THE publication of the investigation into the diocese of Cloyne demonstrates once again that the Holy See, whose diplomatic relations with Ireland have been in place for 82 years, obstinately refuses to provide substantive information and support to a State commission of inquiry into the clerical sex abuse of children.

THE CIoyne abuse scandal is a very sad story, and I agree that there was an awful lot of wrong done by the people working for the church, but we must remember that it was people who did wrong here.

REGARDING the Cloyne report, Msg O’Callaghan has made some errors of judgment, but his excellent record as a devoted parish priest stands in contrast to this current government and their predecessors who seek to divert attention from their policies, which decimated the commercial, industrial and medical sectors in north Cork.

HOW credible an institution is one whose agents, hierarchy and systems belie and negate everything that they purport to believe and would have people believe?

IN the understandable furore over the Cloyne report I find it strange that the same level of outrage and media coverage never arises when abuse takes place outside religious institutions.

LIKE most Irish people, I continue to be shocked and saddened at the abuse of children by people in authority, and to be surprised that any decent people still remaining within the Catholic Church hierarchy seem unable to strongly condemn the abusers and the so-called Canon Law that shields them.

I HAVE just finished reading the judges’ treatise setting out their considered opinion of their position in regard to the forthcoming constitutional referendum on their remuneration.

I APPLAUD the comments made by Dr Cliodhna Donnelly (Letters, July 12).

IN downgrading Ireland’s debt to junk status, Moody’s cites, “... the continued weakness in the Irish economy”.

FOR the first time in the history of the State a credible and sizeable opposition has been elected to Dáil Eireann and don’t we know it?