Sir, Bishop Wright's resignation, and all the revelations that followed it, have shocked the Christian community throughout the world. Of course, the secular press and particularly the anti catholic press went to town on it, some going so far as to see these events as the beginning of the end for Catholicism in the Western world.
As a Catholic, how do I view these scandals? First of all, I see them with great sorrow and as a severe body blow to my chosen Church.
Nevertheless, I remind myself that this once again is the human face of the Church, showing up in all its weaknesses and frailty. I am also reminded that because a man is an ordained priest and a consecrated bishop, he is still very much a man a frail vessel of clay which can be easily damaged, or even broken.
So while I regret very much scandals of any kind in my Church, I do not lose heart. I am convinced that the guiding hand of its Divine founder is always there, and will be there until the end of time. Yours, etc., Navan Road, Dublin 7.