Vatican Radio has released the text of remarks made by Fr. Federico Lombardi....
About the 1997 letter from Apostolic Nuncio
in Dublin to Irish bishops
by Fr. Federico Lombardi
January 19, 2011
In the course of a recent television programme in Ireland, mention was made of a letter written in 1997 by Archbishop Luciano Storero, then apostolic nuncio to Ireland, to members of the country's episcopal conference.
That letter has been given biased treatment by some media outlets, who have presented it as proof of an instruction, from the Vatican, to cover up cases of sexual abuse of minors.
The letter – written on the basis of indications received from the Congregation for the Clergy – concerns a document produced by an advisory committee of the Irish bishops, highlighting certain problematic aspects therein and indicating the need for a deeper examination which also takes account of similar situations in other countries, and which had to be conducted through dialogue and collaboration with the episcopal conferences of the countries concerned.
In the first place, it must be noted that the letter does not in any way suggest that national laws must not be followed.
Furthermore, the letter rightly emphasises the importance of always respecting canonical legislation, precisely in order to ensure that guilty parties do not have justified grounds for an appeal and thus producing a result contrary to the one desired.
Finally, it must be stated that the letter was written prior to the norms of 2001 which unified responsibility in this field under the jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a move which has certainly led to clearer guidelines and more effective procedures.
1/20/11
P.S. When the AP first broke this story on Jan. 18, it also posted a photograph of the letter in its usual newsphoto format that I could not blow ub reasonably to readable proportions. They have now posted a larger-scale format which I am able to blow up...
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 20/01/2011 13:14]