Pressure on the Scottish Government to widen the scope of an inquiry into historic child abuse has grown after a priest joined calls for institutions of the Catholic Church to be covered.
Father Gerry Magee, Parish Priest of Saint Winin’s Church, Kilwinning, has agreed to chair White Flowers Alba, a group representing victims of abuse within the Catholic Church.
The group is demanding the Government extend the inquiry, which is being chaired by Susan O'Brien QC, to include the abuse suffered by anyone at non-residential settings run by the church, including schools and nurseries. At present, unlike a similar inquiry in England, the Scottish inquiry only covers those abused in residential care.
Under-fire education secretary Angela Constance will meet victims of abuse tomorrow [Thurs] at Holyrood to hear their concerns. Fr Magee will attend along with members of White Flowers Alba, and his involvement with the group has been backed by the Bishop of Galloway, Bill Nolan.
He said: "I feel that the government is letting the people down and has let the people down. These people were treated like dirt by their abusers and they are continuing to be treated like dirt by the government and the Church.
"The Scottish Government talks a lot about wanting to be inclusive but they are being exclusive in relation to victims and that is shocking.
" I believe that it is not Ms Constance who should be in that room with us tomorrow it should be the first minster herself, such is the importance of this."
Fr Magee, who has a long history of speaking out for abuse victims, said he had no qualms about calling for the Catholic Church to be exposed to scrutiny.
"The old guard within the Church have been complicit in covering this up. Now we have to be more open and transparent," he said.
"I believe I'm doing the right thing. The people in the Church are good people but the Church hierarchy want power without the responsibility that goes with it.
"I love the church and the people in the Church and that's who I serve."
He said a commission into abuse set up within the Catholic Church had resulted in a report which was 'fluffy' and 'flowery' and failed to properly address abuse or the complicity of those who had covered it up. "I fear this inquiry will end up achieving the same result," he said.
The outspoken priest's said his involvement had been endorsed by Bishop Nolan.
In response to Fr Magee's email telling him he wished to chair the White Flowers group, Bishop Nolan thanked him and said: "Sadly there are so many who have been abused. Given the trauma that many have experienced bringing some form of closure will not be easy. I wish you well in your work with victims/survivors."
Andi Lavery, spokesman for White Flowers Alba, a survivor of Catholic childhood abuse, said: "The Scottish Government is saying you have to be the right type of survivor to be covered by this inquiry. Inquiries in England and Australia are looking at every form of wickedness and at compensating victims. Scotland, despite its large Catholic population, is not. Abuse within the Catholic Church was so horrific and widespread but here we are not even asking the questions. This is not what survivors want."
The Scottish Government says the inquiry is probably the biggest ever held in Scotland and ministers say they have consulted extensively with victims. In a radio interview, Angela Constance said: "religious organisations and orders are included where they have looked after children in a residential capacity." However she said one of the goals of the inquiry was to report back quickly, in particular so that elderly or unwell victims and survivors did not lose hope about seeing results in their lifetime.
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