Papal Nuncio recall "not hostile" - CathNews New Zealand

Papal Nuncio recall “not hostile”

Friday, July 29th, 2011

The Vatican’s decision to recall its diplomatic envoy to Ireland is not viewed as a hostile move by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs.

Bruised under unprecedented criticism resulting from the accusation in the Cloyne Report that the Holy See sabotaged efforts by Catholic bishops to report clerical sexual abuse cases to the police, the Vatican made a rare move to recall the Apostolic Nuncio for consultations.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore said the Papal Nuncio recall was “a matter for the Holy See.”

“The Government is awaiting the response of the Holy See to the recent report into the Catholic Diocese of Cloyne, and it is to be expected that the Vatican would wish to consult in depth with the nuncio on its response,” Gilmore said.

A diplomat’s recall is often diplomatic speak for showing displeasure with some act of the host state and indicates a cooling in relations.

The Irish Times reports that its source says in this instance it does not appear to be the kind of recall that indicates displeasure.

Diplomatic sources noted the Department of Foreign Affairs was notified in advance by the Apostolic Nunciature that Archbishop Leanza was returning to Rome for consultations.

Prior to the Nuncio’s departure for Rome, Gilmore had summoned Archbishop Leanza and demanded an official response from the Vatican. The Vatican has said it will issue one at the “opportune time,” but has not done so yet.

A confidential 1997 Vatican letter – originally published by The Associated Press in January – instructed Irish bishops to handle child-abuse cases strictly under terms of canon law. It warned bishops that their 1996 child-protection policy, particularly its emphasis on the need to start reporting all suspected crimes to police, violated canon law.

Sources