Holy See 'wants to improve state relationship'
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CARDINAL Sean Brady said last night that the Holy See is committed to strengthening its relations with the Government.
But he insisted that it was not the Holy See's practice worldwide that a nuncio should appear before a parliamentary committee to explain Vatican policy.
The cardinal was moving to defuse a new row after the Papal Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Guiseppe Leanza, refused an invitation to attend a meeting of the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs committee.
Archbishop Leanza's refusal cast a shadow over the summit talks between Pope Benedict and 24 Irish bishops on the Murphy report, which criticised the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith as well as the nuncio for not responding to requests for information on the cover-ups of paedophile priests.
Referring to the nuncio's refusal, the cardinal added: "This should not be taken as an indication of not wishing to cooperate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government."
- John Cooney
Irish Independent
