The clerical abuse scandals should not be used as a pretext to call into question the Church’s role in education, senators from both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael said yesterday.

Responding to a call by Senator Ivana Bacik that the clerical abuse scandals should lead to a debate on Church patronage of primary schools, senators from both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael condemned the call.

Senator Bacik made her remarks in response to remarks made on Tuesday by Independent Senator Ronan Mullen (pictured), urging Senator Bacik not to use the issue of abuse “as a cover for a different agenda in the education debate”. Senator Bacik had said that a debate was needed “on the protection of our children in institutions and schools that remain under the control of the Catholic Church and on the future of the church’s role in the education system”.

Fianna Fáil Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú said that it was neither “ fair nor tenable” to use the scandals as the basis for a debate on the Church’s role in education.

He continued: “It is not right to indict the entire Catholic Church because of the actions of a small minority of clerics who have been responsible for engaging in child sex abuse. It is not right to suggest either that the church should not be involved in education.”

Fine Gael Senator Joe O’Reilly, while agreeing with Senator Bacik about the need for a debate on patronage, said that the Church had also agreed with the need for such a debate.

He also expressed concern “that a link might be made between the call for such a debate and the sex abuse scandal”.

“There is no evidence to suggest there is a link or that Catholic schooling as currently constituted is in any way a contributory factor in or linked with child abuse,” Senator O’Reilly said.

It was vital, he continued “that we make the point that there is no link between a discussion of child abuse and the reorganisation of educational structures”.

Senator Buttimer agreed with Senator O’Reilly that a debate was needed on the issue of school patronage, but added that the Catholic Church should not be blamed “for all the wrongs done by a minority”.

Senator Camillus Glynn of Fianna Fáil said that there were “two groups of victims in the issue of child abuse linked to education: those who were abused and the decent priests, brothers and nuns who did nothing wrong but are tarred with the same brush as those who perpetrated abuse on children”.

The church, he added “has still a strong role to play in education”.

Senator Jim Walsh said that there were “elements who would seek to advance progressive secularism by exploiting the atrocious and appalling abuse that occurred within the church and in church institutions”. This approach brought its advocates no credit, he added.

Leader of the Seanad Senator Donie Cassidy said that the contribution the church has made in education “has been enormous, not alone in Ireland but throughout the world”. He congratulated the churches, particularly the Catholic Church on this contribution.