Statement from Bishop John Buckley, Bishop of Cork and Ross on the publication of the Cloyne Report
Bishop Buckley said today that he was very saddened at the revelations in the Cloyne report that the suffering of innocent people was further compounded by the failure to deal with their allegations effectively. It is also distressing, he said, that the faith of many people has been further damaged by what has been revealed in these reports.
Bishop Buckley added, that as he has stated publically on several occasions, the Diocese of Cork and Ross has shared all allegations that it has received with the statutory authorities, the Gardai and the HSE, as well as the National Board for Safe-guarding Children in the Catholic Church and the Holy See. We are and we will continue to co-operate fully with these agencies.
Our Diocesan procedures for safeguarding children are now underpinned by Child Protection Representatives in every parish who have been trained for their work. We hope and pray that the robust and monitored structures which are now in place will ensure that all allegations are, and will be, dealt with properly.
There is some consolation, he concluded, that these inadequacies were first discovered and highlighted by the Church’s own independent safeguarding body, the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church.
ENDS
For further information
Rev Tom Deenihan, Diocesan Secretary, Diocese of Corkand Ross, Tel 021 4301717
Catholic Communications Office Maynooth:Martin Long 00353 (0) 86 172 7678, Brenda Drumm 00353 (0) 87 310 4444