Abuse Probe Must Bring Both Truth and Justice
17 December 2010
Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
"The scandal of insitutional child abuse has been hidden for far too long. While serving as an MEP I tabled a series of parliamentary questions to the Justice and Human Rights Commissioner on the impact of a Roman Catholic Church document entitled "Crimen Sollicitionis" on the fight against child sex abuse (see http://www.jimallister.org/default.asp?blogID=737 ).
"Crimen Sollicitionis, as exposed on a BBC Panorama programme, encouraged child abuse allegations against priests to be handled internally within the Roman Catholic Church, rather than through reporting to the police and lawful civic authority.
" The import of "Crimen Sollicitationis" is quite shocking. It was issued to Bishops in 1962 by “the Supreme and Holy Congregation of the Holy Office”. It states it is to be stored in the “secret archives” and is to be treated as “strictly confidential”. It specifically told bishops how to handle allegations that a priest made sexual advances towards a parishioner, particularly in the confessional. It speaks of transferring such priests – something which was frequently done in the Republic of Ireland and elsewhere. However, the document goes on to declare that these matters are to be pursued “in a most secretive way” and investigators “are to be restrained by a perpetual silence” and are required “to observe the strictest secret, which is commonly regarded as a secret of the Holy Office in all matters and with all persons, under the penalty of excommunication…”(para 11). Moreover, an oath of secrecy also is required of those accusing the priest and any witnesses. This is exactly what then happened here in Northern Ireland, with complainants required to swear to secrecy.
"It is essential that any investigation in Northern Ireland considers what impact this document had in Northern Ireland.
"It is key that any inquiry should not afford immunity to anyone, or justice will not be attained. If children have been abused and Church or State have been involved in a cover up it is essential that the practices are not just exposed, but those responsible must be held to account for their crimes, including the withholding of information from the lawful authorities."
