BishopAccountability.org
 
  Cowen Hits Back at Attack on Church/State Relationship

Irish Examiner [Ireland]
November 10, 2005

A Government backbencher's calls to end the special relationship between the state and the Catholic Church were today rebuked in the Dáil by Minister for Finance Brian Cowen.

Progressive Democrat TD Liz O'Donnell yesterday launched a scathing attack on bishops and priests and said the damning Ferns Report on clerical child sex abuse should finally end the cosy ties between the Government and the Catholic hierarchy.

She added that the Catholic Church was like a secret society which had failed to protect the nation's children and couldn't be believed anymore.

But Mr Cowen, speaking on behalf of the Government, today told the Dáil that the state's relationship with the Catholic Church should be dispersed to include mature dialogue with all faiths and religions.

Mr Cowen also described yesterday's calls by Coalition colleague Ms O'Donnell to cut ties with the Catholic hierarchy as illiberal.

The Tullamore TD told the Dáil that a key principle of the shelved EU Constitution was to create mature relationships in each member state between governments and all faith communities.

Greens chairman John Gormley earlier raised the issue during the Order of Business and asked if there were any legislative proposals to end the special relationship between the state and the Church.

Mr Cowen replied: "There is no promised legislation in relation to that.

"The draft Constitutional Treaty during our EU presidency states it is the intention of all governments in the EU to continue with a very legitimate dialogue between the faith communities in their societies and governments on the basis of a mature relationship which we seek with all faiths in this pluralist society.

"I would regard it as a thoroughly illiberal idea that such a dialogue shouldn't take place."

Ms O'Donnell yesterday told the Dáil during a special parliamentary debate on the Ferns report: "This report will change forever the special relationship that has existed for many decades between Church and state.

The Dublin TD added: "It was extremely influential in terms of outcome. It must end absolutely. Only then can the state act as it should, as we go forward objectively."

The former junior minister, who admitted she had irreconcilable differences with the Catholic Church, said she had received a 'mauling' for criticising the Church authorities in 2001 for transferring paedophile priests – a charge which had been comprehensively borne out by the Ferns Report.