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THE VATICAN has published its internal files about a priest accused of abusing children in Ireland and the US 50 years ago.
The files are part of documentation the Vatican is preparing to send to the US lawyers of a man who claims he was abused by Reverend Andrew Ronan in 1965. A US court ordered the Vatican to respond to the request for information by this Friday.
The alleged victim is seeking to hold the Vatican liable for the abuse. Referred to as John V Doe in court documents, the man blames the Vatican for allowing the priest to be transferred to the US state despite knowing, he claims, that the priest posed a risk to children.
The Vatican says it only learned of the abuse accusations in 1966.
The documents include a 1966 file which includes Ronan’s request to be laicised after his superiors found he had been accused of sexually abusing minors in Ireland. The Vatican says it “was not involved in Ronan’s transfers, including the transfer to Portland [Oregon], and had no prior knowledge htat Ronan posed a danger to minors”.
The file also includes a letter from the Order of Servants of Mary in which one of Ronan’s Chicago-based superiors wrote that he removed Ronan from Ireland after learning of the abuse allegations there in 1959. Ronan then worked in Chicago, before being transferred to Portland in Oregon.
Lawyer for the Vatican Jeffrey Lena said he hoped the documentation released today would help “calm down those people who are too quick to make sensational and unfair comments without taking the time to get an adequate understanding of the facts”.
Ireland and the Vatican: strained relations
Last month, the Vatican recalled its ambassador to Ireland, called the Papal Nuncio, for consultations over the Cloyne Report. The report detailed how church and state authorities in Ireland dealt with allegations of abuse against members of the Catholic clergy in the Co Cork diocese of Cloyne between 1996 and 2000.
It said that the Vatican’s response to early accusations of child abuse were “entirely unhelpful”.
The recall followed strong words from Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who criticised the Vatican and the Catholic Church in Ireland over the handling of allegations of clerical abuse.
Kenny said: “The rape and torture of children were downplayed (in favour of upholding) the primacy of the institution, its power, standing and reputation.” He called on the Vatican to respond to the Cloyne Report’s findings.
- Additional reporting by the AP
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It’s all well and good to say ‘forgive and forget’ to past issues, but the fact of the matter is the Vatican is still concealing information TODAY. So should we not wait until all parties admit their wrongdoings before this holier than thou forgive and forget nonsense.
Forgive and forget? The Vatican still don’t think they have done anything wrong! Poor deluded Aine, Patrick and Maurice are just playing the three monkeys, hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil and all in support of the numerous rapists, buggerers and violent thugs who enjoyed the sanction and protection of the catholic church and it’s masters in the Vatican. There can be no forgiveness for these evil predators who destroyed peoples lives and it’s quite sickening to see people like the above named defend the indefensible.
I’d say it was more of a case of the Vatican feeling shamed by what was happening in Ireland and the abuse perpetrated by Irish clergy, and wanting to protect the worldwide Catholic Church from scandal. I haven’t heard of many abuse cases where there wasn’t an Irish name involved. At least the vast majority of it. They should of course all be brought to justice and do time for their crimes.
Maurice you need to open your eyes, get out more, the abuses have taken place all over the world, the UK, US, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Spain, Germany just to mention a few. The Irish abuse scandals are just the tip of the iceberg. What is happening in third world or developing countries where there is less stringent controls on the church is anybody’s guess and the fact that a lot of these pedophile priests are sent overseas on ‘missions’ is enough to ring alarm bells big time! The scale of the Irish scandals is shocking enough but when you put it all together on a global scale it’s totally shocking and even now you can be sure it is still going on in many places where we are yet to shine a light on it. The Vatican simply cannot continue to pretend this is going to go away, it’s not and with the Donegal abuses yet to come out get ready for more and all the consequences that brings with it!
The lawyer hopes that the release of these documents calms people who are quick to make sensational and unfair comments without taking time to get an adequate understanding of the facts. That could have been directly aimed at the types who post on this website and are quick to criticise the church no matter what happens. Most of whom are only saying these things for a reaction. The church still sets the standard in this country and will for a long time yet. I think this is a great step in the right direction and it’s time to forgive and forget whatever wrongs have been committed in the past.
Yes, hear, hear Aine.
What utter bullshit just what i’d expect to hear from a catholic church apologist like you. Does the “forgive and forget” extend to the Nigerian woman you were so adamant you wanted kicked out of the country on a raft indeed. You like all the rest of the apologists are hypocrites of the highest order.
Aine, the word “apologist” is a compliment by the way. I wish I could be a good apologist for the Catholic Church.
Well said Aine!!! Forgive and forget and turn the other cheek! God Bless You!
Saying things for a reaction? The reaction has happened. The ENTIRELY JUSTIFIED REACTION I might add.
And that’s just reacting to the Reports so far – we haven’t EVEN YET seen a root and branch examination of every parish in every diocese. But we will.
Yes Aine, the church has set the standard on coverups.
It sets a standard alright…….
Aine why do you support dirty pedo priest? Why suffer the catholic church? You believe in god a christian god ? The catholic church are not very christian ! Why not just be christian with out the catholic church or is that possible ? Keep you faith I can see that’s important to you, but open your eyes these priests and bishops and pope have pulled the wool over alot of people’s eyes, now it’s unravelling …
Excellent post.
Aine Nash – You are so deluded it is shocking. Its people like you that put these people up on their pedestals “setting the standard” as you put it.
It’s a standard that was clearly based on lies, control, disgusting abuse you clearly could never imagine and continual cover ups and diversions.
Considering that you support this organization are you 100% confident the Vatican is doing everything above and beyond its power to proactively investigate & convict pedophile members of its parishes throughout the world?
@Aine, justice before mercy!
@Aine I’ve a feeling you are the one only posting on here for a reaction. The church set the standard for f**k all in this country besides coverups. Forgive and forget ?? What an ignorant thing to say…
Ed, what happened to make you so bitter? You must let the hate go. Are you still angry with the Germans for the stuff that happened during the war? Do you still hate the English for 1916? I guess not as you proudly display a Leeds Utd logo on your avatar. It’s time to move on and don’t let the hatred rule your life.
Ha ha ha ha, you make me laugh, you and the rest of your motley crew of trolls. I think everybody who posts on this site bar the two above have the measure of you and your insane posts. On yer raft Aine!
Agreed Aine. But I take issue with you on the Nigerian woman’s plight. I feel some compassion would have allowed her stay a few days and recuperate and would not have gone astray. If, however, a doctor said she was fit to travel, then she probably was fit to travel.
Aine,
Its time for a root and branch examination of the systemic exploitation of children with the Catholic Church by generations of priests (possibly a contradiction there, since they’re not supposed to “generate” anything).
Of course, you’d be terribly naive to think that the Catholic Church operated in a vacuum, or that it was without support in those other pillars of society, the Gardaí and the Government.
Its crystal clear that abuse this widespread could not have been kept secret unless there were willing accomplices in high offices all over the country.
Which came first, the Bishop or the Sergeant?
That’s a great point Aine. How many Jews did the Germans kill and torture again? But that’s ok because its all in the past.
you might think the holocaust is ok diego but of course the catholic church helped it happen
Don’t be so silly, that first bit was a bit weak. I think hitler would have hated the Jews what ever religion they were, bar his own.
@ Aine, your actually turning me off the Catholic religion even more. I’m hoping that not all church going people have the same pathetic opinions as you.
Diego your comments are almost as insane as Aines! “How many Jews did the Germans kill and torture again? But that’s ok because its all in the past” At least the Germans admitted their guilt and paid billions in war reparations as a result, the allies arrested and tried thousands of war criminals, even hung some. The catholic church won’t even admit it done wrong and the various perpetrators are refusing to pay the compensation due to their victims. Secondly, ” I think hitler would have hated the Jews what ever religion they were, bar his own” Yeah you got that one bang on, Hitler was baptised a Catholic!
aine, your comments earlier show you to be quite an un catholic person, you say the church is the standard for this country, why don’t you live by the church rules of compassion and love to all fellow men? on this topic the church has so much to answer for its corrupt to the core so we shall not forgive and forget until justice is done. now don’t mistake what i am saying or try to twist my words, everybody has their right to have faith and i respect that. faith is separate to the catholic church and its the misguided that mix the institution up with the religion/faith.. the institution of the catholic church is no standard for anybody any more – my opinion-
“Forgive and Forget” is often the best course, but not in the case of an institution that is supposed to be a moral authority.
So just who is the Vatican trying to blame for moving this predator priests to the USA..? The pope is responsible for each and everyone of his
bishops and cardinals. They only answer to the pope, that is canon law.
And why should anyone believe that these are all the documents about Fr Andrew Ronan?
Another ploy by church officials to make it look like they care about victims and protecting kids.
Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, 636-433-2511
snapjudy@gmail.com
“Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests” and all clergy.
http://www.snapnetwork.org/
Is it fair to say that we all know and admire decent men and women working in the Catholic Church in Ireland. They continue to work, despite the lack of leadership from on high , who have been so caught up in self preservation that they have continued to ignore the victims that their subordinates have created. They have skirted around selling property to fund victims legitimate need and entitlement for compensation. The church is killing itself in a time when people need them as a source of hope and guidance. The church is paying the price with lower attendances and a target audience of the 60 plus cohort to keep it going. But for how long, the church need some real leaders now to do the right thing, dare I say Christian thing, by dealing with all the known victims, allow the truth to come out and address all the gaps current in their child protection procedures. There are a lot of good people still doing great work in the church today in the face of all this abuse.
Has the church responded to the cloyne report yet?
sure theyre only responding to a case from 1965, theres a hell of a backlog
*facepalm* @Aine
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