Sir, – Fintan O’Toole (Opinion, May 1st) is entirely right when he criticises the Catholic Church in Ireland for its former slowness to react to clerical child abuse, and entirely wrong when he criticises it for disciplining priests who question defined Catholic doctrine – this too, let it be noted, hardly done with lightning speed, considering how long many of these figures have been undermining orthodox teaching.
He calls the Catholic Church “stupid” and says “it is doing a far better job of destroying itself than its worst enemies could dream of.” But the truth is that the Catholic Church existed long before any of the fashionable causes O’Toole espouses, and will continue to exist and flourish long after those causes are a footnote in history.
Perhaps the church’s critics might open their minds enough to accept that such an ancient institution has learned to look beyond the catch-cries of the moment in favour of enduring truths? – Yours, etc,
A chara, – Last year (June 13th, 2011) Fr Patrick McCafferty called on the Pope to remove from ministry those bishops and heads of religious orders who had been non-responsive in relation to the issue of the Magdalene laundries.
It seems odd therefore, given that the Pope has not acted as Fr McCafferty wished, that he now praises the Pope for calling to order dissenting voices (May 1st). Given his belief that the Pope “speaks the truth”, he cannot have it both ways. – Is mise,
Sir, – The censuring of Fr Brian D’Arcy and other independent thinkers within the church highlights yet again the total disconnect between the Vatican and the real world.
The aim of of those inhabiting the ivory towers in Rome is, as usual, shoot the messenger! – Yours, etc,