Madam, - Much has been made in recent days about the apparent silence of Dublin priests in regard to Cardinal Connell's intentions of seeking an injunction against the transfer of documents to the Commission of Investigation which he claimed were privileged to him.
Your former columnist Mary Raftery went so far as to say that this indicated "a shocking moral vacuum at the heart of the clergy and hierarchy in this country". Phew! Not quite the end of civilisation as we know it but not far off.
I ask the question: what exactly were we expected to do? Write to newspapers, march in the streets, go on the air waves or castigate the cardinal from the pulpits last Sunday? I suspect the latter is what she had in mind.
I am glad that no priest attacked the cardinal in public. We could hardly preach against rash judgment during the year and revert to its use ourselves. Compassion is the Christian way. Most of us were surprised and horrified when he decided to take out the injunction but we knew very little of his grounds and we felt that the archdiocese had a good chance of winning in the courts and were prepared to wait for an outcome.
I think if the cardinal had won the case, our reactions would have been stronger. This does of course not mean that we sat on our hands and did nothing.
I personally read out Archbishop Martin's letter at masses here in the parish and I said that I stood with the archbishop in his efforts to be transparent with the commission.
I repeated this on an interview with Newstalk 106 and said that although I had sympathy for Cardinal Connell I thought that the best and proper thing to do was to hand over all files to the commission so that closure can be brought to this terrible chapter in our history.
I also answered a firm Yes to an email from Andrew Madden. I have known Andrew Madden for a long time and I have great regard for him and a deep sadness for what he has suffered but I don't think too much weight should be given to a survey like this. Like most citizens, priests are most likely reluctant to answer a Yes or No questionnaire especially from someone they do not know personally.
I compliment Patsy McGarry on his fine article (February 12th) and fervently hope that the church authorities take his advice about the use of lawyers. Compassion would have been the Christian approach. I can assure him that we have not lost our courage. After what we have been through during the last 15 years we are probably the most battle-hardened cadre in the universal church. He is right to defend "the priest on the ground". This ancient Catholic Church is still in remarkably good shape despite everything largely because Irish priests stood their ground in parishes across this land and ministered to their people in the worst of times. Priests hear the cry of the wounded and their need for justice and closure. We want the commission to deliver these to them.
For this we are thankful that the cardinal has lifted the injunction so that the work can proceed.
To those like Mary Raftery, who would stereotype us, I say don't understand us too lightly and don't underestimate us either. - Yours, etc,
Monsignor PATRICK FINN PP, St Mary's Church, Haddington Road, Dublin 4.