The publication yesterday of the results of a major research project on child sexual abuse by the Catholic clergy in Ireland is a significant event in the calendar of this sad and shocking story.
In launching it the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev Sean Brady, apologised to all concerned for the deep hurt and the trust betrayed.
He accepted the many mistakes made by the official church in handling the crisis. In an important statement, he acknowledged the report's findings that the public believe the media played a useful role in creating awareness of the scale of the problem and highlighting the issue.
Many of the recommendations made in the report - about preventing child sexual abuse by clergy, managing complaints about them, and concerning the clergy's professional development - have been implemented, according to church spokesmen. But it will take real leadership for the church to come to terms with the management and communications failings identified in the research. Only 10 per cent of the public had heard of the Church's official policy document on responding to complaints of child sexual abuse by priests and religious, for example, although it was first issued in 1996.
Colleagues of convicted clergy believe the church's management approach has been more concerned with institutional protection than for the individuals abused. A majority of the general public surveyed felt the problem is not being adequately handled - and only 42 per cent believed the church would safeguard children entrusted to its care. Many of those abused and their family members described a great sense of guilt because they had chosen to report the abuse to the church rather than the civil authorities.
There is clear evidence that this crisis has affected religious practice and trust in religious personnel, although basic beliefs and faith in God have not been changed. A majority of the public believe priests in general have been unfairly judged as a result and their overall confidence in the clergy and religious participation is still relatively high.
Thus there is evidence in these research findings that with determined and focused leadership it will be possible to overcome the crisis of confidence about clerical child abuse. It is now better understood to have been part of a much wider phenomenon in Irish society. The title of this report, Time to Listen, contains within itself the best advice to Church and civil leaders in dealing with such a serious problem.