We must exercise our own power

THE Cloyne report is the latest and perhaps most compelling proof for this country that whenever absolute power is vested in any institution or structure set up for the purpose of serving the people, that power will be used to betray those it is there to serve in the pursuit of its own interests.

The primary interest always being the preservation of that power.

Our own history has been one of disempowerment, having overthrown the shackles of an imperialistic master, we willingly embraced an ecclesiastical one instead.

Do we not owe it to ourselves and to all those innocent victims that have been so wrongfully hurt to cease being seduced by status and look more to substance when deciding who we allow to speak on our behalf? Equally, we need to find our own voices and let them be heard more forcefully. Finally, we must ensure that all necessary legislation is enacted in anticipation of the doomsday scenario and not once it has happened.

We’re told that knowledge is power. In which case, the words of Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel may serve us far better than any of our erstwhile masters have: ”Ultimately the only power a man should aspire to is that which he exercises over himself.”

Adrienne Garvey

Dublin 8