Ireland to close embassy to Holy See, but diplomatic relations continue

(November 04, 2011) Ireland announced on Thursday it was closing its embassies to the Vatican and two other nations, but denied that its deteriorating relations with the Catholic Church over clerical sex abuse scandals played a role in its choice of cuts. Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore said Ireland was under grave financial pressure as it tries to slash spending in line with its international bailout last year. Vatican spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi issued a statement late Thursday, downplaying the Irish government's decision saying “every state that has diplomatic relations with the Holy See is free to decide ... whether to have an ambassador to the Holy See who is resident in Rome or resident in another country.” The Irish move does not result in rupture of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Ireland, but only the absence of a resident Irish ambassador in Rome. Gilmore said it was with "the greatest regret and reluctance" that Ireland had decided to close the Vatican embassy as well as Ireland's diplomatic missions in Iran and East Timor. He noted that while the Embassy to the Holy See is one of Ireland's oldest diplomatic missions, it brings no economic return. He said, "The government believes that Ireland's interests with the Holy See can be sufficiently represented by a non-resident ambassador." Gilmore insisted that tensions over clerical sexual abuse had "no bearing" on the decision and that "Vatican relations will continue and be valued." Cardinal Sean Brady, president of the Irish bishops' conference however expressed “profound disappointment” at his government’s decision saying it "seems to show little regard for the important role played by the Holy See in international relations and of the historic ties between the Irish people and the Holy See over many centuries."