Cardinal and the Bishop of Cloyne

Madam, – Marianne O’Connor, Director General of CORI, has, not surprisingly, joined those calling for an end to the slaughter…

Madam, – Marianne O’Connor, Director General of CORI, has, not surprisingly, joined those calling for an end to the slaughter of innocents in Gaza (Letters, January 16th).

Will she now, on behalf of the 9,000 men and women who are represented by CORI, join those who are calling for the resignation of Bishop John Magee because of his behaviour in relation to child sex abuse in Cloyne?

CORI has a special responsibility in this matter because the abusers were, of course, part of the CORI family. – Yours, etc,

GEARÓID Ó DUBHÁIN,

Rochestown,

Co Cork.

Madam, – Congratulations are in order to both Bishop Magee and Cardinal Brady for standing up to the media bully boys and girls, and not yielding to media-led mob rule. Not before time, say many of us.

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In total contrast, the obsequious and grovelling approach of Archbishop Martin to the media is becoming increasingly irritating.– Yours, etc,

ERIC CONWAY,

Navan,

Co Meath.

Madam, –  Who will be the first courageous Roman Catholic parish priest in Ireland to consult his congregation about his future?

The Roman Catholic leadership from Rome down fails to take into account modern scientific knowledge on sex and sexuality. Little wonder, then, that institutionalised physical and emotional abuse of children, women, men, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people occurs in that organisation. Cardinal Brady and his episcopal colleagues have shown their lack of independence and insight by backing the Bishop of Cloyne.

Perhaps the time has come for individual priests and people to depart from the Irish RC Church, not merely as individuals, but as organised groups.

We have fine, home-grown, patriotic, well-run, democratic, theologically modern Irish Christian churches such as the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterians, Methodists and the newer evangelical churches available as alternatives. –   Yours, etc,

JEREMIAH P WALSH,

Richmond,

Surrey,

England.

Madam, – Cardinal Sean Brady’s support for Bishop John Magee is an insult to the victims of clerical abuse. I, for one, shall be boycotting Catholic church services as a mark of protest. – Yours, etc,

PATRICK O’BYRNE,

Shandon Crescent,

Dublin 7.