Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale696

20 July 2011. However, it has significant reservations about some elements

of the speech.

In particular, the accusation that the Holy See attempted "to frustrate an

Inquiry in a sovereign, democratic republic as little as three years ago, not three

decades ago", which Mr Kenny made no attempt to substantiate, is un-

founded. Indeed, when asked, a Government spokesperson clarified that

Mr Kenny was not referring to any specific incident. In fact, accusations of

interference by the Holy See are belied by the many Reports cited as the

basis for such criticisms. Those Reports - lauded for their exhaustive in-

vestigation of sexual abuse and the way it was managed - contain no evi-

dence to suggest that the Holy See meddled in the internal affairs of the Irish

State or, for that matter, was involved in the day-to-day management of

Irish dioceses or religious congregations with respect to sexual abuse issues.

Indeed, what is impressive about these Reports, and the vast information

that they rely upon, is that there is no support for these accusations.

The Cloyne Report itself contains no statement that would lend support to

Mr Kenny's accusations. In fact, when the Apostolic Nuncio in Ireland was

asked by the Commission of Inquiry "to submit to it any information which you

have about the matters under investigation", the Commission received a reply to

the effect that the Apostolic Nunciature "does not determine the handling of

cases of sexual abuse in Ireland and therefore is unable to assist you in this

matter. In fact, such cases are managed according to the responsibility of local

ecclesiastical authorities, in this instance, the Diocese of Cloyne. Like all eccle-

siastical entities in Ireland, the Diocese of Cloyne is bound to act in accordance

with canon law and with all civil laws and regulations of Ireland as may be

applicable" (2.11).

In this regard, the Holy See wishes to make it quite clear that it in no way

hampered or interfered in the Inquiry into child sexual abuse cases in the

Diocese of Cloyne. Furthermore, at no stage did it seek to interfere with Irish

civil law or impede the civil authority in the exercise of its duties. In point of

fact, as the Apostolic Nuncio's response to the Commission indicates, the

Holy See expected the Diocesan authorities to act in conformity with Irish

civil law. It should also be noted that the Commission of Inquiry acknowl-

edges "the full co-operation it received from all parties involved in the investiga-

tion and their legal advisers" (1.79).

Mr Kenny also cited the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to the effect that

"Standards of conduct appropriate to civil society or the workings of a democracy