Your excellent editorial “The boil must be lanced” of April 7-13 on the abuse crisis refers.
Though I applaud efforts made by the local hierarchy to openly address issues, I propose that both guilty priests and victims of abuse should submit evidence to a panel of eminent lay Catholic lawyers. Attorney-client privilege would hold for any submission.
Once all such information has been collated by a cut-off date, the panel would try to identify which cases have a reasonable chance of achieving a sentence in a criminal court. Clergy accused of such abuse may at this time have an opportunity to respond. Attempts should be made to achieve out-of-court settlements, failing which the complainant may proceed with criminal charges.
Victims of abuse may no longer be practising Catholics, and to ensure as transparent a process as possible, calls for such submissions may be done through the national print media.
This may be a bitter pill to swallow, but such a procedure would confirm the bona fides of the hierarchy in addressing this crisis as fairly and quickly as possible.
The value of an independent panel of lay lawyers has the advantage of avoiding any accusation of a cover-up by the hierarchy. And I am sure many eminent Catholic lawyers would be willing to offer their services without charge.
As an aside, as a practising Catholic I find it bizarre to read about some Catholics abandoning their faith as a result of this crisis. It is surely clear to all that the Church is populated by normally sinful mortals.
This crisis has made me feel even more dedicated to the Church and to those many thousands of clergy who continue to labour faithfully in the vineyard. It is in the interest of such men that I submit these suggestions.
Name withheld
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