Madam, – As a regular Church goer and a former chairman of the board of management of a primary school, I am appalled at the latest revelation that our so-called cardinal may have contributed to the shielding of Brendan Smyth’s abuse of children from the authorities (Front page, March 15th).
I am sick to death of these bishops and cardinals in Ireland who seem to be more interested in holding on to power, are totally lacking in humility and seem to think a bishop’s role is complete when they can dress up in their finery and kiss the Pope’s ring like enthusiastic supporters around a football star. And of course they say it was somebody else’s responsibility! I have no doubt that if we had a similar inquiry to the Murphy one in each of the other dioceses, very few of these bishops would emerge without stain. We have one decent bishop, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and he is being sidelined. We could do with leaders like Archbishop Martin and the good priests who practise what they preach – such as Fr Peter McVerry and those who look after the poor and the homeless. And let’s rid ourselves of the dross and the bad eggs. The quicker the better. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Cardinal Seán Brady has been challenged on the role he played in an investigation into child-abuse perpetrated by Fr Brendan Smyth in 1975. He was asked by the media whether he considered it appropriate to remain as Primate of All Ireland in the light of revelations that he became aware that Fr Smyth was abusing children almost 20 years before the priest was arrested, charged and removed from ministry, and that during that period Fr Smyth abused dozens more children. Cardinal Brady responded, “Frankly, I don’t believe that this is a resigning issue” (Breaking News, March 14th).
The cardinal is wrong.
The single greatest act of moral leadership the most senior Roman Catholic cleric in this island could undertake at this time would be to admit that his conduct and that of the church in relation to this and other abuse of children was entirely unacceptable.
A true eminence would apologise unreservedly for failing to do everything in his power to protect children from abuse, and for protecting abusers from the civil authorities of the State. A true eminence would resign high office as an act of contrition. – Yours, etc,