Sexual abuse scandal in Raphoe diocese
Encyclopedia
The sexual abuse scandal in the Raphoe
Diocese is an episode in the series of Catholic sex abuse cases in the United States
and Ireland
.
In 2000, Eugene Greene, a priest who served in the Raphoe Diocese, was sentenced to 12 years in gaol after being accused of abusing up to 26 boys. Greene, who had pleaded guilty to 40 out of 115 charges, was released from prison in 2008.
A 2008 book alleges that Greene's criminality was known to clergy in Raphoe "at least as early as 1976". The current Bishop of Derry
, Dr. Séamus Hegarty, was Bishop of the Diocese of Raphoe
in 1982-1994, during the period when some of this abuse occurred. However, in a RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
interview in 2002, Bishop Hegarty said he never knew of Greene's crimes when he was Bishop, and the current Bishop of Raphoe, Dr. Philip Boyce
, has stated that he was not made aware of child sexual abuse allegations against Fr. Greene in 1995.
In 2006, the diocese of Raphoe adopted a policy in order to prevent further cases of child abuse. The report, entitled Child Protection in the Diocese of Raphoe, sought to build greater public awareness in order to break the social taboo about investigating allegations of clerical pederasty.
Philip Boyce has said he would welcome an audit or any intervention which would help ensure the safety of children. This proposal was first put forward by retired Garda Martin Ridge, who investigated the child abuse carried out by Eugene Greene.
The report on abuse in the diocese will be published in 2011. On 11 August 2011 Bishop Boyce complained about a media article that claimed that "hundreds and hundreds" of children had been abused over 40 years by 20 priests in the diocese.
On 30 November 2011 the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church published its review of Raphoe and examined all case files from 1975 to 2010 to determine how allegations and concerns were dealt with. Its purpose was also to interview key persons involved in child safeguarding, judge how cases are currently assessed, how the statutory authorities are notified and determine if there are any current risks to children. The review found that 52 allegations of abuse were reported to the Garda Síochana and the HSE against 14 priests incardinationed into the Diocese during the period January 1st to August 2010. Eight of those priests against whom an allegation was made are now "out of Ministry2 or have left the priesthood. A total of four priests from the diocese have been convicted of having committed an offence or offences since 1st January. The review concludes that the diocese now has a robust safeguarding policy and procedure in place for safeguarding children, that files are kept n a satisfactory and orderly fashion, that there is a prompt referral system to the state authorities and good co-operation with the Garda Síochána and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe
The Diocese of Raphoe is a Roman Catholic diocese in north-western Ireland. It is one of eight suffragan dioceses which are subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Armagh. The current Bishop of Raphoe is The Most Rev. Dr. Philip Boyce, D.D., O.C.D.. He was enthroned as bishop on 1 October...
Diocese is an episode in the series of Catholic sex abuse cases in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
In 2000, Eugene Greene, a priest who served in the Raphoe Diocese, was sentenced to 12 years in gaol after being accused of abusing up to 26 boys. Greene, who had pleaded guilty to 40 out of 115 charges, was released from prison in 2008.
A 2008 book alleges that Greene's criminality was known to clergy in Raphoe "at least as early as 1976". The current Bishop of Derry
Bishop of Derry
The Bishop of Derry is an episcopal title which takes its name after the city of Derry in Northern Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.-History:...
, Dr. Séamus Hegarty, was Bishop of the Diocese of Raphoe
Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe
The Diocese of Raphoe is a Roman Catholic diocese in north-western Ireland. It is one of eight suffragan dioceses which are subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Armagh. The current Bishop of Raphoe is The Most Rev. Dr. Philip Boyce, D.D., O.C.D.. He was enthroned as bishop on 1 October...
in 1982-1994, during the period when some of this abuse occurred. However, in a RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta , abbreviated RnaG, is the Irish-language radio service of the public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. The station is available on FM in Ireland and via satellite and on the Internet.- History :...
interview in 2002, Bishop Hegarty said he never knew of Greene's crimes when he was Bishop, and the current Bishop of Raphoe, Dr. Philip Boyce
Philip Boyce
The Most Reverend Dr. Philip Boyce , D.D., O.C.D., is the Catholic Lord Bishop of Raphoe. He presides over the Diocese of Raphoe in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland.- Early life :...
, has stated that he was not made aware of child sexual abuse allegations against Fr. Greene in 1995.
In 2006, the diocese of Raphoe adopted a policy in order to prevent further cases of child abuse. The report, entitled Child Protection in the Diocese of Raphoe, sought to build greater public awareness in order to break the social taboo about investigating allegations of clerical pederasty.
Philip Boyce has said he would welcome an audit or any intervention which would help ensure the safety of children. This proposal was first put forward by retired Garda Martin Ridge, who investigated the child abuse carried out by Eugene Greene.
The report on abuse in the diocese will be published in 2011. On 11 August 2011 Bishop Boyce complained about a media article that claimed that "hundreds and hundreds" of children had been abused over 40 years by 20 priests in the diocese.
On 30 November 2011 the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church published its review of Raphoe and examined all case files from 1975 to 2010 to determine how allegations and concerns were dealt with. Its purpose was also to interview key persons involved in child safeguarding, judge how cases are currently assessed, how the statutory authorities are notified and determine if there are any current risks to children. The review found that 52 allegations of abuse were reported to the Garda Síochana and the HSE against 14 priests incardinationed into the Diocese during the period January 1st to August 2010. Eight of those priests against whom an allegation was made are now "out of Ministry2 or have left the priesthood. A total of four priests from the diocese have been convicted of having committed an offence or offences since 1st January. The review concludes that the diocese now has a robust safeguarding policy and procedure in place for safeguarding children, that files are kept n a satisfactory and orderly fashion, that there is a prompt referral system to the state authorities and good co-operation with the Garda Síochána and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
See also
- AbuseAbuseAbuse is the improper usage or treatment for a bad purpose, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, sexual assault, violation, rape, unjust practices; wrongful practice or custom; offense; crime, or otherwise...
- Child abuseChild abuseChild abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
- Child sexual abuseChild sexual abuseChild sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
- Religious abuse
- Sexual abuseSexual abuseSexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
- Sexual misconductSexual misconductSexual misconduct is misconduct of a sexual nature. The term may be used to condemn an act, but in some jurisdictions it has also a legal meaning....
- Spiritual abuseSpiritual abuseSpiritual abuse is a serious form of abuse which occurs when a person in a cult-religious authority or a person with a unique spiritual practice misleads and maltreats another person in the name of a deityor church or in the mystery of any spiritual concept...