SEAN O'CONAILL,
Madam, - Mervyn Rundle's story (The Irish Times, January 30th) is that of a child abused not just sexually but administratively, and over a long period.
Were it not for the courage of people such as him, we Irish Catholics might still be unaware that it was the settled administrative practice of our Hierarchy to conceal such matters, thereby endangering other children for the sake of maintaining the power and prestige of clergy.
One of the clergy who did this was a "monsignor" - meaning "my lord". Clearly, the Church has been grievously mistaken in allowing the title "Lord" to anyone but its founder.
Our Church has a critical problem with concentrated clerical power, organised in a single hierarchy without any balancing or supervising force. The most disturbing aspect of the present situation is that as yet no church leader, from monsignor to cardinal, has had the courage to acknowledge that fact, or to face the consequences.
To prevent our Church ever again from crucifying any child, that concentration of power must be ended.
Administrative power must be shared with parents who can be trusted to put the interests of every child above the prestige of the whole church. No apology from on high can be considered adequate or sincere until that fact is publicly acknowledged. - Yours, etc.,
SEAN O'CONAILL,
Greenhill Road,
Coleraine,
Co Derry.