THE director of the Catholic Communications Centre, Mr Jim Cantwell, said yesterday that it was "totally and absolutely untrue to say that members of the Irish Bishops Conference had been concerned in any way about President Robinson's dress during her recent visit to the Vatican. "Her dress was not a matter of concern at all", he said.
The Papal Nuncio, Dr Storeio, had insisted that, contrary to what might have been said by some commentators, her mode of dress was "considered quite appropriate. And the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Sodano, had "publicly acknowledged that the private visit of the President had been a happy and successful one".
Mr Cantwell thought it "a bit ridiculous" to suggest that the Pope, with the "weight of the world on his shoulders, had been concerned about what President Robinson wore.
Father David O'Hanlon, in comments on the matter in this newspaper, had been expressing his personal view, Mr Cantwell said. This was "not at all representative" of the bishops view on the matter. The dress issue, he felt, bad been taken out of all proportion.
Mr Cantwell said that people could make their own judgments about Father O'Hanlon's views. He pointed out that Father O'Hanlon did not have the approval of the bishops for what he had said, adding that his comments would have "come as a surprise to people at the Irish College in Rome".
Mr Cantwell referred to a letter from Mgr Denis O Callaghan former professor of moral theology at Maynooth College, published in this newspaper last Thursday, saying that he agreed with Mgr O'Callaghan's comment that Father O'Hanlon's style of expression was "in the genre of a student debate and should be responded to as such.
Bishop John Kirby, who wrote a letter defending the President against Father O'Hanlon's attack, declined to comment yesterday on a letter from Father O'Hanlon (published in this newspaper last Tuesday) criticising him.
Mr Justin Kilcullen, of Trocaire, also refused to Comment on a linked criticism of his organisation.
Last night, a circumspect Father O'Hanlon did not wish to comment either, even about his own letter. Readers would have to engage with the text [of the letter]", he said. He wished to simply "leave it as it stands" and "let people think what they want.
