[2] Reporter Paddy Agnew likened the visitation "To a certain extent, ... equivalent to HQ at a multi-national sending a taskforce delegation of trouble shooters to check out what went wrong at the local branch.
The Visitation does not seek to replace the legitimate authority of the local Bishops or Religious Superiors, who maintain responsibility in the handling of cases of abuse".
"[4] On 7 October 2010, Cardinal Marc Ouellet and Archbishop Manuel Monteiro de Castro, with representatives of the Holy See, held a preparatory meeting with the apostolic visitators named by Pope Benedict.
[5] The Congregations for Bishops, for Institutes of Consecrated Life and for Catholic Education concurred with the Secretariat of State that the first phase of the visitation – the inquiry concerning the four metropolitan archdioceses, religious houses and seminaries – should be completed by Easter 2011.
[6] The visitators were to give particular attention to victims of abuse and their families, but also to meet with and listen to a variety of people, including ecclesiastical authorities, lay faithful and those involved with the crucial work of safeguarding of children.
)[8] Dolan was assisted by some clerics, approved by the Congregation for Catholic Education, whose main duty was to help to conduct private one-to-one interviews with the seminarians, and staff members.
In 1996 the Irish bishops had devised a new set of policies for handling such allegations, including a mandate to inform law-enforcement officials of all credible reports of abuse.
However, in January 1997 Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland Luciano Storero sent a letter to the Irish bishops, conveying the decision of the Congregation for Clergy that the policies should not be carried out.
The papal nuncio said that since the policies in the English speaking world appear similar in a number of respects, Congregation was conducting a "global study" would "at the appropriate time" provide more complete directions on handling sex-abuse complaints.
"In view of the shortage of personnel trained in canon law, the Visitators insisted on the need for a reorganization of Ireland's ecclesiastical tribunals, to be carried out in cooperation with the competent bodies of the Holy See, so that the various cases still awaiting definitive resolution can be adequately processed.
"[8] On 6 June 2011 the Press Office of the Holy See released a communique restating the aims of the visitation examining "whether the mutual relationship of the various components of the local Church, seminaries and religious communities is now in place, in order to sustain them on the path of profound spiritual renewal already being pursued by the Church in Ireland"; "the effectiveness of the present processes used in responding to cases of abuse" and "the current forms of assistance provided to the victims".
Those same Bishops and Superiors have often felt isolated as they sought to confront the waves of indignation and at times they have found it difficult to agree on a common line of action.
[8]The summary of the report stated "...it must be acknowledged that within the Christian community innocent young people were abused by clerics and Religious to whose care they had been entrusted, while those who should have exercised vigilance often failed to do so effectively.
While acknowledging that "the current norms of Safeguarding Children: Standards and Guidance Document for the Catholic Church in Ireland (Guidelines) are being followed", it recommended regular audits to ensure continued compliance.
"[14] In the wake of the apostolic visitation three of the four senior staff members at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome resigned to resume teaching or pastoral duties.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin pointed out that the spiritual director had already asked to be relieved for health reasons, while the vice rector was serving beyond his term of office.