Abuse is part of the story of the Church – and even children must be told this.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding: No Certainty on What Works – Vatican Expert
Foundational questions are unresolved – Fr Hans Zollner SJ
Lockdown Discoveries: What ‘Vocation’ Really Means
Do only those called to be clerics have a ‘vocation’. In the Covid-19 crisis of 2020-21, Thomas O’Loughlin sees the urgent message ‘Think Again!’
When Will Irish Bishops Get Serious About Synodality?
Synodality cannot happen in Ireland until Irish Bishops clearly affirm the primacy of individual conscience.
Still Undiscussable – the Ryan Report – May 20th, 2009
Called by Pope Benedict to ‘establish the truth of what happened’ in 20th century institutions for the poorest children, Ireland’s bishops never did. Why?
Erring Shepherds – Aidan Hart
Aidan surveys the spate of Catholic scandals that began in 1985, and calls for the global Catholic Church to be returned to the ownership of its lay people.
Has Richard Sipe explained the cover-up of clerical child sex abuse in the Catholic Church?
In linking the cover-up of clerical paedophilia to the Catholic hierarchy’s determination to preserve the appearance of clerical celibacy, Richard Sipe (who died on August 8th, 2018) is increasingly persuasive.
The movie ‘Spotlight’ and the church’s need for outsiders
Sean O’Conaill finds Spotlight a superior movie to All the President’s Men and a gift to Ireland’s need for a ‘debriefing’ on the clerical child abuse catastrophe.
Irish Abuse Survivor and Papal Councillor Marie Collins was Featured Speaker at VOTF 2015 National Assembly
Watch a video of Marie’s most informative talk in which she tells her own story as a survivor of clerical sexual abuse and now as a member of the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission.
Face Off: Marie Collins and the Papal Commission for Protection of Minors
Pope Francis's invitation to Marie Collins to serve on the 'Papal Commission for the Protection of Minors' (PCPM) could have important consequences that go far beyond the issue of clergy child abuse. If Marie's record of outspokenness is anything to go by she will...