The Holy See’s Response to the Irish Cloyne Report and Statements Made by Irish Officials

A few hours ago the Holy See released it “Response to Mr. Eamon Gilmore, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, Concerning the Cloyne Report, 03.09.2011.” [HERE] The text of the Holy See reply addresses a number of issues of interest to us at the Mirror of Justice. To mention a few: (1) Church-State relations and affairs; (2) Religious freedom and libertas ecclesiae; (3) the relation between Canon Law and Civil Law; and, (4) the responsibility of Church representatives and others for the care and protection of children and young people.

As you will see, this long response does two principal things: first of all, it demonstrates many areas of agreement between the Holy See and the Irish Government and its laws (which have a bearing on relations with other States); second, it specifies important issues where the rhetoric of some Irish officials did not accurately reflect the contents of (1) the Cloyne Report and of (2) the reality of situations addressed by some Irish officials. In these instances, the Holy See’s response clarifies these matters and notes fundamental disagreements with statements presented by the Irish Government.

 

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