Bishop Seeks 'Renewal' Of Church

Just days after Pope Benedict XVI apologised to victims of child sex abuse by Catholic priests in Ireland, an Irish bishop has sought "accountability" from the State's inquiry into clerical child sex abuse in Ireland.

On foot of the Pope's pastoral letter to Irish Catholics - where he acknowledged the sense of betrayal in the Church felt by victims and their families - the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin has given his response.

As the Pope's letter admitted there had been "serious mistakes" among bishops in responding to allegations of paedophilia, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said: "Without accountability for the past there will no healing and no trust for the future."

Archbishop Martin described the letter as "part of a strategy of a renewal of the church". Many people "felt it was much stronger than expected," he said.

Commenting, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said there are "things to be welcomed" in Pope Benedict's pastoral letter.

Mr Cowen referred to the "direct apology" from the Pope as well as the acknowledgement that there had been huge dismay felt by many at the way the issue of clerical child sex abuse had been handled.

"The Government will discharge its responsibility, and the Church has to see what way it can ensure its credibility and authority is respected by its own members," he said.

Asked if the State's inquiry into clerical child sex abuse should be extended, Mr Cowen said Government was committed to ensuring independent investigations took place where issues arose, and "that where criminal proceedings are required to be pursued that will always happen".

Meanwhile the Health Service Executive (HSE) has said its audit of child protection practices in all Catholic dioceses in the State has been delayed because some bishops failed to meet a January 7th deadline to provide all the records and information it requested.

See: Abuse Probe Call Gets Stormont Response

(Bmcc/GK)