church engaged in damage limitation excersise

December 2, 2009
Irish Times

Abuse survivor Andrew Madden has accused the Catholic Church of attempting to undermine the findings of the Dublin diocesan report and of engaging in a process of “damage limitation” since its publication.

Mr Madden, a victim of Fr Ivan Payne, said comments in recent days by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Bishop Eamon Walsh and Bishop Willie Walsh had caused considerable anger and deep distress” to those who had been sexually abused.

He added that he was shocked by the decision of priests and lay people to issue a statement in support of Bishop Donal Murray.

“In the 14 years since I first went public, I have never seen such people gather together and issue a similar statement in support of a single victim of child sexual abuse by a priest,” he said.

Mr Madden also said that he would not support a planned atonement ceremony at the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin. “I have now written to the organisers and told them not to bother, as any words expressed by bishops or anyone else at such a service would be utterly meaningless,” Mr Madden said.

The Rape Crisis Network has called for the urgent assessment of the relationship between the church and the State given the flawed structures of the institution of the church.

Executive director Fiona Neary said the Catholic Church continued to occupy a “special relationship” with the State, adding that officers of the church continue to preside over important committees and institutions.

“It is clear from the responses of the Catholic hierarchy to the Murphy report that the structures of the Catholic Church in Ireland remain incapable of delivering accountability, even in relation to the most serious of crimes. The structures and governance of the church are flawed and grossly inadequate.”

Mervyn Rundle, who was abused by Fr Tom Naughton, another of the priests named in the report, has backed calls for the resignation of Bishop of Limerick Donal Murray.

Speaking on the News at One on RTÉ Radio 1 yesterday, Mr Rundle said Bishop Murray should have done more to protect children like him from experiencing abuse.

“He absolutely should resign. The least he could do, the very least he could do,” Mr Rundle said.