The sooner a statutory inquiry is established into clerical child sex abuse in the Dublin Archdiocese, the better.
As the ultimate guardian of citizens' rights, the State must ensure that the law of the land is enforced and takes precedence in all cases over Canon Law. The public demands no less. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, nodded in that direction yesterday when he told the Dail the form of an inquiry would be announced within a few days and that, irrespective of the status of the individuals concerned, the law would be applied.
Disclosures on RTE's "Prime Time" programme about the manner in which Church authorities in Dublin responded to complaints made against eight identified priests have generated widespread shock and anger. All political parties are agreed that a firm and unambiguous response is required, while the anger of ordinary Catholics has given way to a determination that the issues must finally be confronted. As Fr Colm Kilcoyne said, official apologies and acknowledgements of failure are no longer sufficient. Those who offended against the criminal law must be prosecuted and relevant Church files must be made available to the Garda.
There are political difficulties involved. Conservative Catholic forces here are reluctant to change established procedures and regulations. And last week's rejection by the Vatican of proposals by the United States' bishops for the handling of allegations against priests accused of paedophilia, because they infringed Canon Law, has underlined the problem.
Last June, the Irish bishops agreed to an audit into the handling of clerical child sexual abuse in all dioceses. But the Commission, headed by retired Judge Gillian Hussey, has yet to begin its work because agreement has not been reached either on its terms of reference or on its power to requisition documents.
The Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, has announced that a State-sponsored, non-statutory inquiry will be held into child sexual abuse in the Ferns diocese. That approach was taken following agreement with the interested parties and arising from undertakings of full co-operation by the Church authorities in supplying documentation and verbal evidence. The Government may hope that similar undertakings, along with agreements not to challenge the legal or constitutional basis of an inquiry, will be forthcoming in Dublin. It would reduce costs and speed up the work. If such co-operation is not forthcoming from the Church authorities, in spite of their admissions of past failures, the Government will have to act firmly and decisively. Anything less than a sworn, statutory inquiry would be seen as a failure of nerve and an abdication of its duty to protect all citizens.
Justice must be seen to be done.