Madam, - Most people would welcome with open arms a second visit to Ireland by the Pope, surely the greatest living icon in the world today of justice, peace and love.
However, Ireland has changed a lot in the intervening years, for the worse in some ways, but for the better in many ways as well: it's a less devout place for sure, but I think its fair to say that Ireland today is a more open, prosperous, confident society than at any time in our history.
Just as on the last occasion at Drogheda it was appropriate that the Pope should, in passionate terms, on his knees, beg the men of violence to desist, I think it would be fitting this time that on his knees he should beg for forgiveness for the corporal and sexual abuse by members of the Catholic clergy in Ireland of young people entrusted to their care.
This would be an appropriate symbolic gesture to the victims, and would, I feel, help the healing process and renewal that is so obviously necessary in the Church in Ireland today.
At Limerick the Pope pointed out the choice, then as now, between secular consumerist society and the more traditional values that had sustained the Irish faithful for generations. Falling attendances would appear to indicate that we have made our choice; how much of this can be attributed to the attractions of increased wealth and consumerism, and how much is as a result of the actions and inactions of the Irish Catholic clergy and Hierarchy in the child sex abuse scandals is a moot point.
Hands up all those in favour of turning the clock back. . .
Thought so. - Yours, etc.,
PÁDRAIC WALSH, Ennis Road, Gort, Co Galway.