Madam, – I heartily applaud Fr Patrick McCafferty for his letter of February 6th. I agree unequivocally with the sentiments he expressed and I can only admire his courage (for which he may yet pay a price). More of this is required if the already tattered reputation of the Catholic Church is not to slide even further into the mire with the revelations regarding Richard Williamson and Marcial Maciel.
When I consider the bravery of footsoldiers like Fr McCafferty, as opposed to the hypocrisy and imbecility of top management in his institution I think of the phrase “lions led by donkeys”.
I just cannot be as magnanimous as Fr McCafferty. My own view is that Bishop Magee should not get the chance to resign; he should be dismissed ignominiously. – Yours, etc,
VINCENT MAC CARTHY,
Woodside, Cloncat,
Co Meath
Madam, – According to Fr Patrick McCafferty, “Bishop Magee has done far more to sabotage and injure the mission of the Church in society than any amount of ‘hostile’ media reporting”. I have to say that I think Fr McCafferty is not doing a bad job himself in this regard.
To say that “the example of Jesus Christ is as far removed from Dr Magee and his ilk as darkness is from light” certainly does not seem Christ-like. I have long lamented the lack of compassion and forgiveness in our society and am most disappointed at Fr McCafferty’s lack of both. Perhaps he is in the happy position of having no failings and making no mistakes.
Unfortunately, the rest of us are only too aware of our own human frailty and, therefore, constantly strive to avoid condemnation and judgmentalism. I pray that Bishop Magee will be strengthened in his efforts to deal with abuse in any form and that society will seek to protect all its vulnerable members. – Yours, etc,
(Mrs) MARY STEWART,
Donegal Town.