Madam, – The insensitivity to survivors of clerical sexual abuse, of the presence of Bishop Dermot O’Mahony, and Bishop Éamonn Walsh concelebrating Mass with the apostolic visitor to the Dublin Archdiocese, Cardinal Seán O’Malley, is beyond the pale (Home News, November 15th).
With the first anniversary of the Murphy report coming up, what message is being sent out here? Again, is this a show of hierarchical solidarity? After all, Cardinal Law was promoted in Rome. Is there no understanding of the pain of survivors, their families, their friends? Patronising “fatherly” concern will not do. The game is up.
I call on all Catholics in Ireland, to withhold donations to church collections for the month of December, to drive this message home. There are wonderful charities here, working for the poor, the homeless and the oppressed, in the true spirit of the Christian message of love, who will be grateful for this money. – Yours, etc,