I am so very sorry for your brother's suffering, and for your and your family's loss.

Speed the day when these strange arrogant inhuman men in their silken robes are driven from their palaces, and their organisation stripped of its wealth and power, that they may never again rape children with impunity.

Sure that Bishop in Limerick is worse than our "prince" in Cloyne aka John Magee.
He wouldn't resign either, and still hasn't.
Right.
Wrong.
We know the difference, do they?
It seems to be church policy to protect their own.
The children will get over it, the coffers mightn't!

Disgusting.

My deepest sympathies to you and all your family on the tragic death of your brother Peter.

I believe Peter in his approaches to, and negotiations with, the Catholic Church was looking for an admission of the deep wrongs inflicted on him by that Church. From your comments also, it seems the burning issue for you was not criminal prosecution by the state of the individual wrongdoers; but rather an exposure of the truth of his abuse, both as a child and as a man.

Your brother was a brave and committed man with a profound sense of justice.

In this respect he walked the same path as that of many people in their dealings with the Church and the State.

Peter fought a lonely battle, even with the help of family and friends, because no group of individuals can change the institutions of religious and state power. These very institutions,in this society, exist specifically to exploit, control and oppress the great mass of humanity in the interests of the class that rules.

My view is that the Church must be removed from all institutions of the state. No monies, funds, subventions, tax breaks or financial relief of any sort should be given to the Catholic Church. Or any religion.

The Church must be denied access to state media, schools, colleges, libraries, hospitals and any institution of the state. No religious ceremonies, demonstrations, vigils etc should be allowed in public spaces.

A person's right to practice their religion must be constitutionally protected. Under such legal entitlement religious organizations must be allowed to raise finance from their members to enable the church to function. The state cannot arbitrarily close places of religious worship or deny access to those places. Neither can it interfere with the functions of church officials.

An audit must be taken of all Church property and finances with a view to restoring to the state, on behalf of it's citizens, the wealth that the church misappropriated from the citizenry under the false premise that the Church was acting in the best interests of the people; and would use donations and state funds justly.

The Church should be left with premises for its members to practice their religion. The state should take over the responsibility of housing Church officials at a fair rent; and supporting those officials who are old and infirm. The Church must pay the salaries of all its working officials.

These proposals beg the question of the role of the state in the current political formation.

The state as it stands has worked, and will continue to work, hand-in-glove with the Catholic Church in a common front against the citizenry, and in the interests of the rich and powerful. Neither the Church nor the state will change under pressure from any quarter. They are what they are. That is why Peter’s battle was so brave; but also why he could not win.