Vatican ‘very’ concerned with breach of civil law and child safety rulings

THE Vatican is “very, very concerned about any sort of non-compliance of the Church with civil law,” according to one of its archbishops, who travelled to Ireland to ordain a priest yesterday.

Speaking in Dundalk before ordaining Derek Ryan, 30, as a priest with the Redemptorist Order, Archbishop Joseph Tobin also said the Vatican would be “very interested” if any of the recommendations on safeguarding children have not been implemented. He said the Church has got to take criticism of its handling of child abuse scandals “seriously”.

“We have to take that criticism seriously, and I have every reason to believe that the Irish episcopal conference has taken it seriously and I believe religious orders [have] as well.