Ferns Report - An appalling litany of abuse and cover-up

The damning report on sexual abuse of young people by priests in the diocese of Ferns is a scathing indictment of failure by the Catholic Church on both a national and international level to prevent the predatory activities of paedophile priests.

The findings of the landmark investigation into this scandal prove beyond doubt that the Church authorities covered up clerical sex abuse. Arguably, the Ferns case, involving a pattern of clerical sexual abuse spanning 40 years, is one of the worst scandals anywhere in the world. Looking back over four decades between 1962 and 2002, former Supreme Court Judge Frank Murphy identifies more than 100 allegations against 26 priests accused of child sexual abuse.

According to the report the varied response of church authorities reflected the personalities and management style of successive bishops and a growing sense of understanding among doctors and society of its consequences.

Despite indisputable evidence of abuse of a most evil kind, the response of the authorities, including the gardaí is strongly criticised, particularly in cases involving eight priests where garda action was “wholly inadequate”. Significantly, the report highlights an institutional failure on the part of the Church reaching right up to the Vatican, reflecting a pattern of uninvestigated abuse by Church authorities.

Former Bishop Donal Herlihy is criticised for allowing unsuitable candidates with a propensity for abuse to be ordained and for transferring known abusers to parishes where they continued preying on their victims. In one rural parish, the priest systematically abused 10 young girls but under the shadow of the crozier they were not believed. Bishop Herlihy saw the issue as a moral problem. And when the file was sent to the Chief Superintendent it vanished, never to be seen again.

Former Bishop Brendan Comiskey had to resign amid accusations that he failed to protect children against alleged serial rapist Father Sean Fortune, who took his own life in 1999 before standing trial.

By implication, Pope Benedict XV1, is drawn into this appalling scandal as he stands accused by litigants in Texas of suppressing information about clerical sex abuse. As a cardinal, he sent a confidential letter in 2001 to every Catholic bishop directing that Church investigations into abuse be conducted in secrecy under pain of excommunication.

The past failure of the authorities amounts to a conspiracy of silence. Shamefully pastors entrusted with the care of young children betrayed that trust to satisfy their own depraved desires.

Publication of this report is bound to reopen old wounds. But so appalling was the chronicle of abuse in Ferns that several bishops last night voiced their horror at what happened. Unless the Catholic Church draws lessons from this scandal, the exodus of young people from its ranks will continue apace. Unless allegations of abuse are dealt with more openly and frankly the Church will forfeit the respect of the wider public.

Judge Murphy warrants praise for the robust nature of this report. It is vital that the Government implement its recommendations in full. Those who recklessly endanger children to abuse must face criminal charges.

To their credit, Bishop Dermot Martin and Bishop Eamonn Walshe have expressed horror at the report’s disclosures, urging other victims to come forward.

Only when the clear and stringent guidelines which now apply in Ferns, involving close co-operation between Church and State agencies, are in force in all other dioceses will the culture of secrecy be replaced by one of openness, disclosure and compassion.

Never again should the Church turn a blind eye to sexual abuse of children by paedophile priests.