that the Vatican needs to answer. Until Pope Benedict demands the resignation of bishops who kept pedophiles in ministry, he will have little credibility. Indeed, our pope needs to explain his decisions to delay the dismissal of well-known pedophiles when he was head of the CDF. Why did protection of a corrupt clerical system so often trump the protection of children? Again, the visitation of Ireland by outside prelates appears like another exercise of Vatican power and control when what is needed is a top-down shakeup and reform of the Roman Catholic Church. What do you think Jesus would say to Pope Benedict , the Vatican, the Irish bishops, and survivors of sexual abuse? Are the people of Ireland leading the way, including the new Association of Irish Priests and courageous women, who are calling for equality? Perhaps, they are the prophetic voice of God to the Vatican.
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