Nuns told to speak out about sex abuse

The Irish Missionary Union has called on nuns who have been or are being sexually abused by priests to speak out.

In a short statement yesterday the IMU, which represents 1,878 Irish missionaries in Africa, described reports of such abuse as "shocking" but noted that they "have been taken seriously and their veracity has not been disputed".

It hoped that "those who have been or are being abused will feel supported and encouraged to speak out and to be heard, so that more can be done to prevent further exploitation".

Many challenges were presented by the reports, it said, among which was "a growing awareness that formation in seminaries and novitiates must continue to be re-examined and broadened".

Details of the reports made by nuns to the Vatican, including one from Sister Maura O'Donoghue of the Medical Missionaries of Mary, first emerged in the US National Catholic Reporter last week.

On Tuesday the Vatican acknowledged that "the problem is known and is restricted to a limited geographic area" (a reference to Africa). It said the matter was being dealt with in collaboration with bishops and religious superiors.

Sister O'Donoghue, a medical doctor from Clare who has been a nun for 45 years, said her information was that the abuse had taken place in 23 countries, including Ireland.

Father Joe Cantwell, executive secretary of the IMU, said he was not aware "of anything like that happening in Ireland, not even any hint". However, that did not mean it had not happened here, he added.