A SENIOR cardinal who moved to protect the Vatican by restricting access to church records during inquiries into allegations of clerical sex abuse has resigned. A SENIOR cardinal who moved to protect the Vatican by restricting access to church records during inquiries into allegations of clerical sex abuse has resigned. Last year former president Mary McAleese described a meeting that she had with Cardinal Sodano as “one of the most devastating moments” of her presidency. The Ryan Commission was investigating the treatment of children in industrial schools and the Ferns Inquiry was examining clerical child sex abuse. Ms McAleese said it was clear during their exchange that Cardinal Sodano wanted to protect the Vatican and church archives.

Source: Irish Independent December 21, 2019 21:11 UTC