Ireland, storm on Miliband defends the Church: never hindered investigations

The Church again in the storm. Reason: pedophilia. Place: Ireland. On the table the Cloyne report on acts of pedophilia by priests of the diocese and the underestimation of the phenomenon by the local ecclesiastical authorities to the Holy See, after reading the document, today unveiled, defends himself: "the Holy See wishes to reaffirm, first and foremost, its horror to crimes of sexual abuse that occurred in that Diocese; It is deeply saddened and ashamed for the terrible suffering that the victims and their families have had to endure in the Church of Jesus Christ, a place where this should never happen. " The note circulated by the Secretariat of State is in response to criticism of the Irish Government who in July had led to the recall for consultations of the Apostolic Nuncio in Dublin, monsignor Giuseppe Leanza.

The Holy See reiterates that it never put a spoke in the wheels in the investigation. It reads: "In no way was obstructed or attempted to interfere in any of the investigations into cases of sexual abuse of minors in the Diocese of Cloyne". Also, "at no time, the Holy See has tried to interfere in Irish law or interfere with the civil authorities in the exercise of their functions". Is rejected the accusation that the Vatican has hindered "efforts of the Irish Church in dealing with sexual abuse against children committed by clergy".

In its reply, the Holy See offers a presentation of the Church's approach to the protection of minors, including its canonical legislation, and refers to the letter to the Catholics of Ireland of the Holy Father Benedict XVI, released on March 19, 2010, in which the Pontiff indicates that expects the Irish bishops cooperate with civil authorities, implement fully the norms of Canon law and ensure full and impartial application of the rules of the Church in Ireland for the protection of minors. "The publication of Cloyne Report marks a further step – reads text released today – in the long and difficult way of ascertaining the truth, of penitence and purification, healing and renewal of the Church in Ireland". "The Holy See – ensures the note – not considered alien to this process but the shares in a spirit of solidarity and commitment. Since the early days of the Irish State, and especially by the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1929, the Holy See has always respected the sovereignty of Ireland, has maintained friendly and cordial relations with the country and its Authorities, has frequently expressed his admiration for the extraordinary contribution made by Irish men and women to the Mission of the Church and to the improvement of living conditions of peoples throughout the world; In addition, the Holy See did not miss its support to all efforts to promote peace on the island during the latter troubled decades ". "In line with this attitude-concludes the note – the Holy See wishes to reaffirm its commitment to a constructive dialogue and cooperation with the Irish Government, of course, on the basis of mutual respect, so that all the institutions, both public and private, religious or civilian, will cooperate to ensure that the Church, and indeed society in General, are always a safe place for children and young people".

The March 7, 2009 Irish Bishop John Magee had resigned. Private Secretary to three popes, including Pope John Paul II, the Irish Bishop Magee requested directly to the Pope to appoint an administrator Apostolic who manage the diocese. In recent years the Irish Catholic Church and was upset by several episodes of pedophilia and sexual abuse and accused of having covered some of these cases. John Magee, born in 1936 in Ireland, was private Secretary to three popes: Pope Paul VI, John Paul I and John Paul II in 1992 and appointed master of Pontifical ceremonies.