Madam, – What other organisation in this country could refuse to hand over information pertaining to criminal acts on the basis that it would present “insurmountable difficulties”, and this would be more or less accepted by the authorities? The answer is: none.
The grotesque and immoral nature of the Catholic Church’s attempts to conceal allegations of child sexual abuse is absolutely reprehensible. It has not only long lost its moral monopoly in this country, but now too any sense of moral clout. Cover-ups are all about self-survival.
Likewise, the Government has shown itself to be inept (and once again reverential) in its unwillingness to properly investigate these allegations and enforce the law of the land.
No one should be above the law and the softly-softly approach to the Church by the Government does a disservice to those who have suffered, and continue to suffer the consequences of abuse. – Yours, etc,