Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale368

The Visitation to the Religious Institutes took place after careful study of

the responses to the questionnaire that was sent to all Institutes with

Religious houses in Ireland. The questionnaire sought to elicit information

on the current safeguarding measures and policies adopted by each Institute

and the effect of the present crisis on the Institute's members. The Visitators

then held various meetings with Bishops, Superiors and formators of the

different communities and with any particular groups, including abuse

victims, that requested a meeting, as well as representatives of the

National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church. Meetings

were held with the members of the Conference of Religious of Ireland, both in

the common assemblies and in regional assemblies throughout the country.

The Visitators had the opportunity to conduct extended visits to 31

Institutes. They estimate that, during the visit, they had the opportunity

to dialogue with a significant portion of Religious in Ireland.

With a view to promoting the work of renewal called for by the Holy

Father, the Congregation for Bishops and the Congregation for Catholic

Education have carefully studied the information collected by the

respective Visitators. Keeping in mind the provisions of the document

Towards Healing and Renewal issued by the Irish Episcopal Conference,

they have communicated their conclusions to the four Metropolitan

Archbishops and to the Ecclesiastical Authorities of the seminaries visited,

indicating courses of action. The Archbishops and the Ecclesiastical

Authorities gave their responses. The Congregation for Institutes of

Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life is likewise forwarding

its conclusions to the Superiors of all Institutes of Consecrated Life and

Societies of Apostolic Life with houses in Ireland. A Summary Report will

also be presented to the Apostolic Nuncio to be shared with the Bishops of

Ireland.

* * *

During their stay in Ireland, the Visitators were able themselves to see

just how much the shortcomings of the past gave rise to an inadequate

understanding of and reaction to the terrible phenomenon of the abuse of

minors, not least on the part of various Bishops and Religious Superiors.

With a great sense of pain and shame, it must be acknowledged that within

the Christian community innocent young people were abused by clerics and

Religious to whose care they had been entrusted, while those who should