VOTF Ireland Asks for Transparency (continued)
Told by their bishop, Dr Seamus Hegarty, in 2005 that “You have a right to know where your money goes,” the undersigned parishioners wonder when that right will be honoured by the diocese.
The protests of 2005 arose when a BBC Spotlight programme revealed that an additional 3% levy was to support a diocesan contribution to the Stewardship Trust Fund. This fund had been set up by the Irish bishops in 1996 as a means of compensating victims of clerical child sexual abuse.
Told also by Dr Hegarty in 2005 that a process of consultation was to be established for such diocesan contributions, we ask: why did this process never come into being; when and why the additional 3% levy was re-imposed after being withdrawn; how exactly the diocese is now contributing to the Stewardship Trust Fund; and why we should now be presented with another mystery.
How many mysteries relating to clerical child sex abuse does Dr Hegarty think our church can survive?
We feel strongly that in light of the events of 2005, and the many other shocks all Catholics have received since then (relating especially to the child abuse issue)—and other shocks that are still to come—the diocese has again behaved recklessly in raising the diocesan levy without prior warning or explanation. Far from restoring trust, this manner of proceeding can only seriously further undermine the trust that needs to exist between their bishop and his people. We wonder why Bishop Hegarty has apparently forgotten that he apologised to parishioners in that letter of February 2005 for 'presuming on your generosity and consent.'
With a view to restoring lost trust, we respectfully ask Bishop Hegarty to honour the right he has himself affirmed—the right of his people 'to know where their money goes.' This can now only be done by providing complete transparency and accountability in relation to diocesan finances. Otherwise the suspicion must remain that compensation has been paid in consequence of clerical sexual abuse in the diocese, without the consultation that was promised in 2005. At the very least the bishop should be ready to confirm that this has not happened since he made that promise in 2005.
Well aware that this issue is not unique to the diocese of Derry, we respectfully request Bishop Hegarty to take a courageous lead by making his own diocese a model of transparency and accountability for the rest of Ireland. It is high time to turn the tide of disgraceful publicity that stems from an absence of these principles—transparency and accountability—in most Irish dioceses.
We append below the text of Bishop Hegarty's 2005 letter.
Signed: Siobhan Carroll, Danny Duddy, Kevin Kelly, Johnny McCallion, Connolly McLaughlin, Martin McLaughlin, Sean O'Conaill, Bernadette Wyer (Members of Derry Diocese)
VOTF-Ireland
Open Letter from Bishop of Derry Dr Seamus Hegarty to Derry Parishioners, February 26th 2005
My dear people,
The events of the past few days and weeks have been very distressing for all of us in the diocese. We are particularly mindful of the much greater distress experienced by victims of sexual abuse.
At a special meeting in November last, the priests and I gathered to consider ways in which we might meet our obligations to victims of child sexual abuse. We considered various options. It was decided that the best way of sourcing funding was by means of a levy on parishes.
At that meeting, I promised to issue a letter to parishes informing you of this decision in advance of your parish forwarding money to the Stewardship Trust Fund. In the event, I asked parishes for payment of the levy before I did so. With hindsight, I accept that this was not the correct decision. For that I apologise. You have a right to know where your money goes. Furthermore, I am sorry for giving the impression of presuming on your generosity and consent.
I wish to acknowledge with gratitude your generosity to your parish. For many years, you have continued to support the mission of the Church at parish, diocesan and national level. Without that support and your good will the Church could not do its work. Your priests and I continue to rely on your support. You have also responded generously to international appeals such as Trocaire and the recent tsunami collection.
In view of the events of the past few days, I have accepted a recommendation from the priests to abolish the 3% levy and furthermore to return monies collected in November last. I am asking your priests to set in place a process whereby you will he consulted on how together we might realise our obligation to reach out to and support victims of child sexual abuse. Our obligation in this regard remains.
Child Protection will engage our generosity well into the future. The Church in Ireland has determined that this is best serviced by means of the Stewardship Trust Fund. This Trust Fund is a resource that the Catholic Church uses to address the many and complex issues associated with child sexual abuse. It is used to fund child protection and ways of helping victims, the costs associated with processing claims of child sexual abuse and to compensate victims.
In today's Gospel the woman at the well says to Jesus "give me some of that water." Let us pray that this lifegiving water which Christ alone can give will he poured into the lives of those who need healing at this time.
+ Seamus Hegarty DD
