Madam, – I am an elderly retired Irishman who has served as a police officer in a number of jurisdictions abroad where an offence of perverting the course of justice is considered a serious criminal offence.
If that applies in Ireland, why have none of the senior clergy involved in moving offending priests and who failed to report abuses revealed to them, been brought before the courts? – Yours, etc,
Madam,– It seems strange to be invoking Oliver Cromwell to address the Irish bishops, but at a time when when gentler exhortations appear to be falling on deaf ears, his message in unequivocal and hard to better: “You have been sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!” – Yours, etc,
BARRY TOOMEY,
Kill Lane,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
A chara, – The article you published from a survivor of clerical abuse asked for action from those she shares this island with (Opinion, December 23rd). There is an opportunity on the horizon to express concrete solidarity with our many abuse survivors. I suggest that the former Fianna Fáil councillor and mayor of Clonmel, Michael O’Brien consider putting himself before the Irish people as a candidate in the coming presidential election.
This man spoke eloquently on RTÉ about being attacked because he was, above all, defenceless. The Gospels tell us that everyone is equal before God’s love and also that whatever you would do “to the smallest of my creatures, you do to me”. The challenge in the Gospels to construct a society built on equality has never been more pressing.
Many youngsters were attacked because they were perceived by their attackers to be on the edge of this society. If we were to elect Mr O’Brien to Áras an Uachtaráin, we could tell ourselves, and the world, that it is our intention that no child exists on the margins in this democracy. – Is mise,
PAUL MORAN,
Sandyford Hall,
Kilgobbin Road,
Sandyford,
Dublin 18.
Madam, – I wish to extend my gratitude to you as editor, your editorial team and journalists for your perseverance and persistence in keeping an important issue on the front pages of your newspaper during the year.
The issue of clerical child sexual, physical and mental abuse, carried out and hidden during the past 50 years by religious congregations in this country, is one of the most devastating realities I believe we have faced in 2009. It is a credit to your newspaper that you strove to keep the reports that were published in the public realm, ensuring they received front page coverage, and accountability was demanded as a result. We can never forget the agonising and shattering harm that has been carried out on innocent children in Ireland. Thank you for helping us not to forget. – Yours, etc,