Madam, – While I sometimes dislike the style and abrupt manner of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, I am always a great admirer of his courage. But I find his latest address on child abuse within the Roman Catholic Church (Home News, May 11th) a bit confusing, and I speak as a committed Roman Catholic, which does not mean that I agree with every jot and tittle of church teaching.
I do find it odd that such an address is made to the Knights of Columbanus, that bastion of traditional and triumphalist Catholicism.
Archbishop Martin can drop as many hints as he wishes about strong forces within the church, and the Pope can wring his hands until kingdom come about enemies within, but nothing will change until Catholicism re-examines atonement theology, acknowledges exactly how distorted its views of sex and sexuality are, and comes to grips with the real meaning of the unconditional love of God preached by Jesus Christ. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Two letters (May 12th) constitute an almost muted response to one of the most astounding, forthright, honest and almost revolutionary statements ever made by a Roman Catholic prelate. To ask the question “What do we really know of the message of Jesus?” and to categorically state “The Irish Catholic tradition has greatly neglected the place of the scriptures” I suspect will greatly irritate the hierarchy, and possibly the Vatican.
What a refreshing contrast Archbishop Diarmuid Martin is when compared to some of his crusty, stale defensive colleagues who appear to have lost whatever vision they had for sharing and promoting their faith. Now that these questions have been asked, will the answers come? Or will the Archbishop be hauled to Rome for a wrist-slapping? Diarmuid Martin’s comments are now etched in the annals of history and it is the responsibility of every member of the Roman Catholic faith to deal with the issues raised. – Yours, etc,