THE TÁNAISTE EAMON Gilmore has met with the Pope’s ambassador and demanded a response from the Vatican on the findings of the Cloyne report. The Vatican was criticised in the report into clerical sex abuse in the diocese of Cloyne – it said that the Vatican was “utterly unhelpful” in its response to the allegations made against 19 priests. Gilmore had earlier requested a meeting with the Papal Nuncio, and held talks with Guiseppe Leanza this afternoon at the Department of Foreign Affairs. Breaking News reports that Leanza said he was “distressed” by the report. Gilmore has said that the government will continue to demand a formal explanation from the Vatican, saying “we’re not going to let it rest”. BBC reports that the Taoiseach Enda Kenny has called on the Vatican to back up the view that civil law should always be followed. Responding to a question about the Catholic seal of the confessional Kenny said that “the law of the land should not be stopped by crozier, or by collar”. RTÉ also reports that the Taoiseach said the attitude of the Vatican to complaints from Cloyne was “absolutely disgraceful”. Archbishop Leanza has said that he will be bringing a copy of the Cloyne report to the attention of the Holy See.
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