Pope: Religious orders must take blame for mother and baby horrors
THE Pope has demanded Irish religious orders accept blame for the horrific treatment of children who died in mother and baby homes, it emerged yesterday.
The head of the Catholic Church said the Government should also acknowledge its role in the scandal sparked by the discovery of remains in a Tuam sceptic tank linked to the Bon Secours order. In a letter to Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone, Pope Francis offered “prayerful solidarity and concern” for a “sad situation”.
He wrote: “I pray in particular efforts made by the Government and by local churches and religious congregations will help face responsibly this tragic chapter in Ireland’s history.” The letter, obtained by the Sunday Independent, was a reply to correspondence from Ms Zappone in which she called on the Church to “contribute substantially” to the cost involved in the Commission of Investigation into the homes. In her letter, the minister insisted the Church should accept its “responsibility and make reparation for its part in a very shameful chapter of Irish history”.
In the Pope’s response he made no reference to Ms Zappone’s demand for financial resources.
He wrote: “I wish to express my sincere appreciation for your recent letter in which you described the work of the Commission of Investigation.
“Gladly recalling my visit to Ireland and our conversation together, I want you to know I will pray for you, your loved ones and for your important work at the service of Ireland.”
The Bon Secours congregation offered €2.5million towards the cost of excavating the Tuam home in Galway where children were buried in sewers.
A spokesman for Ms Zappone said the minister was “happy” with the response.
He added: “She believes raising the issue of Tuam brought an awareness of what happened to the Pope’s attention and that he has thought about it.”