An Irish Tragedy

Rigert provides a troubling and disturbing account of sexual abuse by Irish priests who migrated to various parts of the world, especially the United States. At the core of the crisis, according to Rigert, was a “Catholic culture” in Ireland that glorified the priesthood and frequently prodded men into church vocations for which they were ill-prepared. Moreover, when a priest became a sexual predator they were frequently dispatched to dioceses in the United States to get a “fresh start” in a new setting. An Irish Tragedy relies on interviews with victims and predators, church pronouncements, court records, newspaper accounts, and a wide range of theological and psychological sources. The records of dioceses and religious orders are conspicuously absent – a common shortcoming in many treatments of the sexual abuse scandal.

Joe Rigert, a life-long Roman Catholic and career journalism, did not intend to produce a narrative on Irish clerical abuse, but a circuitous examination of the scandal exposed a disturbing pattern among clerical expatriates from Ireland. The most disquieting element of the accounts presented is the “culture of secrecy” that evolved in both Ireland and the United States to hide the actions of abusive priests and to protect the reputation and assets of the church. Interestingly, Rigert maintains that many of the Irish priests abused women – an event that has been overshadowed by priestly abuse of boys and male adolescents. The narrative is coherently organized which allows the reader to grapple with the magnitude of the crisis, patterns of serial abusers, and how Irish culture produced both saints and sinners.

The most helpful insights emerge in two biographical sketches of serial abusers from Ireland – Father Oliver O’Grady and Bishop Anthony O’Connell – whose cases were adjudicated and civil settlements finalized. Both men entered the seminary at an early age and exhibited sexual immaturity throughout their careers; the bishop created a culture of promiscuity, while the priest abused men and women of all ages. O’Connell was assigned to the Diocese of Palm Beach and O’Grady served in several places in California. Both men were eventually exposed – O’Connell dispatched to a Trappist monastery in Mepkin, South Carolina, and O’Grady imprisoned prior to deportation to Ireland. An Irish Tragedy reveals other important issues, including discussions of gay subcultures, challenges of celibacy, complexities of Irish Catholicism, and covert efforts by church officials to limit exposure to sexual abuse.

Rigert’s arguments are both compelling and upsetting for Catholics. He carefully explains that homosexuality – the target of many church officials seeking to explain the abuse crisis – is not synonymous with sexual abuse. In addition, his arguments are balanced and consider the sensibilities of both those abused by priests and those committed to the mission of the church. In the final analysis Rigert has made an important contribution; however, additional treatment of “good” Irish priests and their contribution to worldwide Catholicism would have provided a valid counterpoint to those who committed grave indiscretions. Unfortunately, the actions of abusive Irish priests and recent disclosures of sexual and physical abuse by Irish Christian Brothers at several industrial schools in Ireland overshadow the positive efforts of Irish missionaries.

Rigert, an investigative journalist, reveals the truth about the Irish sex abuse scandal in the same way the Boston Globe documented the crisis in the United States. Because Ireland has a history of exporting its priests accused of abuse to the US, he asserts that the roots of the sex abuse scandals are in Ireland. Rigert blames sexual repression both in Irish society and the priesthood for the scandals but demonstrates how the hierarchy in the United States and the Vatican itself are to blame for the extent of the scandal.

The Washington Times.