Benedict and Ferns

international | gender and sexuality | other press Thursday October 26, 2006 19:58 by No Comment

Pope regrets the Devastation in Ferns and Expresses Solidarity .

Pope Benedict today professed regret at the Ferns Sexual abuse scandals and solidarity
with the victims. This might be the first papal utterance of understanding on the issue of child
sexual abuse which tormented a generation of Children. The message was relayed at
an Irish Episcopal Conference at the Vatican today.

Its a start.
It's an acknowledgement of the torment that people went through.
It is not an apology or acceptance of responsibility for the handling and
covering up of the issue.

Pope Benedict was at the head of the council which investigated the issue of Child Sexual Abuse.
The Buck Stopped there.

The Department of Education visited the Ryan Commission and duly apologised for the hurt it
caused to victims of physical and sexual abuse whilst in State Care. The Ryan Commission
on Child abuse was set up in the wake of the disbanded Laffoy Commission on Child Abuse.

Ms Justice Laffoy resigned due to the obstruction of the Department of Education of her
work, Noel Dempsey TD was head of that Department at the time of her resignation.

The Church got off in terms of Indemnity by a sweetheart deal in which the Church In Ireland
was only indemnifyed for 1/10 of the amount that the State had to pay. MR Michael Woods
TD- At Education Negotiated the deal in the absence of the then AG (Mr Michael Mc Dowell).

The signing of the Indemnity led to a general election and the Dail never debated the implication
of the Wood's Indemnity deal, hence the present Administration.

The Pope's acknowledgement of the hurt of the victims and the violation of their childhood
is to be welcomed.

The State, In Ireland has work to do:

There has been no investigation into The Wood's Deal.

The Rights of the Child are not enshrined in the Constitution.

The Laffoy decision based on the Sex Laws( pre-June 2nd 2006) and the
Release of Mister'A' have not been investigated.

The Laffoy Resignation has not been investigated.

The present Government has not adequately apologised for the hurt it has caused
nor has it expressed solidarity or understanding to the many victims of child abuse
generations of whom were in the joint care of both the Church in Ireland and the
State.

http://www.paddydoyle.com/jihad.html
http://www.rte.ie/news/2003/1002/abuse.html