THE Catholic Bishop of Derry told a seminar on child abuse yesterday that the difficult and contentious subject of child abuse assumed a more regrettable dimension when clergy were the offenders.
Speaking at the Western Health and Social Services Board seminar in Derry to launch a child protection leaflet entitled Children, Who Cares?, Bishop Seamus Hegarty said while statutory requirements must be observed in child sex abuse investigations, the sacrament of confession remained totally outside any intrusion by civil or canon law.
Bishop Hegarty said he deeply regretted that a very small number of clergy had sexually abused children.
"Recognising and acknowledging the problem is one element in our response. A more important element is to be pro active and constructive in addressing this problem. The response of the church in the care of its people is a pastoral response. Victims of abuse of all kinds and family members upon whom the abuse impinges are deserving of very special care and attention.
He said confidentiality was an important component of that response. "However, in addressing the matter of the sexual abuse of children, statutory requirements and civil laws must also be recognised and observed. Authentic pastoral care requires that confidentiality be observed but not to the extent of using confidentiality to excuse or exonerate one from observing one's statutory obligations particularly when it is a matter of child sexual abuse.
One area which remains totally outside any intrusion by civil law or by canon law or by any individual or group, whatever their authority, is the information given within the sacramental right of confession as practised in the Catholic Church.
Bishop Hegarty said he wished to acknowledge the contribution made by the media in highlighting child sexual abuse.
Meanwhile, the seminar organiser, Mrs Carmel Rooney, chairperson of the Sperrin Lakeland Child Protection Committee, said many cases of child sex abuse were not reported by children. "I am sure that abuse is happening and children have not been able to report it. Child abuse is a very difficult and complex issue and part of the abuse is the secrecy and pressure which those people who perpetrate abuse force on the child.
"A child will be very afraid. They are experiencing something which they do not understand. Very often they are threatened. They are told they will be taken away or that their parents will be taken away or that their pet will be killed. Children need to be reassured that there are a lot of people who are able to help them."
Mr Dominic Burke, director of social care with the Western Health Board, said last year almost 1,500 children were referred in the board's area for child protection investigation.