The Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin has called for “an independent commission of investigation” into the abuse of children by Fr Brendan Smyth as the best way to arrive at the whole truth, reports Vatican Insider.
Archbishop Martin made his proposal when responding to questions from journalists on the crisis after celebrating Mass at St Francis Xavier church in Dublin on Sunday. Hours later, a spokesman for Cardinal Brady said he “welcomed and supported” the proposal.
“I really believe that we need an independent Commission of investigation into the activities of Brendan Smyth and how he was allowed to abuse for so many years,” Archbishop Martin stated.
He was referring to the fact that Fr Smyth (1927-97), a member of the Norbertine order, is alleged to have abused more than 100 children in Ireland and others in the USA, over a 40-year period, and Church authorities failed to stop him.
He said the Commission should look “North and South”, and at “Church and State” in the whole island. Such an inquiry “is owed to the victims” and “is also in the public interest”, he stated; it would enable the whole truth to come out “and not the bits and pieces” that “an investigative journalist or diocesan investigation” might bring out.
FULL STORY Dublin's Archbishop Martin calls for independent commission (Vatican Insider)
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