SOLINE VATINEL,
Sir, - Tony Burke (April 3rd) raises the issue of secrecy among Church leaders in connection with the sexual abuse of children.
It is my understanding that cardinals take a vow before the Pope to "keep in confidence anything that, if revealed, would cause a scandal or harm the church". The collusion of the highest authorities in the Church to keep the public ignorant of crimes such as sexual abuse is therefore mandatory. This surely is the real scandal which needs to be addressed urgently. - Yours, etc.,
SOLINE VATINEL,
Avoca Avenue,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
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Sir, - Which is the worst crime? Is it for a "religious" to sexually abuse a child. Or, having been informed of such abuse, to sit back and do nothing about it? - Yours, etc.,
DERMOT S. HARTE,
Buttevant,
Co Cork.
Sir, - John Aldridge (April 3rd) shows a touching naïvety with his hope that the Hierarchy will deal with this issue "in an honest and forthright way".
Like many, I suspect the primary motive of the Hierarchy will be to effect a damage limitation exercise rather than to right past wrongs.
There is plenty of evidence that the Church has been more concerned with its own well-being than with that of its members, and the attitudes currently displayed by its Bishops show no evidence of this changing. - Yours, etc.,
JONATHAN WILSON,
Churchfields,
Milltown,
Dublin 14.
Sir, - As another wave of scandal in the Church breaks over us, I am reminded of the duty we have as Christians to support priests by our prayer.
How easily we take for granted the service so many good priests faithfully offer us! They are only human like the rest of us, yet they are there, bringing the presence of Christ to us day after day. We expect the highest standards of them, and only a tiny percentage let Christ, their victims and themselves down in this abhorrent way.
Child sexual abuse creates victims on many levels. This is a moment for all of us to show special support and appreciation to all our bishops and priests who are enduring such moral suffering. - Yours, etc.,
HILDA GERAGHTY,
Corbawn Lane,
Shankill,
Co Dublin.