MICHAEL CROWLEY,
Sir, - I was educated at first and second levels at the Christian Brothers, Doneraile, Co Cork. In all my years there, I was not aware of, nor was there any hint of, any sexual abuse in the school. Of course, there was plenty of physical abuse doled out to me and other students, who never resented it. Physical abuse was the norm in those days and there are those who say it did us no harm and it might well help to cure the variety of bad behaviour in our schools and throughout Ireland.
Hence my anger at RTÉ showing two very unbalanced programmes - unbalanced because they purported to demonstrate what an evil and cunning bunch the Christian Brothers were and are. Nothing could be further from the truth.
One should always try to be fair. I don't think the RTÉ programmes were fair. Total numbers of the Christian Brothers in either Canada or Australia were not given. Percentages of wrong-doers in the Christian Brothers were not quoted. One must remember that in any population of living organisms there is always 2.5 per cent on both extreme sides of the population, which may be described as marginal, or extremes. For example, on the one side, 2.5 per cent of all Christian Brothers might well be paedophiles but on the other hand, 2.5 per cent are pure saints and the other 95 per cent are ordinary men with faults and failing like you and me. When one considers the numbers of Christian Brothers and their geographical spread it hardly merits a biased programme such as we saw to denigrate a fine body of men.
The Christian Brothers in Ireland are part of what we are. There would be no education in Ireland except for the exceptional foresight, dedication and selflessness of men like Edmund Ignatius Rice, the founder of the Christian Brothers. I always say, "Where would this country be without them?"
Is it too much to ask of RTÉ to do the decent thing and make a programme on the Christian Brothers from the date the order was founded, to the present time? Look at all the taoisigh it educated. Look at its role in the promotion of our national games. It is easy to point to failings, but what about the other side? - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL CROWLEY,
Batterstown,
Dunboyne,
Co Meath.