Madam, - The Ferns Report's catalogue of abuse, denial, damage and shame is sickening. But the real centre of this story lies not in mismanagement, neglect and obfuscation, but in the church's attitude to sexuality.
I have long believed that the church's interest in sex is predominantly about power. The control that church leaders exerted was absolute when they were able to insert themselves into the most private of personal space, the intimate relationship that a person has with his or her body.
Consider that masturbation was considered a serious, mortal offence. What was the difference between masturbation and the exploitation and abuse of helpless children? In the "informed conscience" of the good Catholic, I do not think there was much difference. The view that all sexuality was shameful ensured that all transgressions, including child sexual abuse, were equally hidden.
Many people have spoken about being groomed for abuse by their abusers. This locates the responsibility within the individual abuser. But this grooming was implicit in the reverence in which the clergy were held, the imperative of obedience, and the absolute authority of the church as a social institution.
I have worked in adult and community education for twenty years, beginning two years after the very painful "pro-life" amendment campaign. During that time, I have met many wonderful people who were trying to make sense of the contradictions, pain and confusions in society. In virtually every group I worked with, there were one or more people who had suffered sexual violence at the hands of clergy, family members, teachers or neighbours.
Looking back over this twenty years, it is obvious to me that the feminist and gay liberation movements have helped us to perceive and understand sexuality in profoundly different ways, and to question its location in the realm of power over others. We still have a long way to go, as any rape crisis centre can tell, but I also know that adult and community education, and radical counselling and psychotherapy, have been vital in overturning - in a caring, nurturing way - the mighty authority of the church.
If only the church had put as much energy into the elimination of poverty. - Yours, etc,
BRÍD CONNOLLY,
Maynooth,
Co Kildare.