Colm Fitzpatrick
Pope Francis speaking at Dublin Castle. The Pope in Ireland
Meeting the Taoiseach at Dublin Castle
Pope Francis has said the clerical abuse of young people in Ireland was a “betrayal of trust” by Church authorities, and remains a source of “pain and shame” for the Catholic community. He also attacked our “throw-away culture” which strips the unborn of the right to life – a significant statement following the recent Irish referendum to legalise abortion.
Speaking in Dublin Castle to members of the Government, the Civil Society and Diplomatic Corps, the Pontiff said he is “conscious” of the circumstances of our most “vulnerable brothers and sisters”, in particular the difficulties women in Ireland have endured, and the abuse of young people caused by members of the Church.
“With regard to the most vulnerable, I cannot fail to acknowledge the grave scandal caused in Ireland by the abuse of young people by members of the Church charged with responsibility for their protection and education,” the Pope said.
“The failure of ecclesiastical authorities – bishops, religious superiors and others – adequately to address these repellent crimes has rightly given rise to outrage, and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community. I myself share those sentiments.”
Measures
The Pontiff added that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI “spared no words” in the gravity of the situation, and demanded “truly evangelical, just and effective” measures to be taken in response to this betrayal.
“His frank and decisive intervention continues to serve as an incentive for the efforts of the Church’s leadership both to remedy past mistakes and to adopt stringent norms meant to ensure that they do not happen again”.
Francis said that each child is a “precious gift of God”, and must be cherished, encouraged to develop their gifts, and be guided to spiritual maturity and human flourishing. This has become increasing difficult, the Pontiff said, as a result of our “throw-away culture” which abandons its own people.
“Or could it be that the growth of a materialistic “throw-away culture” has in fact made us increasingly indifferent to the poor and to the most defenceless members of our human family, including the unborn deprived of the very right to a life?
“Perhaps the most disturbing challenges to our consciences in these days is the massive refugee crisis, which will not go away, and whose solution calls for a wisdom, a breadth of vision and a humanitarian concern that go far beyond short-term political decisions.”