Following last week's publication of the report on the Catholic Church and the Irish State’s handling of both allegations and suspicions of clerical child abuse in Dublin, some corners are calling to extend the inquiry to other dioceses across the country.
Many have already suggested that widening the investigation would not only bring to light a widespread problem, but would also go a long way in helping us to understand how the issue was handled throughout Ireland. Even members of the clergy, including the Primate of Ireland Cardinal Sean Brady and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, have expressed they would give such an inquiry their full co-operation.
We believe that doing so would help to begin a healing process for survivors of clerical abuse, many of whom are still affected years after the fact as a result of their terrible experiences.
At the same time, it would also help the Catholic Church to start anew. So many have lost their faith and detest the church, because of the way it doggedly protected and covered up the horrible sins of those monsters who stole the innocence of our children.
But knowing that the church has not only apologised for its sins, and has also come forward about every single case of abuse, would go a long way towards helping people to trust it again.
We also urge the Catholic Church in Ireland to extend this inquiry to every country around the world where Irish priests have worked, as the issue is surely not confined to this island.
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