The Ferns inquiry report is another damning indictment of how Irish society has failed to protect children, a leading children's charity said this evening.
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children said the report outlines a litany of cruelty to children of various ages over many years.
"This cruelty, consisting not just of sexual abuse of children, but of institutionalised silence and inaction, served not only to traumatise and hurt children but also served to make these children feel that they were to blame for the abuse perpetrated on them," a spokesman said.
"Many of these children, now adults, still carry the emotional and psychological impact of their experiences. "What happened in the Diocese of Ferns is not unique. It is another stark example of how Irish society has traditionally failed to deal adequately with the exploitation of children."
Meanwhile, another children's charity called for the introduction of mandatory reporting of child abuse to be introduced.
Welcoming the inquiry's recommendations, Barnardos chief executive Fergus Finlay said there was a need for children's needs to be put first:
"We know that the abuse of children is facilitated by a closed and secretive environment. That secrecy must be replaced by the introduction of obligatory mandatory reporting, underpinned by law."
The ISPCC said leaving the reporting of sexual abuse to the discretion and moral judgement of individuals and professionals fails to protect children.
"Irish society does not need any more examples of how children can be hurt and abused by silence," the spokesman said.
"If the Ferns Inquiry Report teaches us anything it is that we must legislate against silence, we must make it a crime not to tell when we know or suspect a child is being abused, we must legislate to ensure that those who are known to be a risk to children cannot get employment working with children and that it is a crime not to Garda-vet staff and volunteers working with children."