Catholic Church is on the road to nowhere

Is there not a risk that the Catholic Church in Ireland is following in the same trail as Waterford Crystal, Fruit of the Loom, the sugar beet industry, Youghal Carpets, etc. It seems that very soon one will have a better chance of meeting a druid than a Catholic priest. For years the Church has been dragging its way along the road to oblivion, even ex-communicating those from amongst its ranks who questioned the direction it was taking.

It preyed on the vulnerability of people, even ministers of government, to give it the benefit of doubt and show it the respect that it thought it deserved. There were 13,600 reported cases of clerical sexual child abuse.

Rather than proceed through our justice system it was decided to sweep it under the carpet and buy the silence of the victims. The cost was estimated at €1.36bn to be shared equally between the Irish taxpayers and the Church with no reference to any punishment for the criminals.

Richard Prendergast

Rathcormac

Co Cork