-
Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin apologises on behalf of the Catholic Church for covering up sexual abuses by priests in its institutions - Source: Reuters -
Related
The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland says he is deeply sorry about the widespread sexual abuse of children by priests.
Irish media reports quote Cardinal Sean Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, as saying he is shocked and ashamed by details in the Dublin Archdiocese clerical abuse report published on Thursday.
He has also apologised for the way the Church covered up the abuse.
"I am deeply sorry and I am ashamed," he says. "No-one is above the law in this country.
The government-commissioned inquiry into abuse in the Irish capital from 1975 to 2004, which came six months after a similarly damning report about Church-run industrial and reform schools, has also accused state officials of abetting the cover-up.
The report, designed to show how church and state responded to charges of abusing children, said a representative sample of 46 priests made "abundantly clear" that it was widespread.
"The Dublin Archdiocese's pre-occupations in dealing with cases of child sexual abuse, at least until the mid-1990s, were the maintenance of secrecy, the avoidance of scandal, the protection of the reputation of the Church, and the preservation of its assets," the report said.
"All other considerations, including the welfare of children and justice for victims, were subordinated to these priorities," added the report, which was published by the justice ministry.
Similar abuse cover-up charges have dogged the Catholic Church in other countries, especially the United States.
Seven dioceses there have filed for bankruptcy protection to shield themselves from law suits by abuse victims.
Pope Benedict has condemned sexual abuse by clergy and said wayward priests should be brought to justice.
He met abuse victims during his 2008 visit to the United States.
Abuse cases have also been reported elsewhere, notably in Australia, Austria, Britain, Canada, France and Poland.
