The Cloyne Report has been released. The report, the fruits of an investigation into the manner in which the Diocese of Cloyne, Ireland, handled allegations of clerical sex abuse from the time sex abuse guidelines were supposedly implemented in the diocese in 1996 to 2009. I say supposedly for good reason. At this time I have merely glanced through the first few pages of the 421-page-report and read three news articles regarding it’s contents . From what I see so far, it’s not looking good for Church officials in the Diocese of Cloyne.
I shall hold my tongue until I read the report, Unfortunately already I get the sense that it’s the same old same old. Been there done that.
We shall see.
I have posted the Cloyne Report
04 November 2010: Cloyne Report
and the three media articles..
13 July 2011: Irish Report Finds Abuse Persisting in Catholic Church
14 July 2011: Bishop used ‘mental reservation’ in accounts
Please, anyone who manages to read through the report let us know you thoughts, both pro and con
Enough for now,
Sylvia
Glad to see you’ve already got the Cloyne report. I used to occasionally meet John Magee when he was living at the Irish College in Rome in the late 60’s. I was at that time visiting the college to do research for my doctoral thesis in Canon Law. He was then acting as the Rome representative of the Irish Kiltegan Society of missionary priests. It occured to me that he ought to be working in the missions in Nigeria, but a few years later I discovered what he was really up to in Rome ……… procuring himself a career. He got to be an assistant secretary to Paul VI and occupied the same role with the next two popes, until John Paul II had him promoted to papal master of ceremonies. Then in 1987 it appears, according to an article by John Cooney in the Irish Independent newspaper of 27 March 2010, John Paul wanted to et rid of him from Rome and had him appointed to the remote diocese of Cloyne in Ireland, above the heads of other more suitable candidates that were being prepared for that post. From that I assume John Magee resented being banished to a small and remote diocese like Cloyne, because it was usual for retired papal masters of ceremonies to be given comfortable synacure jobs in Rome and eventually made cardinals.
The reaction to the publication of this report in Ireland has been that the Archbsiop of Armagh declared 13 July 2011 a “Dark Day” for the church in Ireland.
Chapter 26 of the report deals with an accusation from a would-be seminarian who had some kind of close relationship with John Magee. The bishop told this young man that he loved him and had dreamt about him. At some meetings with him the bishop kissed him on the forehead while embracing him closely. The bishop told the Murphy commission that his love for the young man was not sexual and that rather than kissing him he had signed him with a cross on the forehead. The commission was not able to conclude that Magee had sexually abused this man, only that his behaviour, whatever it amounted to, was inappropriate.
As a result of this report bishop Magee is a totally descredited man. He had resigned his position as bishop of Cloyne over a year ago and according to newspaper reports is not at present in Ireland, where I think he will never be able to show his head again.
Cyril, your view of facts do not agree with the true facts. Magee was never Assistant Secretary to Pope John Paul 11. Your view of Magee kissing the 18-year old does not agree with many other reports about what happened. Are you a straw-man for Magee, who is now hiding in the Vatican?
According to Wikipedia Magee was secretary to Pope John Paul. I know Wikipedia is not the be and all and end all for fact, nonetheless, check the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Magee_(bishop)
I recall distinctly that he is the only man to ever serve as prvate secretray to three popes. According to 13 July 2011 irishtimes.com:
“Between 1969 and 1982 he was private secretary to Popes Paul VI, John Paul I and John Paul II……In 1969 he was appointed secretary to the Vatican ‘s Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, a position he held until he was appointed personal and private secretary to Pope Paul VI in 1975.
“He accompanied Pope John Paul II on his visit to Ireland in 1979. In 1981 he visited Bobby Sands during the hunger strikes at the pope’s request and in an unsuccessful attempt to bring them to an end.
In 1982 he was appointed Pope John Paul II’s master of ceremonies, a position he held until his surprise appointment as Bishop of Cloyne in 1987.”
There are several accounts of the kissing-on-the forehead incidents. Plural. The Cloyne Report covers the issue in more detail in Chapter 26.
As for where Magee is hiding out, some media put him in the US. He may well be in the Vatican. Perhaps the only for sure here is that he is not in Ireland.
1 abandoned sheep: I see why you say Magee is hiding out int he Vatican. I just posted an article which speculates precisly that: http://www.theinquiry.ca/wordpress/rc-scandal/other-countries/ireland/vatican-shelters-magee-as-abuse-report-fury-grows/
There are others which speculate that he is in the US.
Who knows? I would guess the Vatican, perhaps a guest of Cardinal Beranrd Law?