November 12, 2010. Nine "apostolic
visitators" appointed by Pope Benedict are currently carrying
out their work in Ireland to ensure that Church efforts are
successful in preventing future abuse. They are working to verify the
effectiveness of initiatives undertaken to deal with psychological
abuse or physical and sexual abuse committed by priests and
religious, between 1975 and 2004.
There are four visitators
for the Archdioceses, one for seminaries, and four others for
religious institutions.
The Apostolic
visitators or inspectors sent
by the Pope, must finish
their work by
mid April 2011 to evaluate the
effectiveness of the present procedures in place to deal with cases
of abuse and provide assistance to the victims. Their work is not an
investigation into individual cases of abuse or of assessing past
events.
The four visitators in
charge of the diocese will meet with any abuse victims who request
it.
New York's archbishop,
Timothy Dolan, in charge of "visiting" Ireland seminaries
will meet personally with each seminarian, teacher and priest
ordained in the last three years.
Four other visitators will
investigate the situation in religious houses, convents and
monasteries.
In May 2011 the Vatican
will publish the results of the visit and will suggest a plan for the
Church of Ireland.
The visit is part of the
Pope's request to the bishops of Ireland in February 2010 when he
called on them to address the problems of the past with determination
and resolve, and with honesty and courage.
JMB
RR
JM
-BN
