Sir, – Pope Benedict’s message to the Eucharistic Congress makes for startling reading. (Home News, June 18th). He tells us “Thankfulness and joy at such a great history of faith and love (of the Catholic Church in Ireland) have recently been shaken in an appalling way by the revelation of sins committed by priests and consecrated persons against people entrusted to their care”.
What a monstrous perversion of the truth.
It was not the sexual abuse of clerics and consecrated persons which has “shaken” people’s faith, but rather the attempts to cover up this abuse.
People know that paedophilia exists in every walk of life and institution. What they can’t accept is that the Catholic bishops – up to its highest office – knew about it and tried to cover it up.
The cover-up not only intensified the pain of those who were abused, but facilitated many more young people being abused as a paedophile priest or religious arrived fresh in their parish from a previous site of destruction – courtesy of a bishop! The arena was littered with bishops and cardinals – the very species responsible for the “shaking” of people’s faith!
How shocking that the so-called Catholics in Croke Park allowed their leader to deceive them in this way. They even applauded his deception.
Was their need to have a leader so great that they could not see the deception in his words – the continued cover-up? Were they so hypnotised by the glitter of mitres and purple that they could not hear what was false in their leader’s speech? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – It was simply great to be present at some of the events of the last week, to take part in the quietly strong, non-demonstrative faith so characteristic of us Irish, and to experience the sense of genuine communion present each day (certainly on the three days I was there). Fr Kevin Doran and his team deserve all our thanks – and the Statio Orbis Mass and the preceding concert items splendidly represented the best of our Irish Christian and Catholic tradition. I also thought Cardinal Brady’s homily on Thursday was outstanding. The whole event was a well from which it isn’t too much to hope we will long draw the waters of renewal. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I attended a reception in Dublin Castle on Friday evening to mark the occasion of the Eucharist Congress. I was touched by the depth of faith of many of the people I met there and I was introduced to one or two senior members of the church hierarchy. It was a very pleasant evening in the beautiful setting of the State Apartments.
On Sunday the Pope’s message to the Congress referred to the scandals within the Catholic Church. During the week Cardinal Seán Brady again apologised to victims of clerical sex abuse and for the failure of the church leaders to hear and respond to the victims. Many apologies have been offered by the church; many promises of reform been made, many assurances given that now things have changed.
I have a suggestion that, if implemented, would provide a permanent symbol of the church’s contrition and it would act as a reminder to the authorities of their duties as teachers of the Gospel. The suggestion is that from the Pope down to ordinary clergy they immediately adopt, in their formal dress and vestments, a dress code of the utmost simplicity. Get rid of the scarlet and purple, throw out the silks, the gold and the lace trimmings. Present themselves in simplicity and allow the teachings of Jesus to shine.
If this suggestion were implemented it could act as the rainbow, a visible reminder to the church and to those who suffered that changes have indeed been made. – Yours, etc,