THE ARCHBISHOP of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, has called on Catholic religious congregations to make a “new gesture of recognition” of the abuse carried out in institutions they ran.
Addressing the religious congregations who ran institutions criticised in the Child Abuse Commission report, he described as “stunning” the fact that implementation of a redress agreement made with the State seven years ago has yet to be fully completed.
"The fact that the mechanisms of fulfilling your side of that agreement have not yet been brought to completion is stunning," he writes in today's Irish Times. "There may have been legal difficulties, but they are really a poor excuse after so many years.
“Whatever happens with regards to renegotiating that agreement, you cannot just leave things as they are.
“There are many ways in which substantial financial investment in supporting survivors and their families can be brought about, perhaps in creative ways which would once again redeem your own charism as educators of the poor.
“In many ways it is your last chance to render honour to charismatic founders and to so many good members of your congregations who feel tarnished,” Dr Martin writes.
The 2002 agreement between the congregations and the State indemnified the religious orders from all redress claims made by victims in exchange for payments and property transfers totalling €127 million. The total bill for the redress scheme is likely to be about €1.3 billion.
Yesterday, Cardinal Seán Brady’s general assistant, Fr Timothy Bartlett, called on the relevant religious congregations to re-enter negotiations with the State on the 2002 deal.
“I believe personally there is no question but that the agreement must be looked at again,” he told BBC Radio Ulster’s Sunday Sequence. He added: “In my personal view, they need to pay more.”
The Catholic primate, Cardinal Brady, was aware in advance what Fr Bartlett would say, and the cardinal gave permission for him to make the remarks.
Fr Bartlett’s remarks were supported by the Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr Noel Treanor.
"This issue must be openly and transparently examined, discussed with honesty, integrity, and openness, bearing in mind that there is obviously an ethical and moral responsibility on the part of the church and society to address this issue," he told RTÉ's This Week.
Fr Bartlett’s view was a comment “of integrity of personal honesty inspired by a concern for natural justice for the pursuit of a morally integral resolution of this issue”, Bishop Treanor said. “I salute his courage and I support him in his comment.”
Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan last night said the church should contribute more to the compensation scheme. Speaking on RTÉ's The Week in Politics, Mr Lenihan welcomed comments by senior members of the Catholic Church indicating that religious orders should pay more but warned that the Government may not be able to compel the orders to do so.
“We don’t have a strong battery of legal armour at our disposal. The attorney [general] will give definitive advice on Tuesday but the indications . . . are not hopeful. Because of course when you sign an indemnity agreement that is an agreement.”
Taoiseach Brian Cowen, speaking in Portlaoise, struck a more guarded note. “Obviously if those who were involved as the other party were prepared to reopen it and indicate as such, the State would sit down and look at the possibilities, and what the outcomes might be.
“In the event of that not being their position the options open to Government must be examined. There are legal issues there,” he said.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny called for the deal to be revisited. “The church institutions should have made a bigger contribution.”
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said: “The Government should respond quickly to what is a positive signal from two eminent church men today.”
Fr Seán Healy of the Conference of Religious of Ireland (Cori)’s justice department has referred all queries on the 2002 deal to a Cori spokesman.
Asked his views on what the congregations concerned should do now where the deal was concerned, he said: “All communications on this issue are being dealt with by Cori centrally.”