Greg DalyThe head of the Irish Church’s safeguarding committee has reiterated that keeping clerical abusers out of ministry remains an absolute priority for the Church.
Her comments come against the background of an RTÉ documentary which questions whether the Church’s approach to priests who have harmed children or vulnerable adults demonises abusers and ultimately endangers children.
On ‘Beyond Redemption?’, a Would You Believe? special, UCD’s Dr Marie Keenan claims that the Catholic Church’s response to clerical offenders is driven by public opinion with the intention of protecting the institution.
Theresa Devlin, head of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI), told The Irish Catholic that the board’s new guidelines help give clarity to Church bodies in handling clergy and religious against whom allegations have been made. Denying that the policies are intended to protect the Church, she said they are based on extensive research and consultations with survivors, convicted abusers, and Church bodies.
Accused
“By caring for the accused you are safeguarding children,” she said, emphasising that those who have been accused of abuse must cooperate with their management plans. “The Church should work and care for and support those who have been accused and against whom there is a credible allegation, out of ministry, as long as they will work with them,” she said.
Explaining that “the State does very little particularly when there’s no criminal prosecution and yet there is some semblance of truth to the allegation, so it is critical that the Church comes in with a safety plan, and it is critical that that plan if the allegation is credible does not include ministry,” she added that while “Pope Francis has said there is no room in ministry for someone who has harmed a child, this does not mean there is no room in the Church for someone who has harmed a child.”
Her comments echoed those of Archbishop Eamon Martin, who told the NSBCCC conference last weekend that while there is a greater danger of reoffending when abusers are ostracised and denied support, “it is widely recognised now that those found guilty of child sexual abuse cannot minister again as priests”.