Ireland Rocked as Report on Child Abuse in Catholic Institutions Released

There is a purification of the Church underway. We should welcome the light to dispel the darkness.

DUBLIN (Catholic Online) - Just as the Church in Ireland seemed to be shaking off its cobwebs with an increase in Baptisms and an outbreak of what the late pope John Paul II called the "Signs of Spring" among the faithful, a scandal is breaking which is sending shock waves throughout the beautiful land evangelized by Patrick.

The Associated Press, BBC, the Telegraph and Vatican Radio reported that High Court Justice Sean Ryan has released the final report of the "National Commission to Inquire Into Child Abuse." It details widespread, horrific abuse in industrial schools, reformatories and orphanages run by religious orders across the country. The report is 2,575 pages long. It is the fruit of a nine year investigation into this horrific tragedy.

The report reveals sexual, physical and emotional abuse, the nature of which, the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin warned last month, would "shock us all." His words appear to have been absolutely accurate.

This long pattern of abuse occurred in a network of facilities in the 1930's through the 1950's. Many of the institutions were run by Catholic religious orders in heavily Catholic Ireland. Many of the children who suffered this abuse were placed in those institutions for truancy or petty crimes. Some were orphaned by unwed mothers. These 19th century industrial "schools", workhouses and orphanages run by religious orders but funded by the State. Many were closed in the 1970's.
This startling report is being greeted with deep alarm and sending a shock wave through Ireland and the rest of Europe.

During the beginnings of the sexual abuse scandals which rocked the Church in the US, the late Servant of God John Paul II referred to the evils exposed as a part of the "mystery of iniquity"; so it was. So too is this evil and abuse which occurred in Ireland.

There is a purification of the Church underway. We should welcome the light to dispel the darkness. This is not the first time in our 2,000 year history as a Church that such a season of purification has been necessary for the Church to become again in fact what she is by vocation.

Interestingly, such times of purification often precede or, as I believe is the case in our day, coincide with a great time of genuine renewal.

During the extensive investigations in Ireland, evidence was gathered from victims of the abuse. We can expect their painful stories to become the substance of much reporting as this horrible scandal unfolds. We need to pray for the victims. We need to pray for the Church.

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The latest reports indicate that the Christian Brothers in Ireland have issued a statement. They have publicly apologized "openly and unreservedly." The Oblates of Mary Immaculate issued a similar apology. Other Orders investigated include the Sisters of Mercy, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the Sisters of Charity, the Good Shepherd Sisters, the Presentation Brothers and the Poor Clare Sisters.

The Catholic Primate of All Ireland Sean Cardinal Sean Brady told the Irish Times:

"Today's publication of the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, by Mr Justice Sean Ryan, throws light on a dark period of the past... The publication of this comprehensive report and analysis is a welcome and important step in establishing the truth, giving justice to victims and ensuring such abuse does not happen again. This report makes it clear that great wrong and hurt were caused to some of the most vulnerable children in our society. It documents a shameful catalogue of cruelty: neglect, physical, sexual and emotional abuse, perpetrated against children."

The Cardinal said he was "profoundly sorry and deeply ashamed" that children suffered "in such awful ways", continuing "Children deserved better and especially from those caring for them in the name of Jesus Christ. I hope the publication of today's Report will help to heal the hurts of victims and to address the wrongs of the past. The Catholic Church remains determined to do all that is necessary to make the Church a safe, life-giving and joyful place for children."

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