On behalf of the Irish Bishops’ Conference, I wish to again welcome you to the launch of the publication Time to Listen: Confronting Child Sexual Abuse by Catholic Clergy in Ireland. At the outset I would like to thank the authors for their presentation and commend their research: * Professor Hannah McGee; * Professor Ciarán O’Boyle; and, * Ms Helen Goode, all from the Health Services Research Centre at the Department of Psychology of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. We are indebted to them for the professional and thorough analysis of this complex and difficult issue. The objectives of this study, which was commissioned by the Bishops’ Committee on Child Protection, were threefold: * To examine the psychological and social impact, and the impact on faith, of child sexual abuse by clergy; * To examine the experience of disclosure and response in relation to child sexual abuse by clergy from the perspectives of all those included in the study; * To inform recommendations for future Church policy. You may ask yourselves the question: “Why did the bishops commission this research?” The answer is: This empirical research presents, for the first time, an overview of the impact of clerical child sexual abuse in Ireland on the abused, the abusers and Church personnel. We welcome the report’s recommendations over half of which have already been implemented. The issues we have been coming to terms with anecdotally over the last number of years have now been scientifically detailed in this report. Notwithstanding the report’s acknowledgment that when dealing with abusers in the past, bishops followed - in good faith - the best psychiatric advice available at the time, clearly in relation to clerical sexual abuse bishops failed many young people over too long a period. Today’s research will further enable us: * it will enable us to address more effectively the needs of victims of child sexual abuse by clergy; * it will also help to raise awareness within the Church - at every level - of the consequences of child sexual abuse and the impact this devastating issue has had on all concerned; * it will enable us, as pastors, to learn how best to reach out to those whose faith has been damaged and whose trust in the ministry of the Church has been betrayed. For what has happened we are truly sorry and while we cannot undo the wrongs of the past, we can use this research to help reach out to victims of abuse with a deeper understanding, compassion and sensitivity. Our plenary meeting in Maynooth next week gives us an opportunity to reflect on the report with a view to deciding how best we can implement the recommendations that are not already in place. Many of you here already know Paul Bailey and the work of the Child Protection Office. With the help of this office, the Irish Bishops’ Conference wishes to continue to reach to and support all those who have suffered. We look forward, in the next few months to putting in place arrangements that will minimise the possibility of abuse in the future. Thank you very much for taking the time this morning to attend this briefing session. I shall now hand you back to Martin Long for any questions. ENDS 4th December 2003 |