Personal Statement of
His Eminence, Desmond Cardinal Connell,
Archbishop Emeritus of Dublin
The report of the Dublin Archdiocese Commission, which has now been published, gives a shameful picture of the pattern of sexual abuse of children by priests in the diocese during the period of the Commission’s remit. While acknowledging the work that was done and the structures that were gradually developed to deal with this appalling problem during my tenure as Archbishop, the report is severely critical of the diocesan response, particularly in my earlier years in office.
I have spoken of my utter abhorrence of these grave offences and apologised for them on many occasions during my time as Archbishop. Although I am all too aware that such apologies and expressions of regret can never be adequate as a response to so much hurt and violation and, in any case, lose their value through repetition, I apologise again now from my heart and ask the forgiveness of those who have been so shamefully harmed.
