US child abuse move against the Pope is an absurd publicity stunt

THIS week’s controversy about whether Pope Benedict XVI should be compelled to testify about the Vatican’s role in relation to clerical sexual abuse of minors was an absurd publicity stunt. One might have expected it 50 years ago, but not in the 21st century. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the election of John F Kennedy, the first Roman Catholic President of the United States.

Prior to his election, some elements of American society were prepared to entertain any allegations against a Pope — no matter how outrageous or illogical.

My maternal grandmother emigrated to the United States in 1911. She gladly traded her British passport for American citizenship, and remained in the US until she retired home to Ireland in 1957. She lived very near Tralee CBS secondary school, so my brother and I had lunch there every school day.