Canon law ‘seeks to excuse paedophiles’

THE Church does not always have to penalise paedophile priests because they may be acting on urges and impulses “beyond their control”, a commentary on Canon law advises.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell yesterday described the 1995 commentary, entitled “Canon Law: Letter and Spirit”, as chilling.

“Where it deals with this particular subject, it makes the hairs on your neck stand up because it effectively seeks to excuse paedophile behaviour on the basis that it could be irresistible impulse,” Mr McDowell told RTÉ Radio.