Children’s rights campaign should be extended to include the unborn

APART from the pictures of hands with rosary beads accompanying a few of your reports, I have found myself generally agreeing with your coverage of the abuse revelations concerning the diocese of Cloyne, of which I am a fairly committed member. Like many ordinary Catholics I have been very upset by the revelations.

It is not for me to say whether Bishop Magee should resign; if there is no law requiring him to do so, then it is a matter between himself and God.

However, if I found myself in his situation, I think I would feel obliged to resign firstly — and most importantly — as a profound expression of my regret that I did not take my duty of care to the children of the diocese seriously enough, and secondly, to minimise damage to the vitally important voice of the church which is so badly needed in our country at the present time.

If there is a silver lining in the dark cloud of these revelations, it is the vigour and persistence with which the Irish Examiner has become the outspoken champion of abused children.

Am I being terribly naive and optimistic in hoping that you might now extend this concern to all children, born and unborn?

This would assuredly be a case of good coming out of evil.

At a time when science has clearly demonstrated the humanity of the baby before birth, surely there is no longer any justification for advocating laws permitting the killing of these most innocent of human beings, an advocacy which the Irish Examiner — and others including, strangely, the head of Barnardos, unless he has changed his mind since the last abortion referendum — seem to support.

What a wonderful thing it would be if this was the year when State, churches, media and the people of Ireland, believers and unbelievers alike, together took on the glorious task of making our country the safest place in the world for children, born and unborn. I hope and pray it may be so. Can you find it in your heart to join me?

Oliver Broderick

Montserrat House

Ashe Street

Youghal

Co Cork.