The 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”.