The recent publication of the Scoping Inquiry into historical sexual abuse in schools, details the horrific trauma inflicted by the abuse of young students. This dark chapter in Irish society continues to reveal systemic and unimaginable suffering of young students whose innocent lives were so violated consequently. We must never become desensitised to what seems like an endless list of reports, detailing abuse by those entrusted with leadership roles as religious and clergy. Teachers hold a sacred place in the life of every student, for this role to be so terribly undermined by such despicable behaviour seriously challenges the moral authority of church at this time. Survivors of this abuse have gone through terrible pain and suffering often in silence and shame. Now is the time for proper redress and indeed full cooperation by the many religious orders who will be held to account.
The scoping inquiry into allegations of abuse at schools run by religious orders has found that there were 2,395 allegations of sexual abuse in respect of 308 schools recorded by the religious orders that ran those schools. The allegations were made in respect of 884 distinct alleged abusers. The inquiry has recommended that the Government consider a redress scheme for survivors of historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools. It has also recommended that the Government approach relevant religious orders about contributing to redress. The religious orders’ records indicate that over half of the 884 people accused of historical sexual abuse are known to be deceased and there is a particularly high number of allegations in special schools. 17 special schools recorded 590 allegations involving 190 alleged abusers.
The number of schools with allegations of historical sexual abuse also shows that such allegations were not confined to schools in any particular geographic or social category. The report outlines how people were invited to register their interest in participating in the process, which was open to all former students of day and boarding schools run by religious orders. 205 people-the overwhelming majority of whom were men-completed questionnaires about their experiences. In their questionnaire responses, survivors spoke of experiences of historical sexual abuse in schools in at least 22 counties in Ireland, naming over 80 schools, run by 24 religious orders. The incidents of sexual abuse were, in the main, described as having occurred between the early 1960s and the early 1990s, with the highest number of reported incidents occurring in the early to mid-1970s. Of those completing questionnaires, 182 were assessed as falling within the scoping inquiry’s terms of reference and invited to the second stage.
149 participants opted to take part in the second stage of the process, where they could choose to give an interview to a trauma-informed facilitator or provide a written submission. 137 participants completed in-person interviews, and 12 participants provided written submissions. Most survivors said that they wanted a statutory inquiry and most said an inquiry process that was the least adversarial possible was desirable. The view of the inquiry team is that any inquiry process should be as inclusive as possible. However, it pointed out that more court-like processes of a tribunal risk discouraging survivors from coming forward and would pose a greater risk of retraumatisation. “The procedural flexibility of a commission affords the least adversarial model of inquiry, and therefore the greatest prospect of reducing the risk of retraumatisation.” It has recommended that a Commission of Investigation pursuant to the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 be established. It also recommended that, in early course, consideration be given by the Government to establishing a redress scheme for survivors of historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by the religious orders.
Wisdom teaches, we are only as sick as our best kept secret. We can never fully move forward as church until every truth regarding people’s pain from the past is truly recognised and listened to. Perhaps we try too hard to move forward because it’s a deeply uncomfortable place to sit in the painful reality that overwhelms so many, regarding their past experience in schools or simply as members of the church. These reports seriously undermine the moral credibility and leadership of the church. Healing always takes place with fulsome acknowledgement and just redress. The current safeguarding procedures for best practice are as a consequence to the horrors of the past. Thankfully these safeguarding procedures truly make our school communities and pastoral ministry safe places where especially vulnerable children and adults can be guaranteed best practice at all time. Listening brings healing and discernment. I humbly pray that the process of listening to survivors of such historical abuse will be a time for healing.
A Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Abuse: “Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts, heal your people’s wounds, and transform brokenness into wholeness. Grant us the courage and wisdom, humility and grace, to act with justice. Grant that all harmed by abuse may find peace in justice. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen”.