Letter from 1997 shows Vatican concern to ensure abuse verdicts, officials say

[Abyssinia]

Contrary to news reports, the Vatican’s concern was not to shield priests from punishment. Rather the Vatican wanted to ensure that Irish Church officials followed Church law in reporting accused priests — in order to avoid having their decisions overturned on technicalities by Vatican officials.

Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, noted that despite allegations being made in the media, Archbishop Storeo never suggested that the bishops not cooperate with Irish authorities.

catholicnewsagency.com/news/letter-from-1997-shows-vatican-concern-to-ensure-abuse-verdicts-officials-say/

Vatican did not tell bishops to cover up abuse cases, spokesman says: catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1100210.htm

 

[Abyssinia]

Catholic League president Bill Donohue spoke to the controversy today:

Jeffrey Lena, the attorney who represents the Vatican on these matters, pointedly said that the letter “nowhere instructed Irish Bishops to disregard civil law reporting requirements.” Instead, the letter was aimed at cautioning the Irish bishops not to proceed in a manner that compromised disciplining miscreant priests on procedural grounds.

catholicleague.org/release.php?id=2063

 

[Lutheranteach]

semantics

 

[johnnykins]

semantics

In a legal setting semantics matter. Here, too, we have the intersection of two legal systems - making the role of language that much more crucial. I certainly understand the need to be skeptical - Rome does not deserve an easy bye. But, I don’t think rushing to condemnation is appropriate either.

 

[Fair_Lady]

What did canon law in 1997 require in situations where there were allegations of sexual abuse by clergy? Did it require that all allegations be reported to authorities (police) in countries where the alleged behaviour was against the law?

 

[Fair_Lady]

Contrary to news reports, the Vatican’s concern was not to shield priests from punishment. Rather the Vatican wanted to ensure that Irish Church officials followed Church law in reporting accused priests — in order to avoid having their decisions overturned on technicalities by Vatican officials.

Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, noted that despite allegations being made in the media, Archbishop Storeo never suggested that the bishops not cooperate with Irish authorities.

catholicnewsagency.com/news/letter-from-1997-shows-vatican-concern-to-ensure-abuse-verdicts-officials-say/

Vatican did not tell bishops to cover up abuse cases, spokesman says: catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1100210.htm

This appears to be a weak effort to defend “The Letter”. See **post number 58 **from the thread **“CBC News: Vatican sex abuse letter from 1997 revealed” **. It’s the only explanation that I’ve read that makes any sense so far.

 

[Mikedub]

All I can say is watch the “Unspeakable Crimes,” program aired on 17 January 2011 by the RTE network for yourself. It sheds new light on disagreements within the Vatican on the proper responses to sex-abuse allegations. The documentary also offers strong support for the Cardinal Archbishop of Dublin at the time who has been the target of savage criticism, and puts a new perspective on the efforts of the Irish hierarchy in general. In 1996, the Irish bishops had devised a new set of policies for handling such allegations, including a mandate to inform law-enforcement officials of all credible reports of abuse

rte.ie/player/#v=1089205