Careless analysis of Pope’s pastoral letter

THE analysis by TP O’Mahony of the Pope’s pastoral letter (March 22) was the most careless I have read.

He describes as “fatuous” the Pope’s singling out of “a misplaced concern for the reputation of the church and the avoidance of scandal” as being contributory factors to the crisis.

Why? Because “it was Rome’s overwhelming concern at all times to safeguard the reputation of the church and avoid scandal that allowed the problem to fester”.