Religious groups defy bishops' call to pay more over abuse

Irish Times
Tuesday, May 26, 2009

THE CATHOLIC bishops last night pledged to “work closely with religious congregations and institutes in addressing the needs of survivors of abuse and in the healing process” following publication of the Ryan commission report last Wednesday.
However, in a statement following a day-long meeting of the Standing Committee of the Irish Bishops’ Conference yesterday, they made no reference to the controversial 2002 church/State redress deal.
Earlier yesterday the Catholic primate Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin and Bishop of Killaloe Willie Walsh said the deal should be revisited and the 18 congregations concerned should contribute more.
On Sunday a similar call was made by Bishop of Down Noel Traenor and by Fr Tim Bartlett, general assistant to Cardinal Brady.
Responding to these calls in a statement yesterday afternoon, the 18 religious congregations indicated they would not be revisiting the 2002 deal.
They said that “rather than re-opening the terms of the agreement reached with government in 2002, we reiterate our commitment to working with those who suffered enormously while in our care. We must find the best and most appropriate ways of directly assisting them. We will meet again in the coming days to explore the detail of our responses”.
They were supported by the Conference of Religious of Ireland (Cori)
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Public confidence vital over orders' payments

Thursday, May 28, 2009
MARIE O'HALLORAN
TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen has stressed the importance of public confidence that contributions by religious congregations involved in the institutional child abuse scandal are “substantial and commensurate” with their resources.

He told Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny that he would have discussions with the orders about how they could proceed “in a way that will engender public confidence”.

Mr Kenny had welcomed the Government’s announcement after its Cabinet meeting on Tuesday night that the religious orders should make a far greater contribution in reparation to “the victims who were children in their care when they were abused”.
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