The road to redemption
Friday October 16 2009
THE moral authority of the Catholic Church in Ireland has been battered beyond all recognition compared to even a few decades ago. The primary reason for this has been the betrayal of trust by a plethora of predatory paedophiles within its ranks.
The systematic cover-up of their crimes by the hierarchy and the obdurate refusal to acknowledge the crimes done to defenceless children placed in their trust are a searing scar on its history.
That is why the decision to publish the report on abuse in the Dublin archdiocese is to be acknowledged as an attempt to allow further light to shine on a dark period.
It is to be regretted that the report will not be published in its entirety. However, the fight for justice by survivors has already been too hard and too long, and the prospect of it being published in the near future is to be welcomed.
Many will look on the handling of this report as the last opportunity for the Church to repair its authority and restore its shredded credibility. For too long the truth has been buried, adding greatly to the pain and suffering of those already so cruelly wronged.
To his credit, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has appeared utterly genuine in his attempts to bring closure to this appalling chapter, and has treated survivors with sympathy and honesty, which is the least they are owed.
This is a critical moment for the Irish hierarchy. Anything short of total disclosure and abject humility will do irrevocable harm and add more anguish for those who have already been abused.
They can not afford to get it wrong again.
