By Felicity McCall
Following the recent series of convictions of clerics and religious of many Christian traditions for sexually abusing young people - both in Ireland and in the UK - it would be wrong to think that a conviction, or an admission of guilt, is a defining verdict for the church. Not so, it seems.
In November 08, an official church comment that defies belief emerged in the case of a NI mother of three, Roisin Foy, who was sexually abused by her priest in Belfast when she was aged between six and ten. Like so many victims, she did not find the strength to disclose her abuse until later in life, in her thirties - when she did so, she discovered that she was one of the priest, Fr Flanagan’s many young victims. The church has never denied that the priest was a serial child sex abuser -he is now dead.
Roisin has, with great difficulty, obtained a copy of the church’s ‘independent expert’ report, on her case, which was presented at the second of two hearings she brought in an attempt to have her marriage annulled. Ms Foy believes that the long-term damage caused by her abuse, and the burden of carrying the secret, contributed much to the breakdown of her marriage.
The church’s report states that there is “an undoubted tendency nowadays for people to grossly over-exaggerate the impact,” of childhood sex abuse; adding that “experts say” there is “nothing to link it to long-term psychological damage.” - the report goes on to suggest implicitly that individuals who have suffered in this way, would have had these mental, physical, behavioural and relationship issues regardless ... and denies that the abuse contributed to the marital breakdown, alleging that it may, however, be used as an excuse by women wanting out of a lifelong union.
This had been on Ms Foy’s files for some two years – unchallenged - before she eventually succeeded in getting a copy - and the church billed her for it.
Regarding the treatment of offender and victim, the church told her that when her abuser had professed a vocation, the church had become his family and therefore had a duty of care to feed, house, clothe, sustain him (including providing a car, mobile phone, computer, holidays, travel, all expenses etc?) for his natural life. The victim had her own family to turn to, she was told. In fact, she didn’t. Her father died before she disclosed the abuse and her marriage was over, with her two elder children being left in the care of their father. Relations with her devoutly religious mother were strained and remain so to this day. It has badly affected her mother’s health, too.
And now, in December, the deputy editor of the ‘Irish Catholic’ newspaper has urged the community to take care of the convicted paedophile priest, Eugene Greene, when he is released from prison. The editorial calls for “evidence of decency” among those in the parish where the former father Greene serially abused his young charges over three decades.
There has been no call for any evidence of his remorse. Greene has served his sentence based on a set of sample charges of abuse - the true extent of his paedophilia remains known only to himself and his victims. “The onus is on the community to look after Eugene Greene out of their Christian duty,” the editorial insists.
Eugene Greene came to the attention of the authorities when he went to the Gardai to complain about the audacity of one of his former victims blackmailing him. It says Greene now feels “purged.” And of his victims? The editorial , like the church, remains silent.
www.slimeylimeyjustice.org