Update on Jesuit naming process

Fr Shane Daly SJ, Irish Jesuit Provincial, has given an update on the progress of the Independent Working Group » established to review the files of all Jesuits who are the subject of child sexual abuse allegations, and to make recommendations regarding placing names in the public domain.

The process of naming entails the implementation in full of the Working Group’s recommendations and ensuring that the necessary supports for potential survivors are in place. It is nearing completion, and the naming will take place early in the New Year.

The Independent Working Group was comprised of two experts in the field of child sexual abuse, and chaired by a former Supreme Court Judge.

Background

After the public naming of Joseph Marmion SJ in 2021 as a Jesuit who had perpetrated child abuse, it became clear that many survivors/victims felt more free to approach the Order once his name was put into the public domain. Following the publication in February 2024 of the Historical Narrative regarding abuse perpetrated by Joseph Marmion SJ », and the naming of two other Jesuits with allegations of abuse against them » connected to the narrative, the three-person Independent Working Group was commissioned by the Provincial with the survivor/victims of other deceased Jesuits in mind.

Two-fold task of Working Group

• To consider and advise upon the standards to be applied by the Jesuit Order when deciding to publicly name a deceased Jesuit who was the subject of child sexual abuse allegations.
• To make recommendations about those Jesuits to whom these standards apply, so they could be named by the Order.

The purpose of the naming of any such deceased Jesuit is to reach out to survivors/victims. Our hope is that they might feel encouraged to come forward and speak about their abuse and in response receive an acknowledgement from the Order along with whatever support they might want or need. According to the Jesuit Safeguarding Office, people are already contacting them in this regard and they have a number of responses in place for them.

Responses for survivors

The Safeguarding Office has in place a team of professional laypersons who work at the pace of each individual who contacts them, exploring with them what their needs and wishes are.

Information is shared as openly as possible where individuals have questions arising from their experience.

Should a person wish to meet with a Jesuit, often the Provincial, and receive an acknowledgment or an apology, then such a meeting is facilitated at the right time for the person who has come forward.

Counselling and psychotherapy is funded by the Jesuits.

Compensation or redress is often important to people, and the Jesuits have sought to make this process as simple as possible. For further information on the Jesuit Redress Scheme for victims of Child sexual abuse click here »

Contact appeal

Fr Shane Daly wishes to invite “any person who was harmed by any Jesuit to consider speaking with us. We really want to hear from you.” The contact email is: [email protected]