LARGE CROWDS attended the Ash Wednesday services at Dublins Pro-Cathedral yesterday at lunchtime, but the statement made by Pope Benedict after the two-day meeting with the Irish bishops in Rome did not impress those who spoke to The Irish Times.
One man and his wife, who did not want to be named because the subject of religion was a fraught one with their son, said the church was full of “past middle age Catholics who have been conned”.
They noted the words of abuse victim Michael O’Brien, who described the outcome of two days of meeting in Rome as a “whitewash”.
The man was particularly exercised by comments made by priests at Galway Cathedral to the effect that it was full for the Novena and, therefore, showed that the church was being re-energised at a time of crisis.
“Okay, were still attending the church and the clergy look around and they think we are still attending church and it looks as if nothing had changed,” he said. “But that’s our generation. We might as well keep going now. Were passed the half-way stage of life, but there’s no young people going to Mass.”
He said the church would only really listen “when it is hit in the [collection] baskets” as it was in Boston, which led eventually to the removal of Cardinal Law.
His wife conceded that the laity needed to speak out more on the actions of the clergy.
“People’s reluctance to speak up is what is keeping the church going,” she said.
Avril Ward from Cabra, who attended the Ash Wednesday services along with her mother, said ordinary Catholics were trying to stay religious themselves, positive about their religion and keep their heads above water.
She said the pope’s failure to issue an apology to the victims following the series of meetings was wrong. “They have been fighting their corner for so long and nothing has happened in their favour. If this was just a normal crime from somebody else, something would be done immediately.”
Churchgoer Cathal Convery said the failure of the pope to refer to a cover-up or to offer an apology was “really disappointing” and he held little faith that the issue of an apology would be addressed when the pope issues his pastoral letter soon.
“I thought it was a major oversight that it did not happen, he said.
The attitude of the bishops showed that they “still do not get” the damage that was done to the victims of clerical child abuse.
Mr Convery also called on the Bishop of Galway Martin Drennan to resign.
Rebecca Lawless from Coolock said the pope should come to Ireland and meet victims or invite them to Rome.
“It would be better for them that they meet him. It would put an end to their story if not their memories and give them some sense of closure,” she said.
