Madam, - Breda O'Brien (October 4th) states that the congregations should tell their side of the story. Almost all Irish society should, in fact, do it for them.
The top people in government and the professions as well as most of our society are in their privileged positions because of the incredible sacrifices made by selfless men and women in religious institutions over the past, at least, two centuries.
In addition they have looked after the poor, the old, the homeless and the rejected - an almost impossible and thankless task.
It is gross that a tiny evil few of their members are used principally by a few vociferous people and the media, much of it distorted, to destroy the good name of the many.
It is extremely unjust that even a blade of grass belonging to the orders should be used to compensate any but the few who may have a genuine claim against them. Waiting silently in the wings are the already glutted legal profession and others to batten off the congregations whose hard earned salaries and their other resources went straight back into the good work they were doing.
Rather than living up to the ideals of those patriots who gave their lives for a just and caring society we live in a system where "the biggest pig gets the biggest swill".
It is right to bring to justice those evil few who betrayed their trust but by the same token we should set aside each year a day to honour those countless thousands of all denominations who dedicated their lives for the welfare of others and those who still continue to do so. - Yours, etc.,
CATHAL McALLISTER,
Sefton,
Rochestown Avenue,
Dun Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.