O'Gorman: Report highlights Vatican's 'dismissive' attitude
Irish Examiner">Irish Examiner
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 - 04:36 PM

Colm O'Gorman of Amnesty International has said the Cloyne Report reveals "the dismissive attitude" of the Vatican to investigations of clerical sexual abuse.

Amnesty International Ireland's executive director said: "The Cloyne Report exposes a systemic and deliberate failure by the Catholic Church in the Cloyne diocese to deal with allegations of child sex abuse, and the dismissive attitude the Vatican continues to take to State investigations of abuse.

"But it also shows the State relied on assurances from the Catholic Church instead of living up to its responsibility to protect children. Our Government’s first obligation is to its own people, not to any other State or church. The failure of past governments to fulfil their obligations to protect children and ensure justice for victims of abuse is once again made abundantly clear in this report.

Mr O'Gorman said the Government needs to back up today’s "strong words" with action.

He said: "Despite all the reports on the failures by the State to stop the abuse of children progress on ensuring it never happens again has been painfully slow.

"The approval by Cabinet to put the Children First guidelines for the protection of children on a statutory basis, recommended two years ago by the Ryan Report, is welcome. So is the proposal for stronger oversight of the HSE’s child protection services.

Mr O'Gorman also welcomed "the strong responses" of both Minister Fitzgerald and Minster Shatter, and their pledges to legislate promptly.

He said: "But to drive these changes, to show we are really determined to protect our children, we need to ensure children’s rights are at the heart of the Constitution. We need a wording, and a date, for a children’s rights referendum."