The Cloyne report - Offer to meet should not be dismissed

IT would be nice to think that the publication of the final details of the Cloyne Report represented some sort of closure for those abused by the priests of the diocese.

The victims live with their difficulties on a daily basis and the vast majority of active Catholic laity and priests, who had nothing to do with the decades-long scandals, must wish that they could return to their religious observance in a way unfettered by the terrible scandals of recent years.

This is an entirely legitimate aspiration but in no way can it trump the rights of victims to try to reach an understanding of how the abuse inflicted on them was put aside by church authorities.

In that context the opportunity for victims to meet retired Bishop John Magee and former child protection delegate, Monsignor Denis O’Callaghan, is a step in the right direction even if some victims prefer not to avail of that opportunity. It would be easy to dismiss the offer as too little, too late but we should never underestimate the power of forgiveness and redemption.