Sir, - I read with anger the report given by Cardinal Cathal Daly at a Mass with religious sisters in Armagh (April 29th). By using this occasion and his position, to defend in any way the events at Goldenbridge, he is engaging in a blatant abuse of power.
The Cardinal states: "The humbling lesson to be drawn from all of this is that we church people are all too prone to be influenced by the culture of our time rather than by the standards of the gospel of Christ." The Cardinal seems to be saying that the nuns of Goldenbridge had no choice but to be influenced by the culture of the times which resulted in their cruel behaviour. My belief is that while culture does influence the individual, our behaviour remains our personal choice.
I am still recovering from the experience of being reared Catholic, and in all my "fear instilled" visits to the confession box. I do not recall one time when I was excused for my "sins" because of being "prone to be influenced by the culture of my time".
An apology given with the addition of a "but" is nothing more than a dressed up excuse and in my opinion makes the Cardinal, an accessory after the fact.
Yours, etc.,
Glenview,
Grange,
Douglas,
Cork