Still much to be done for our children

WITH the publication of the Cloyne report we can say, yet again, that the behaviour of the churches and the orders, and of previous governments and others thus far has left so much undone that needs to be done with regard to the honest appraisal of the realities, with regard to the nurture and protection of children and with regard to confronting this terrible behaviour pattern that has blighted so many lives for so long.

What is clear too, from some of the responses of church men and women, is that certain feelings are not allowed by those who subscribe to their authority. Horror, disgust, anger, and outrage — these are the most appropriate feelings when dealing with child sex abuse, brutality against children, the psychological abuse of children and the long-term obstruction of attempts to protect children and of justice in the interests of institutional power and tradition.

In other words the perfect breeding ground for intergenerational behaviour patterns that lead to yet more dysfunction, more abuse, more harm. This is the culture of the Catholic Church as an institution. It is also clear that in some respects this culture leads to criminal behaviour. It is also a culture that permeates Irish society, institutional and otherwise, and yet, due to the bravery of survivors, some few whistle blowers and the work of many good people, it is clear that it is not the essence of Irish society.

I commend the Minister for Children and the Minister for Justice on their strong statements and urge that all efforts be made to bring in the necessary legislation for mandatory reporting of allegations and instances of child abuse, with severe sanctions fro any failures in this regard. Had such legislation been in place when these abuses first came to light, many, many children would have been spared profound trauma, and many, many survivors would have been spared the despair and frustration of not being believed, of being challenged in an adversarial manner, that led, in some cases, to suicides.

Let us not waste any more time. There is work to be done, and our children’s children will thank us for it, let alone the relief it will provide to living survivors and their families.

Corneilius Crowley

South Harrow

London

England