APOLOGIES:THE PRIMATE of All Ireland Cardinal Seán Brady said last night he was profoundly sorry and deeply ashamed that children suffered "in such awful ways" in institutions run by a number of religious orders.
Children deserved better “especially from those caring for them in the name of Jesus Christ”, he said.
The report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse made it clear that great wrong and hurt were caused to some of the most vulnerable children in our society, he added.
“It documents a shameful catalogue of cruelty: neglect, physical, sexual and emotional abuse, perpetrated against children,” he said.
The publication of the comprehensive report was a welcome step in establishing the truth, giving justice to victims and ensuring such abuse does not happen again, he said. He hoped it would help to heal the hurt of victims and address the wrongs of the past.
The Christian Brothers apologised unreservedly to all those hurt as a result of the deplorable actions of some Brothers, or by the inaction or inappropriate action of the congregation as a whole.
“We are deeply sorry for the hurt caused. We are ashamed and saddened that many who complained of abuse were not listened to. We acknowledge and regret that our responses to physical and sexual abuse failed to consider the long-term psychological effects on children,” it said in a statement.
The Sisters of Mercy said it accepted that many who spent their childhoods in its orphanages or industrial schools were hurt and damaged. It renewed its “unconditional apology” to all who suffered.
It added that while this was a painful time for those who had been in its institutions it was also “a very difficult time for our sisters and our lay staff who gave long service in caring for children in our residential institutions”.
The Oblates of Mary Immaculate, which ran a reformatory in Daingean, Co Offaly, also unreservedly apologised. It has set up a freephone number for anyone affected by issues raised in the report in relation to its institution. The number is 1800 303164.
Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin said the stories of horrible abuse in the report are in many cases stomach-turning. Their courage in telling them was admirable. The report should not be put on a shelf. “It’s a real cry for a new look at the way we care for our children. If we truly regret what happened in the past we must commit ourselves to a very different future,” said Dr Martin.
All church organisations involved in the report should seriously examine as the report suggested “how their ideals became debased by systemic abuse”.
The Conference of Religious of Ireland also apologised unreservedly for the hurt and pain caused.