PETER DE ROSA,
Sir, - Many people will remember the recently deceased Sister Maura Clune NDS from a Late, Late Show hosted by Gay Byrne a few years back. Someone said then that, given half a chance, Sister Maura with the few other wise, elderly nuns on that show could renew the Church in Ireland.
A few days ago, I was privileged to attend Maura's crowded memorial mass at one of her many foundations - Bellinter, Co Meath. We came together to thank God for her life's work. Her younger sister Nancy remarked, "She was everyone's agony aunt." I said to Nancy I had told Maura for 35 years, "You would make a wonderful bishop."
I have lectured to many thousands of nuns here and abroad. They were the liveliest, bravest, best educated, most humorous, most hopeful women I ever met. Alas, in spite of the inspiring work of Sister Maura and countless others, so many of them felt obliged to leave the convents. Far from treasuring these gracious ladies, Rome treated them, and treats them still as children of a lesser God.
Our friend Maura represented Christ to everyone. For all its theological rhetoric, Rome deemed her, as a woman, unworthy to represent Christ at the altar.
How we are missing the lost nuns now as nurses, teachers, thinkers, social workers, inspirers of our community. In time to come, their needless departure will rank next to the tragedy of the priests and brothers who abused our children - often because our leaders failed to see them as the criminals they were. Had Maura Clune been a bishop, she would not have made that mistake. - Yours, etc.,
PETER DE ROSA, Ashford, Co Wicklow.
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Sir, - Now is surely an appropriate moment for the scale of sex abuse in a wider context to be raised, as Helena O'Leary has done so effectively (April 16th).
Anyone who has researched the topic in recent times and read the relevant professional journals and the reports that followed seminars in Athlone and Kilkenny will know that 50 per cent of all sex abuse takes place within a family setting, whether the perpetrators be fathers, stepfathers, partners, grandfathers, uncles or other relatives or neighbours. They will also be aware that one-third of abuses are carried out by male adolescents under 18 and that only 10 per cent of all sex abuse incidents are reported to the appropriate authorities. (Reasons given are pressure, fear, shame, stigma, loss of family standing, diminished self-image.) Reported cases represent the tip of an iceberg.
If this, one of the last great and evil taboos in society (not only in Ireland but everywhere) is to be realistically addressed, it is imperative that it be done courageously, honestly and fully. Scapegoating is not the answer. - Yours etc.,
LOUIS POWER, Loughlinstown, Co Dublin.