Church should have no control over schools

LIKE most Irish people, I continue to be shocked and saddened at the abuse of children by people in authority, and to be surprised that any decent people still remaining within the Catholic Church hierarchy seem unable to strongly condemn the abusers and the so-called Canon Law that shields them.

The bishops believe that Canon Law is superior to the law of the land and that gives them authority to ignore legal obligations; this is the nub of the problem.

Any organisation that operates in this state and that propounds a view that its own internal set of rules — be that Sharia law, Canon Law or Ron Hubbard’s theories — is superior to the law of the land is essentially a subversive organisation.

That such a grouping could be given control of our education system, providing innocent fodder for the significant number of perverts within its ranks, defies belief.

Their refusal to pay even half of the resultant compensation money, forcing taxpayers to pick up the tab, is extraordinary, and the tolerance of people and government for this viewpoint is equally bizarre. In the interests of good governance, control of schools should be wrested from them without delay, for the safety and well-being of our most vulnerable citizens.

John Mulligan

Boyle

Co Roscommon