Cowen’s craven response to Vatican

Thursday, December 10, 2009

JUST when we thought the Murphy report might shake the Taoiseach from his semi-comatose and detached state, he made a statement that would have been worthy of the most craven utterances of deference during Archbishop John Charles McQuaid’s regime.

The Vatican, via its ambassador, refused to respond to requests from the commission for information, though the prevalence of "mental reservation" (lying to you and me) among the hierarchy suggests it would have had little value.

Nonetheless, it was a deeply insulting attitude for one state to adopt towards another.

But even more insulting was our so-called Taoiseach’s endorsement, in sickeningly deferential tones, of the refusal as an act of "good faith".

Now we know why the rape, buggery and abuse continued unabated. Because even in the light of the Murphy report Brian Cowen still bows the knee to an organisation whose members connived and took part in these vile, criminal acts.

Already the Catholic Church is attempting to stall any further inquiries because of its concerns over the cost to the taxpayer! Every single diocese needs to be investigated. God help the victims because no one else will.

John Salmon
Castle Gardens
Castletownshend
Skibbereen
Co Cork

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Thursday, December 10, 2009