spiritians

Why was the president meeting this order whilst the audit of abuse ongoing? The visit was before the publication of the audit this week but I wonder did the spirtians organise this to offset the report due out. Just wondering?

　

　


　
[oops can't seem to upload photo of president of ireland with spiritian community]
Members of the Spirtian Community from Blackrock, Co. Dublin, who visited President Michael D. Higgins in Áras an Uachtaráin recently.

　

　

　

PATSY MCGARRY, Religious Affairs Correspondent

A review of child safeguarding practices in the Holy Ghost congregation has found that 142 abuse allegations had been made against 47 Spiritan or Holy Ghost priests since January 1st 1975.

Eight of the priests are still alive, with three out of ministry.

Three Spiritan priests have been convicted of abuse in the courts.

The review found that that Spiritan case files made for "very sad reading", with evidence that there were serial abusers who worked in school communities in Ireland who "went undetected and unchecked giving them unmonitored access to children during the 1960s, 70s and 80s."

It also found it "reasonable to believe" that there are other victims of Spiritans who have not yet come forward. "These victims may be located in Ireland, Canada, USA, Sierra Leone and any other country where the offending priests/brothers have worked."

The review, published this morning on the Spiritan website, was conducted by the Catholic Church child protection watchdog, its National Board for Safeguarding Children (NBSC), and is one of seven published this morning.

The Spiritans run some of the best-known schools in Ireland, including Blackrock College, St Mary’s, Templeogue College and St Michael’s in Dublin, as well as Rockwell College in Co Tipperary.

The report said it was clear there was no awareness of the impact of child sexual abuse on the part of the leadership of the congregation during the time under review. "There was a failure on the part of the congregation in these instances to create safe environments for children."

It found that there were, without doubt, victims whose abuse should have been preventable. "If the provincial at the time of receiving information about concerning behaviour, and in some cases direct allegations, had taken action to remove the offending priest/brother, then it is entirely reasonable to believe that some children could have been spared. This was unacceptable, and the current leadership has to carry the responsibility for the past failures of others