Vatican recalls Irish ambassador
Monday, 25 July 2011
The Vatican has recalled its ambassador to Ireland, Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza
The Vatican has recalled its ambassador to Ireland just days after an unprecedented attack by Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the Catholic church hierarchy over clerical child sex abuse.
Vatican Radio reported that papal ambassador Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza has been recalled to Rome.
Two weeks ago, Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore ordered Archbishop Leanza to get answers from the Vatican on damning allegations that it allowed priests to ignore mandatory reporting guidelines on suspected paedophiles.
The Pope's envoy was told to take a message to the Holy See that the Irish Government believes its conduct in clerical child abuse inquiries has been disgraceful and unacceptable.
The Vatican has said it will issue one at the "opportune time" but has not done so yet.
Last week, Taoiseach Mr Kenny accused the Catholic hierarchy of putting the Church ahead of child rape victims.
Mr Kenny claimed Ireland's latest inquiry into clerical abuse cover-ups exposed a dysfunctional, elite hierarchy determined to frustrate investigations.
The Holy See was also warned that religion does not rule Ireland.
"For the first time in Ireland, a report into child sexual abuse exposes an attempt by the Holy See to frustrate an inquiry in a sovereign, democratic republic as little as three years ago, not three decades ago," he said.
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