Brave men who speak out against cover-up

I COULD not help crying when I read the letter from George Longhurst (Irish Examiner, May 18) who bravely faced up to his American bishop in the pursuit of justice for a 10-year-old victim of clerical abuse.

What a joy to know that there are so many people like George Longhurst and Patrick Geaney (Irish Examiner letters, May 11) who are prepared, sometimes braving the opposition and even hatred of family and so-called friends, to challenge the powers that be, such as the Catholic church, many of whose members still cower like frightened chickens behind empty papal threats such as “eternal damnation if you don’t remain a Catholic” or “excommunication if you don’t obey” such evil documents as Crimen Sollicitationis.

Excommunication only means being thrown out of Rome - not out of heaven.