Madam, – I profoundly disagree with the opening sentence of your Editorial (February 15th) that the Pope is “genuinely horrified and repulsed by clerical sex abuse”. This abuse has been widespread, systemic and long-lasting, and if the Vatican did not know about it then it simply didn’t want to.
It is abundantly clear that the Roman Catholic Church is about power and the defence of its privileged position, especially in subservient countries such as Ireland. If innocent children suffer as a result, too bad. I suspect that if the Pope is indeed horrified it is because the whole appalling episode has reached the light of day. – Yours, etc,
A chara, – The certainty with which newspaper editorials make sweeping statements never ceases to amaze me. The final paragraph of your Editorial (February 15th) is a case in point.
I regard myself as a practising Catholic, but the position of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin in the wake of the Murphy report does not, under any circumstances, reflect my views. Nor does it reflect the views of many other practising Catholics – I know this from talking to many of my committed and practising co-religionists and not from what I want to hear.
The man has treated his assistant bishops and his priests abominably – courting popular opinion in the way politicians do all the time. The man would be far more suited to Leinster House than Archbishop’s House. – Is mise,
Madam, – I refer to director of the Catholic Communications Office, Martin Long’s welcome letter on behalf of the Irish Episcopal Conference (February 15th).
I respectfully suggest that the insertion of the word “some”, before both “bishops” and “survivors”, would more accurately have reflected the current state of the Irish church and given a clearer indication as to why Pope Benedict found it necessary to summon the bishops to Rome for what is surely not a prizegiving ceremony.
It is to be hoped that a major part of the outcome of this important meeting will be a resolve to include word “all” in future communications of this nature and that it will reflect a unified “one church” response to this persistently painful tragedy.
As Ireland was preparing for the return of the bishops, it is the genuine prayer of the faithful, that they will (with notable and genuine exceptions), have learned much from this summons to the principal’s office, (with the major members of staff having to be present) and that it will include a stated commitment from those now accepted to have a credible ministry ahead of them, to aspire to honours marks, not just passes or a replication of what all too often has been an accepted failure grade. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Martin Long writes (February 15th) “acknowledging the failures of the church and working towards healing and credibility in the critical area of child protection is an ongoing priority”. If this is the case, the Catholic Church must now open up its archives relating to abuse allegations against its people, many of whom believed their depraved activities would go unreported because they wore the uniform of a priest.
The safety of future generations of Irish children and the sanity of victims of abuse may require a “truth and reconciliation” commission to move forward.
God-fearing men might come forward of their own volition begging for forgiveness, sparing their victims the torment of giving evidence and reliving the experience. Unfortunately, the reality is many of these paedophiles are not “God”-fearing and are confident they will get away with much of their crimes, because they have managed to maintain a hold on their victims, who even after 30 years are still unable to tell anyone about their abuse. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – How does one “address the problems of the past with determination and resolve and face the present crisis with honesty and courage”? (Breaking News, February 16th) These are empty words. On the other hand, if Pope Benedict and the bishops faced the past with honesty and courage and the present with determination and resolve we might be getting somewhere. – Yours, etc,