Church has to pay baby graves bills

THE Catholic Church has a duty to cover the costs of exhuming hundreds of children’s bodies dumped in a pit at the former mother and baby home in Tuam.

It is the very least it can do to atone for the terrible wrongs done to young women and their infants who suffered so much at the hands of religious orders over the decades.

Children’s Minister Catherine Zappone deserves credit for ensuring Pope Francis was made aware of the “shameful” chapter in Irish history.

Catherine Corless, who was responsible for exposing this scandal, has rightly praised Minister Zappone for outlining the shocking details to the pontiff.

The reality is despite the apologies and expressions of remorse, Ms Corless has been ignored by the Catholic Church.

She also points out that when the State can pay up to €32million to facilitate the Pope’s visit, €5million is a small price to pay to give innocent children decent burials.

There has been much criticism levelled at religious orders, but the Government has also been dragging its feet when it comes to helping survivors of the mother and baby homes and the Magdalene laundries.

While the Church must ultimately pay for the mass exhumation, the State should consider covering the costs so this grim task can be completed speedily.