Balanced view on nuns’ conduct

Regarding the Magdalene Laundries tragic saga from 1922 to 1996, perhaps it might be apt to also have a peek into the ‘other side’ of this terrible litany of human suffering.

I think that nowadays, it’s generally accepted that for much of that period the Catholic Church was the more than willing enforcer-in-chief of all matters of this nature — indeed many would contend that that Church de-facto occupied a permanent seat at the Cabinet table for much of that period. Indeed there are countless tales of ministers being in mortal fear of a belt of the crozier which might very well be the end of their political lives — if indeed their moral lives as well! It is in this context that I wish to make a case for fairness and some well though-out understanding of the nuns’ side, who I’m personally convinced many were not far removed from the plight of those whom they were tasked to ‘supervise’ on a daily basis.

I’m not for a moment justifying what went on — merely attempting to give a more balanced view of the overall tone and prevailing ethos of those times. Every parish in the new Irish Republic from 1922 had an abundance of ‘vocations’, both to the priesthood and to the convent life. Surely it’s not inconceivable that many of those who for one reason (poverty perhaps), or another were encouraged to enter both branches — mentioned as a somewhat secure career and thereby easing the load at home on the destitute parents?

I remember anecdotal tales that a son would be ‘nominated’ for the priesthood and a daughter would be, to be blunt, told that she was going to be the nun in the family. Is it any wonder that many of the nuns delegated to run those sad houses saw themselves as in effect being confined to a place for which initially they did not wish to be assigned to? Human nature being what it is — those nuns might well have ‘taken it-it-out’ their frustrations on the poor inmates.

Inexcusable? Of course. Justifiable? Of course not. Likely? More than likely.

Kevin McCarthy

Gouldavoher

Limerick