Law must respond properly to sexual abuse of children in Catholic schools

If it can be shown to the High Court that the assets of the Church are suspected to be the product of criminal activity, it may guarantee sufficient funds become available for redress

The report into sexual abuse at religious-run schools was prompted by revelations of systemic abuse by the Spiritan order at Blackrock College in Dublin. Picture: Colin Keegan/Collins

The time has come to change the question about the scoping report on the sexual abuse of pupils in Catholic run schools and the solutions it has proposed for it. 

We have been offered what has become an almost standard response to the problem. The government will set up a statutory inquiry and it will discuss with the stakeholders, among other things, the question of redress.