CHURCH CO-OPERATION:THE IRISH Embassy to the Holy See in Rome said yesterday it had so far received "no instructions" from the Government about any approach to the Vatican related to the Commission of Investigation into the Archdiocese of Dublin.
This was relatively “normal”, Ambassador Noel Fahey suggested, as the Government only received the report last Thursday and was still considering it.
The Ambassador did not rule out that the Government might, at some future date, wish to make a representation to the Holy See about the Murphy commission report, but suggested it was much too early for such a decision. In one section of the report, “Documents Held By Rome”, the commission appeared to imply that full co-operation was not forthcoming from the Holy See. The commission reported that requests for information made to the Vatican and to the papal nuncio in Dublin went unanswered.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen appeared to defend the Vatican’s dealings with the commission in the Dáil on Tuesday when saying the Holy See acted in good faith by insisting communications to the Vatican should have been routed through appropriate channels.
“It may be that an approach to the Holy See through appropriate diplomatic channels could assist in following up on the commission’s report. This is matter that the Government can consider, if appropriate, in the context of its response to the report,” the Taoiseach said.