Years ago, Father Seán Brady interviewed two survivors of the child rapist (Father) Brendan Smyth and then swore them to secrecy. This was standard operating procedure for the Catholic Church, as has been repeatedly revealed in the past few years:
On March 29th, 1975, Seán Brady and two other priests interviewed a boy (14) in Dundalk. Seán Brady’s role was to take notes. On April 4th that year, Seán Brady interviewed a second boy (15) in the Parochial House in Ballyjamesduff. On this occasion Brady conducted the inquiry by himself and took notes. At the end of both interviews, the boys were asked to confirm by oath the truthfulness of their statements and that they would preserve the confidentiality of the interview process. [source]
However, this happened in 1975 and Smyth continued to rape children until 1993. Brady said nothing to the civil authorities. Keeping silent, he ascended in the church hierarchy while Smyth claimed more victims. Now Smyth is dead and Brady is the current Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. He was made a cardinal in 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI.
Brady’s actions have come to light recently and the Church has sprung into its default position of denial and justification, using the letter of the law. Monseigneur Maurice Dooley has been doing the publicity circuit in a pathetic attempt to justify Brady’s actions using canon law.
Canon law is, in this context, the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Roman Catholic Church with roots in Roman law, civil law, purported divine law and what is called natural law. However, the perceived superiority of canon law in the Christian tradition is rooted in the middle ages with the writings of Henry of Segusio aka Hostiensis:
[Hostiensis] did, however, clearly distinguish canon law from civil law… he maintained the superiority of canon law, indicating that in cases of conflict the civil law should yield to the law of the Church [Clarence Gallagher, Canon law and the Christian community (Rome, 1978)]
The perception in RCC continues to the present day. The pope formerly known as Joseph Ratzinger sent a letter to Catholic bishops urging the cover up of child abuse. The letter is in Latin, presumably to harken back to glory days and to limit the comprehension of the masses. Broadly speaking, it urges bishops to report child abuse to Rome, that the Apostolic Tribunal of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is the only body that can deal with these crimes:
Delictum contra mores, videlicet: delictum contra sextum Decalogi praeceptum cum minore infra aetatem duodeviginti annorum a clerico commissum.
[A moral crime namely: one committed by a cleric against the Sixth Commandment of the Decalogue with a minor below the age of 18 years.]
Haec tantum, quae supra indicantur delicta cum sua definitione, Congregationis pro Doctrina Fidei Tribunali Apostolico reservantur.
[The crime as indicated and defined above is reserved for the Apostolic Tribunal of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith] [ source & my translation]
While Brady was not legally required to report the crimes at the time, there was a moral obligation to report the rape of children. Obliging minors to swear an oath of secrecy is disgusting and constitutes psychological intimidation and abuse.
On 17 March, Brady’s sermon included what would be called an “apology” by the politically-minded elements within the church hierarchy. To wit:
This week a painful episode from my own past has come before me. I have listened to reaction from people to my role in events thirty five years ago. I want to say to anyone who has been hurt by any failure on my part that I apologise to you with all my heart. I also apologise to all those who feel I have let them down. Looking back I am ashamed that I have not always upheld the values that I profess and believe in. [source]
“Any” means one or more without specification or identification. In this context, it is a weasel word, providing a caveat to Brady’s apology. Apologies with caveats are not apologies. They are politicians’ platitudes.
It is truly amazing that Brady had to “look back.” Covering up the rape of children is an act that might prey on the conscience of the morally minded. Truly, confession is a wonderful sacrament – just confess, feel guilty for a while and your slate is wiped clean.
Ultimately, Brady acted in his own self-interest. Whistleblowers are not promoted to cardinals. Troublemakers do not rise so high in the hierarchy. His actions and inactions were morally wrong.
Although the legal wrangling continues, Brady must resign. The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland is supposed to be a spiritual and moral leader. He is the most senior member of the Catholic Church in Ireland. An ambitious, power-hungry man who so blatantly chose immorality in order to ensure his own success has no place on the throne.