Canon law allows for dismissal of abusers

IN stating that “not reporting child abuse to the gardaí because of some canon law”, Jacqueline Cotter (Letters, March 17) shows her ignorance of the church code.

Nowhere does canon law prevent child abuse from being reported to the gardaí.

Canon law would in fact result in the immediate dismissal of a cleric involved in the horrific crime of child abuse.

The irony is that if the church authorities had in fact followed their own canon law, they would be in far less difficulties now as well as then, and they would have acted with far greater promptitude to protect the innocent.

Ms Cotter then goes on to make the absurd claim that the “whole” of the Catholic Church is “bending and subjugating every law” to suit itself.

If by whole she means every Catholic, this is self-evidently false.

If by whole she refers to the Catholic clergy, this is an unjust attack on them — the vast majority good, decent and idealistic men.

Finally, Ms Cotter closes by stating that in dealing with the Catholic Church, “you are really dealing with a dictatorship” which she believes should be dismantled by the Government.

No doubt the irony of giving such real dictatorial powers to any government escapes her completely.

James McGrath

Birchgrove

Hollyford

Co Tipperary