Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston has withdrawn from the World Meeting of Families in Dublin in order to concentrate on an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct at a seminary in his diocese.
On Wednesday, the Archdiocese of Boston published a statement announcing the Cardinal’s decision not to travel to Ireland due to “important matters pertaining to the pastoral care of St John’s Seminary in the Archdiocese of Boston and the seminarians enrolled in the formation programme there”.
The statement said the investigation requires the Cardinal’s “personal attention and presence”.
Cardinal O’Malley, who heads up the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Children, was due to moderate the WMOF seminar on Friday week (24 August) at the RDS with clerical abuse survivor and former member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, Marie Collins.
Other speakers slated to address the topic are Baroness Sheila Hollins, another former member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, as well as Barbara Thorp, former Head of the Office for Pastoral Support and Child Protection in the Archdiocese of Boston, and Professor Gabriel Dy-Liacco from the Philippines who is a current member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
Last Friday, Cardinal O’Malley announced he was placing the rector of St John’s seminary on leave while the allegations of misconduct were investigated.
Two former seminarians have alleged on social media that during the time they were studying there “they witnessed and experienced activities which are directly contrary to the moral standards and requirements of formation for the Catholic priesthood”.
Cardinal O’Malley is also dealing with claims that his office ignored warnings about the disgraced former-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who is being investigated over alleged abuse of a minor and for inappropriate behaviour with seminarians at a seminary in New Jersey.
The World Meeting of Families seminar on safeguarding children is the first of its kind to be hosted at the triannual Catholic gathering.
It is taking place as the Catholic Church in the US is once again mired in controversy over clerical sexual abuse following the damning findings of the grand jury report in Pennsylvania into six dioceses and the recent fall from grace of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.
Loading ...
