URSULA M. KELLY,
Sir, - In the light of Jesus Christ's uniquely terrible indictment of those who destroy the innocence of a child (Matthew: 18.6), my Church's record in dealing with clerical sex abuse is a matter for the most profound shame and repentance. Your Editorial of April 2nd rightly says that the Hierarchy's response has been characterised by "evasion, foot-dragging and legalisms".
Catholic leaders are very ready to endorse tribunals of inquiry into such atrocities as Bloody Sunday. They should be equally zealous in prescribing rigorous and transparent inquiries into the murdering of the hearts and minds of children. The number of suicides, broken marriags and cases of drug addiction that follow childhood sexual abuse clearly shows why Jesus Christ denounced so shockingly the violators of children.
Bishop Comiskey's resignation merely points to the need for further radical action. If he was unable to offer justice to the victims who aproached him, my Church must find a way of speedily doing so that is more respectful of their anguish than the arranging of confidential financial settlements, however large.
I would support a procedure similar to that suggested by your excellent columnist Breda O'Brien. This would involve the appointment of a suitable ombudsman (or small commisson) with complete access to all relevant Church files, freedom to publish the findings of this inquiry, and a requirement that at least a preliminary report be made available inside a year.
Only by some such set of measures will my Church show that its repentance and reparation are appropriate to the vile crimes committd against the innocent. - Yours, etc.
Rev JOHN FEIGHERY SVD,
City Quay,
Dublin, 2.
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Sir, - There is so much talk about inquiries and tribunals into the sexual abuse of children in the Diocese of Ferns, when all we really need is a candid statement from the bishops as to why these situations were allowed to continue, and the perpetrators left in their positions for so long.
I am afraid I am cynical enough to believe that inquiries, whether Church or State, public or private, will be so full of legal loopholes that the real truth will never be known. The truth can be handled and any wrongs forgiven (with the help of God), but cover-ups wil remain a festering sore forever.
I watched the programme Suing the Pope and afterwards I was filled with an overwhelming sense of loss, bereavement and sadness. Loss of innocence? Loss of faith? I don't know. How could the Church which is part of my being condone so much suffering and injustice and allow so much downright criminal activity - and do nothing about it?
I brought up my children in Wexford in which I thought was a good Catholic atmosphere, but I was unable to hand on my own religious convictions. Perhaps I am naïve and they see that. I was brought up to believe that to question the behaviour of a priest was to cause scandal - and to cause scandal was a mortal sin!
I still believe in the concepts of Christianity - the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed and especially the teachings of Christ: "Love one another as I have loved you". I know that the Church will survive - Christ has promised to be with it until the end of the world. I know that there are many good priests and leaders in the Church. So please convince me of the basic goodness of the Church, without a lawyer at your elbow. - Yours, etc.,
URSULA M. KELLY,
Old Navan Road,
Dublin 15.
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Sir, - Given the unfolding news of church, institutional, and civic abuse and gross negligence of children, is it not time to question the whole foundations of our society - a patriarchal society where institutions are run by men and for men ; women and children are only fodder to be used and abused. Yet in this Ireland our Constitution, as we are constantly reminded, enshrines the child's existence and importance even if unborn. How hollow this rings today.
Politicians and church elders have known for years the real story of abuse. Sanctimonious, altar-hugging humbugs have ignored what they knew in their bones was wrong, whether for political or societal advancement - young girls impregnated by family members, employers or others, banished into places such as the Magdalen laundries. Can it be true that they were all immaculate conceptions? Were there no men involved?
Politicians and church leaders wring their hands and plead innocence. They are still behaving like the three monkeys: hear nothing, see nothing and, most of all, say nothing. - Yours, etc.,
GWEN WOODS,
Herbert Park,
Dublin 4.
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Sir, - I note that the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, expresses his "hope" that the Catholic Church will assist in the inquiry into clerical sex abuse in the Diocese of Ferns (The Irish Times, April 5th).
Hope is not enough. The inquiry that is set up should have the same powers of subpoena as the Flood and other tribunals. An organisation's tradition of confidentiality should not supersede the rule of law and victims' rights.
Failure by any individual to comply with legitimate orders of the tribunal should result in the severest possible penalties. We have seen politicians suffer the consequences of their arrogance. Given that the issues concerned here are far more important than planning permissions and dodgy deals, it is imperative that justice be blind to the presence of a collar or crozier. - Yours, etc.,
BRIAN LEONARD,
Pessac,
France.
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Sir, - As a senior member of an organisation steeped in symbolism, Bishop Comiskey's resignation is an important symbolic, as well as actual, recognition of his own failure and that of the wider institutional Church to deal with its criminal sex abusers. However, I find his comment, "I found Father Fortune virtually impossible to deal with", more than a little disingenuous. From my limited but growing knowledge of how the Church deals with those it perceives to be "problems", it can move with alacrity and force when it chooses. And there's the rub!
If Sean Fortune had been a priest-theologian whose writings were not conforming to the increasingly narrow orthodoxy of the Catholic Church, he would have been dealt with quickly. (Hadn't Bishop Comiskey his own peremptory summons to Rome?) Of course, dissident priest-theologians commit the crime of opening the power base of the Church to question. Clerical sex abusers only damage the vulnerable, the fragile, the most powerless members of humanity - the children - and are therefore no threat to what matters most to the institutional Church: its power.
But, thank God, adults who were abused as children are re-claiming their power and challenging a Church which is now learning, with great difficulty, the lesson of its own centuries of preaching: error has no rights. - Yours, etc .,
ANGELA HANLEY,
Athlone,
Co Westmeath.
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Sir, - Of course, the saddest part of the whole affiar is the shameful fact that once again it has taken a UK broadcasting service to expose our dirty linen, and remind us what has to be cleansed.
Mr Trimble! Please restrain yourself! - Yours, etc.,
MAURICE CREGAN,
Uppercross Road,
Dublin 8.
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Sir, - The bells toll for all victims of clerical abuse. The mournful tones are a reflection of the spiritual, physical, sexual, death of the victims - the violation they experienced and the pain and suffering they endure.
May the bells remind us of a corrupt church and the ongoing suffering of the victims. - Yours, etc.
MARGARET KENNEDY,
Dominick Street,
Dun Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.