A decision by the Papal Nuncio not to attend an Oireachtas committee meeting where issues relating to the Murphy report on child sexual abuse in the Dublin archdiocese were to be discussed has been sharply criticised by one of the committee members.
In a letter addressed to Dr Michael Woods, who is committee chairman, and released tonight by Fine Gael TD Alan Shatter, Papal Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza said it was "not the practice" of the Holy See that Nuncios appear before Parliamentary Commissions.
Mr Shatter, who proposed the invitation, said the Archbishop's refusal to attend was "deeply regrettable" and "incomprehensible".
Archbishop Leanza said he was ''always'' available to discuss matters of ''mutual interest'' through contacts with the Ministery of Foreign Affairs.
"Constructive transparent dialogue and a change of approach is essential with regard to the manner in which the church has dealt with the issue of clerical child abuse and the failure of the Vatican to provide to the Murphy Commission the assistance sought by it," Mr Shatter said.
The Fine Gael TD said the victims of abuse, their families and the general public, are "entitled to expect that all available information that could inform the deliberations and conclusion of the Murphy Commission will be furnished to it."
He said there was a "solemn duty" on the Papal Nuncio and on Vatican authorities to co-operate.
"It is not only scandalous that such cooperation is not forthcoming but that the Vatican’s Ambassador to Ireland is unwilling to publicly discuss with elected Members of the Irish Parliament the stance taken to date or to indicate any willingness to overcome the current impasse", he said.
"This issue should be urgently addressed by members of the hierarchy who are engaged presently in extensive meetings in Rome,” Mr Shatter concluded.
