Cowen hits back at attack on Church/State relationship

A Government backbencher’s calls to end the special relationship between the state and the Catholic Church were today rebuked in the Dáil by Minister for Finance Brian Cowen.

Progressive Democrat TD Liz O’Donnell yesterday launched a scathing attack on bishops and priests and said the damning Ferns Report on clerical child sex abuse should finally end the cosy ties between the Government and the Catholic hierarchy.