We should break the link between church and state

THE Ryan report raises serious questions about the Catholic church/state relationship in Ireland. It is apparent that the church has been riding on the back of the Irish state like a giant octopus for a long time.

The tentacles of this octopus have reached into every crevice of Irish life to the detriment of many people. Nowhere has this been more apparent than the area of human sexuality where the church’s warped views have been forced on people from pulpit, confessional, papal bull, bishops’ pastorals, etc.

The “churching” of married women after childbirth was a classic example of guilt induction for women. It was a “cleansing” ceremony for the mother before she could return to normal church proceedings.