Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor was today appointed by the Holy See to oversee the Visitation of the Archdiocese of Armagh.
Learning of his appointment, the Cardinal said: “I look forward to working with a fellow Cardinal and Archbishops from the United States and Canada in this task, as well as in co-operation with the Irish Episcopal Conference.” He expressed his hope that: “the Apostolic Visitation will provide the Holy See with a thorough analysis of the Catholic Church in Ireland and its safeguarding procedures and protocols. Putting the safeguarding of children and all vulnerable people at the heart of every aspect of the Church’s life is essential.”
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor was the architect of the Nolan Report – a report published in 2001 by Lord Nolan which examined and reviewed the arrangements for child protection and the prevention of abuse within the Catholic Church in England and Wales. The report contained 83 recommendations about how the Church should prevent child abuse from occurring within the Catholic community in England and Wales and to ensure that where abuse is disclosed or suspected, the Church deals with it properly. All 83 recommendations were implemented by the 22 dioceses of England and Wales.
Click here for Pope Benedict XVI’s Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland.
In this Pastoral Letter, Pope Benedict XVI said that he intended ‘to hold an Apostolic Visitation of certain dioceses in Ireland, as well as seminaries and religious congregations. Arrangements for the Visitation, which is intended to assist the local Church on her path of renewal, will be made in co-operation with the competent offices of the Roman Curia and the Irish Episcopal Conference.’
An Apostolic Visitation is a formal but personal process, initiated by the Holy See, to look into the welfare of a particular aspect of the Church.
Full announcement on vatican.va.
