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Bishop “feels shame” about abuse linked to Church
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The Bishop of Kerry, Ray Browne, has said he “feels shame” that many victims of sexual abuse have suffered at the hands of members of the clergy.
He also said that safeguarding is crucial when it comes to preventing further crimes.
In a statement to mark the day of the year that Catholics in Ireland are asked to offer prayers for the survivors and victims of sexual abuse, Bishop Browne reflected on the “trauma, distress and pain” that can be suffered by a person who was abused as a child.
“Some victims/survivors seem to heal well, sadly many do not,” he said. “That many such victims have been abused by a priest or another Church person, – I feel shame. It is a reality that the Church has to continue to face up to.”
“One important thing we can do is promote good safeguarding practice. The better our safeguarding practice, the less likely there will be opportunities for abusers to have access to children they can abuse, and also the greater the possibility of the abusers being caught at a very early stage.”
Figures released in 2013 revealed that in spite of 67 allegations being made against 21 Kerry priests since 1975, only one member of the clergy was ever convicted. 25 allegations were made against the late Fr Patrick McAuliffe alone, with four more being made since that initial report. McAuliffe, a diocesan inspector, had access to every Catholic primary school in the county.