Cloyne abuse scandal - Only option for bishop is to resign

“There is evidence that points to the fact that Bishop Magee, as the responsible person, did not faithfully report actual compliance with child protection procedures, and the manner in which clerical sexual abuse allegations have been dealt with,” Minister of State for Children and Youth Affairs Barry Andrews declared.

Mr Andrews specifically mentioned that the Bishop of Cloyne had proclaimed that “in our endeavour to ensure a safe environment for children in the Diocese of Cloyne, we have initiated a process that is fully complaint with the directive of the Government as contained in children first.” The diocese asserted as late as January 3, 2007, “that it was in compliance with children first guidelines in that it notified the Garda and HSE of all child abuse cases. These statements were patently untrue.

Bishop Magee’s position, which was already untenable, has become even more precarious. How long will it take him to recognise that he should do the honourable thing and resign? The HSE audit published yesterday was sent to the current minister’s predecessor, Brendan Smith, in January 2008. It was woefully inadequate, as it merely amounted to what the bishops were prepared to say about the implementation of guidelines.

When it came to individual allegations of abuse, the bishops were unwilling to answer questions, because the legal measures envisaged in the Ferns Report had not been implemented. The report was also blatantly out of date before its publication yesterday. Initially commissioned by the Minister for Children in 2005 to ensure that the recommendations of the Ferns Inquiry were being properly implemented, it concluded that “there is no prima facie case of non-compliance with the Ferns Report recommendations”.

There were already questions about the Cloyne diocese, but this is only mentioned as a kind of afterthought. The report noted one diocese was the subject of further investigation, but it suggested the minister should not recommend that any particular diocese be referred to the Dublin Commission of Investigation into Clerical Abuse in the Dublin Archdiocese.

At the recommendation of Mr Andrews, the Government decided to notify the Dublin Commission. The minister has also instructed the HSE to consult with the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church, whose report into the abuses in Cloyne he had refused to read.

There has been too much buck passing on this issue. Government ministers should not be waiting for public pressure to do the right thing. This is a perversion of the proper leadership that we have a right to expect from our government.