Abuse revelations - Shock has not lessened

The scandal of clerical sex abuse has been in the public arena for such a long time that people are in danger of becoming inured to what went on in the Catholic church in a shocking chapter of Irish history.

Yet, the latest audit report from the National Board for Safeguarding Children reveals an even more shocking scenario than seasoned investigators had envisaged. It appears twice as many allegations have been made against members of religious orders as opposed to diocesan clergy.

With this distressing scenario replicated across three orders — Sacred Heart Missionaries, Spiritans (formerly Holy Ghosts) and Dominicans — and with more religious bodies coming under the microscope, the image of the Church looks set to become more tainted and its authority further eroded.

Incredibly, one bishop believed sexual abuse of children was “a friendship gone wrong”. Despite having stronger systems against abuse, it is vital that leaders of religious orders and at diocesan level, be held to account and never allowed wash their hands of culpability.