Abuse and the Catholic church: Chapter XXX

In a letter in today’s Independent, Philip Gilligan shows yet again just how intransigent the Catholic church still is when it comes to dealing with child abuse. 

“In November 2001, the Catholic bishops of England and Wales committed the Church to implementing the recommendations of the Nolan Committee, including recommendation 78 that: "If a bishop, priest or deacon is convicted of a criminal offence against children and is sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more, then it would normally be right to initiate the process of laicisation. Failure to do so would need to be justified. Initiation of the process of laicisation may also be appropriate in other circumstances."

However, it was clear by 2010 that almost two-thirds of priests relevantly convicted and sentenced had been allowed by the Church to retain their clerical status as priests. Thus third parties, including victims of abuse, were required by the Church to see these men as ongoing recipients of the sacred power which the Church teaches is communicated by the sacrament of Holy Orders; as alter Christus (another Christ).

Published church sources suggested that only six clergy had been laicised because of offences against children between 2001 and 2009, while, in September 2010, Channel 4 News reported that only eight (36 per cent) of 22 priests identified in England and Wales as having been convicted of sexual offences against children, sentenced to serve sentences of 12 months or more and as serving all or part of their prison sentences, since November 2001, had actually been laicised.” The Independent 2/8/11

There must be many decent catholics who despair at the continuing cover-up. 

But what are they doing about it? The time for hand-wringing is long past.