Rome’s reluctance to reveal what it knew is stirring up old prejudices and bringing the Church into disrepute

When the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse continued its inquiry into abuse in the Catholic Church last week, it was not just the Benedictine monastery of Ealing Abbey that was in the dock, but the Holy See and its diplomatic service.

The inquiry has written repeatedly to Archbishop Edward Adams, papal nuncio in the United Kingdom, to obtain information about the nunciature’s contact with the abbey and its school, St Benedict’s. By the time the hearings finished on Friday last week, none was forthcoming. Archbishop Adams wrote to the inquiry indicating that he is still awaiting advice from his superiors in the Vatican.

The frustration of lawyers acting for the survivors of abuse was apparent. After all, a previous nuncio ordered an apostolic visitation to Ealing Abbey in 2003, so it is evident that Rome has been involved in the case for several years.