State's 'cosy relationship with Church' must end
The Ferns Report into 40 years of child sex abuse must finally end the State’s cosy and deferential relationship with the Church, former Government Minister Liz O’Donnell told the Dáil today.
In an unprecedented attack on bishops and priests, Ms O’Donnell said she was appalled at the brutal scale of the abuse but marvelled at the human capacity of victims to heal and forgive.
Speaking during a special parliamentary debate on the Ferns report, Ms O’Donnell said: “This report will change forever the special relationship that has existed for many decades between Church and State.
“It was extremely influential in terms of outcome. It must end absolutely. Only then can the State act as it should, as we go forward objectively.”
The Progressive Democrats TD said that if the hierarchy was a cabinet, it would have to resign en masse or be thrown out of office.
She said she received a 'mauling' for criticising the Church authorities in 2001 for transferring paedophile priests – a charge which had been comprehensively borne out by the Ferns Report.
“The Church is neither democratic or accountable. In many ways, it is a secret organisation with its own diplomatic service, civil service, laws and self-regulatory codes, which have all failed the public.
“The veil of deference is the root cause of society’s failure to stop the Church’s systemic maladministration and dereliction of duty to protect children as outlined in the Ferns Report.”
A Former Junior Foreign Affairs Minister, Ms O’Donnell called for an audit of the Church’s wealth to run alongside child abuse allegations.
“Given the nature and extent of the wrongdoing of this institution against citizens, the Church should be obliged to open up its books. Discovery orders should be made to gain some understanding of the money trail.”
Ms O’Donnell claimed there had been hundreds of crimes of clerical abuse against children that went unpunished.
“Priests were transferred instead of being exposed. Priests with propensity to offend were ordained, appointed to curacies. Bishops colluded and covered up these matters.
“The mighty Church has fallen from grace because of its failure to protect children.”
She said the Church’s track record meant that it can no longer be accepted that it will be truthful or capable of self regulation.
“The late disclosure of files by the Church to the Ferns Inquiry shows that the instinct for self-preservation and denial is still rife.”
She said the Church should not be consulted on issues like IVF, abortion, stem cell, contraception, adoption, homosexuality or civil marriage.
“The deference is over. The cosy phone calls from All Hallows to Government Buildings must end.”
