In his own remarks accompanying the release of the Holy See’s response to the Irish
government concerning the Cloyne Report, the Director of the Press Office of the Holy
See, Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi highlighted the document’s frank recognition of
the gravity of the abuse that occurred, as well as the serious deficiencies evidenced
in the report regarding the handling of abuse allegations. Fr. Lombardi also notes
the Response’s expressions of horror and powerful condemnation of the abuse committed
in the Cloyne diocese. He says there is regret and understanding for the feelings
of anger, confusion and bitterness so widespread among the population and innocent
members of the clergy – who, he notes, are a majority of clergy in the diocese.
The
comments from the Director of the Holy See’s Press Office go on to consider the Response’s
expression of the Holy See’s deep concern over the diocesan government’s failure to
apply both the guidelines proposed by the Church in Ireland, and the norms from the
Holy See to all the bishops of the world, in what he calls, “The most serious matter
of child protection.”
“The clear affirmation that none of [that which is detailed
in the report] ought ever to have happened,” says Fr. Lombardi, “is unmistakably the
starting-point of the Holy See’s reponse,” adding that the Response also notes, “the
steps [already] taken by the Church in Ireland to come to grips with the crisis, and
the need for adequate protection of children.” In this regard, says Fr. Lombardi,
“The Cloyne Report itself recognizes that the lines adopted by the Church are appropriate,”
and must therefore be put into practice effectively.