Church should celebrate in sackcloth and ashes

YOU reported (August 24) the suggestion by Fr Iggy O’Donovan OSA that the 30th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Ireland should be marked by a day of atonement and that “it would be inappropriate for the day to be one of celebration because of all that was happening in institutions at the time of the papal visit”.

I want wholeheartedly to support Fr O’Donovan’s suggestion and would also like to focus on the Eucharistic Congress due to be held here in 2012.

Pope Benedict was quoted recently as being troubled that the Eucharistic Congress “could be marred by the fact that the church is still struggling to deal with the historic legacy of abuse”.