After so many years how long could this possibly take? Sell some of the riches owned by these institutions just as the Boston Archdiocese had to do. The Irish government certainly has a responsibility but the Catholic orders who were involved in decades of abuse need to step it up instead of plotting out a plan for dodging their responsibility. More abuse is the last thing the victims need at this point. Waiting should not be an option.
The premier noted that one order heavily implicated in brutality and molestation at boys’ schools, the Christian Brothers, had already pledged to search their finances and assets for “surplus” funds.“I believe the other individual congregations involved should now also articulate their willingness to make a further substantial voluntary contribution,” Cowen said after an emergency Cabinet meeting Tuesday to discuss the abuse report.
On Wednesday, seven of the 18 orders confirmed they would meet with the government. All reiterated apologies for their role in harming children — But none said they would contribute more to a 2002 deal with the government that left taxpayers paying almost all of the euro1.1 billion ($1.5 billion) legal bill for 14,000 abuse settlements.
The Conference of Religious in Ireland, the umbrella body for 138 religious orders on the island, said the 18 orders mired in the child-abuse scandal are planning their own private strategy-planning session Friday in Dublin to decide on a common approach to the government.
