Sir, - Patsy McGarry (The Irish Times, July 15th) quotes Mr Justin Keating, who, writing in Irish Humanist magazine, reproached the Church for its response to victims of child abuse. He described the offer of counselling as "the almost hilariously offensive offer of helpline counselling . . ."
CORI (the Conference of Religious of Ireland) funds an independent, confidential telephone helpline, Faoiseamh. This is available Freephone from all parts of the Republic (tel: 1 800 33 1234) and from Northern Ireland and Great Britain (tel: 0 800 973 272). Since its inception in 1997 it has received 8,000 calls and has provided face-to-face counselling for 1,000 people. Currently there are 600 people in face-to-face counselling.
I suggest that these clients benefit from the service and that it contributes significantly to the process of healing which is the principal concern of both the staff of Faoiseamh and of CORI. - Yours, etc.,
Dorrie Mitchell, Co-ordinator. Faoiseamh, PO Box 5654. Dublin 14.