Pope urged to 'repent' over abuse

[Newsy]

One of Ireland’s leading child abuse campaigners has issued an open letter calling on Pope Benedict to visit Ireland and spend seven days in repentance here.

Christine Buckley, of the Aislinn Centre in Dublin said he should do so also to assist Archbishop Diarmuid Martin in a “major spring-cleaning” of the Irish Catholic church.

While he is here, Pope Benedict should invite abuse survivors to tell him directly “their harrowing tales in the presence of those responsible for their suffering or the leaders of those organisations that were responsible,” said Ms Buckley, who spent time as a child in the Goldenbridge orphanage in Inchicore

“I am utterly dismayed at your apparently apathetic approach to heinous acts of depravity perpetrated on children by priests, nuns, Christian Brothers and members of other religious orders as outlined in the Ryan and Murphy reports and covered up by Cardinal Desmond Connell and the bishops mentioned in the Murphy report,” she said in her letter.

“Following the Ryan report you met Cardinal Brady and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin for 30 minutes,” she said. “In God’s name Pontiff what aspects of that five-volume report did you have time to discuss given the brevity of that meeting?”

Pope urged to 'repent' over abuse - The Irish Times - Tue, Dec 22, 2009

[Harmonica]

Pointless suggestion. The church may have well meaning individuals but as an organisation it does not care in the slightest.

[Newsy]

Pointless suggestion. The church may have well meaning individuals but as an organisation it does not care in the slightest.

But the total lack of leadership is gaping for EVERYONE to see.

At the very least, they are doing a terrible PR job.

[Disabled student]

It was pointless as they have no intention of doing that.

[MrFunkyBoogaloo]

Pointless suggestion. The church may have well meaning individuals but as an organisation it does not care in the slightest.

+1

But the total lack of leadership is gaping for EVERYONE to see.

At the very least, they are doing a terrible PR job.

Yes it is. It's also apparent that the church doesn't give a damn and is only concerned with protecting itself.

Btw.. are the proper diplomatic channels being used with this letter? ...because we all know the answer we get if they are not!

We should sever all diplomatic ties with the Holy See IMO until it learns a bit of respect!!

[odie1kanobe]

Another anti Catholic thread from same source....................a shock not.

[Newsy]

We should sever all diplomatic ties with the Holy See IMO until it learns a bit of respect!!

Geat suggestion, but unfortunately I don't see our crowd doing that.

[MrFunkyBoogaloo]

Geat suggestion, but unfortunately I don't see our crowd doing that.

Not when our Taoiseach stands up and defends them in the Oireachtas. It appears Ireland or some of it's inhabitants are still going to bend over for Rome!

[Thac0man]

Pointless suggestion.

Pointless indeed. We are told can't put a financial figure on abuse compensation, yet figures offered are too low. We hear calls for unreserved apologies, yet when those apologies are forthcoming they are met with outrage and claims they are not enough. The net effect is abuse of those seeking to help the abused.

Abuse victims would be better served by less hysterical and more reasoned representation. If this level of shrill complaining is kept up, two things are very possible; trials of abusers will become impossible due to an inability to get a jury who has not been exposed to years of claims and screaming from campaigners even though a judicial process was in chain. Secondly the public will eventually turn on the abused, tired of the relentless tirade that seems to have no remedy. Sounds harsh, but it happens.

[Wakeupcall]

O M F G

The world would be watching this. The wolrd will see Ireland for the cesspit that it is, can be or shouldnt be. All down to the catholic church. To be highlighted then by the catholic church! We would look like the stupidest bufoons on the planet.