Sir, - In response to my criticisms of Dr Desmond Connell (December 2nd), Jim Cantwell, director of the Catholic Press Office, questions whether I have read the guidelines of the Irish Bishop's Conference (December 4th).
He misses the point. I'm not saying that the Church never apologised to victims. What I am saying and repeat is that I am critical of Dr Connell, and that in his speech he criticised the Irish people for "revisionism" in their memories of the Catholic Church. But he himself was being "revisionist", or maybe selective, by extolling the virtues of the Church while not at the same time mentioning the victims of its past.
To be blunt, Dr Connell's call for fair criticism from the Irish people should work both ways and more of his time should be spent trying to understand the hurt that people are experiencing, so honestly expressed by Stephen Kennedy (November 28th).
I hope the fact that Jim Cantwell had to repeat the church's apology in response to my letter might in some small way alleviate some of the disappointment of the victims, whom Dr Connell did not think necessary to acknowledge in his original speech.
These people have shown remarkable bravery in speaking out, and Dr Connell, as a Christian, should never forget to applaud that bravery at every public event he can. - Yours, etc., Sally Ann O'Donovan,
Adelaide Road, Dublin 2.