That's what I also don't understand.

Why isn't the Government, as a minimum, taking these people to court.
I'd prefer to see them dis-banding the Church, seizing all it's assets and expelling the papal Nuncio.

If any other organisation had been found guilty of these crimes this would have happened immediatly.

My sincere congratulations on a excellent "State of the Church" account in Ireland today. In your article "Bishop Murray Takes One For The Team", (17th December 2009), there is a clear and objective analysis of the actions, and motivations behind those actions. The Hierarchy is no longer dealing with a peasant people, yet they treat us like fools..

You have named Dr. Donal Murray's performance and behaviour most succinctly. The descriptive line where you say, "Martin was standing behind him with a knife at his ribs". is a powerful word picture. It says it all.

I have no true sense that the plight of victims and adult survivors of clerical sexual abuse is getting any closure, or healing, in all that is happening. In point of fact, I believe that the "foot dragging" is only serving to enforce the hurt. Dr. Murray only resigned when there was no other option. In doing so, it is not a resignation, it is an ungracious surrender. The fact of his removal from office does not address the culture that brought about this Holocaust among Ireland's children.

Dr. Donal Murray's resignation has come too late for Peter. Sadly, Dr. Murray has demonstrated that he is constitutionally incapable of comprehending the effects of his behaviour and actions. His arrogance by delaying his exit from active ministry has caused considerable hurt to victims of clerical sexual abuse, and to the families of those victims. There are many families in Dublin and Limerick tonight whose children have suffered because of the failure of Dr. Murray to do his job properly.

Nothing more was expected of him. All he had to do was do his job properly.

Dr. Murray and his fellow bishops are responsible for the reckless endangerment of children. What part of that fact do Dr. Murray and his fellow bishops not understand?

Primary School children are better able to process the difference between "Right" and "Wrong" than many members of the Hierarchy. The Murphy Report proves that.

Why are prosecutions not underway for persons responsible for the reckless endangerment of children?

Even in his resignation statement, despite many pious words, Dr. Donal Murray has revealed, as a parting salvo, contempt for his victims. Yes, they are his victims! While Dr. Murray and his fellow bishops did not personally indulge in paedophilia, nevertheless they knowingly facilitated, enabled and allowed paedophile Priests move to pastures green, to rape and plunder innocent children, and make victims of the pure goodness that is childhood. I listened yesterday as he spoke at St. John's Cathedral in Limerick, and he expressed the sentiment that "some of the survivors". Once more, the devil is in the detail. The word "some" reveals all.

The exact quote is as follows: 'I asked the Holy Father to allow me to resign and to appoint a new bishop to the diocese because I believe that my presence will create difficulties for some of the survivors who must have first place in our thoughts and prayers.'

The tragic reality is that Dr. Murray's presence has caused untold trauma for All, (not just Some) victims & survivors of childhood clerical sexual abuse, and their families.

The insertion of the word "some" demonstrates quality of character and sincerity. I suggest you reflect on this and make up your own mind.

With Dr. Murray's resignation, the process has inched forward, but until there is true engagement by the Church with the most wounded and devastated of its abused victims, there can be no true healing. The process of healing would be much better if the Church would take true ownership of its responsibility, duty and accountability before Dáil Éireann, the Law of Ireland and God, and embrace the people destroyed by its actions and inaction. This it has failed to do.

The only remaiining honourable opportunity for Dr. Donal Murray is for him to cooperate fully with an Audit into his stewardship of the Limerick Diocese. I confirm that on behalf of my family, I have written to Minister for Health and Children Ms. Mary Harney TD and asked her to extend the Audit of the Cloyne Diocese to include the Limerick Diocese.

We are living in extraordinary times. The evil must be purged. It is imperative that Child Protection is a Top Priority in all areas of life for evermore. We must not drop our guard.

My experience of all that is happening clearly informs me that the Church response is "Church Centered". The ongoing failure is that the response is not "Child Centered", and most importantly "Abuse Victim Centered".

The Formal Audit of the Limerick Diocese will reveal the truth of Peter's experience.

"Soft water, over hard rock, over time, makes hard rock soft."

Regards,

Joseph McCloskey,
Kilkee,
Co. Clare.
lismoyle2@eircom.net

Murray along with all the others named in the report should face criminal charges and lengthy jail terms – That might concentrate their minds on spilling the beans. As things stand they have just received a slap on the wrist, nothing more and the real culprits are still running the show.

Lastly, Bock your kind invitation has more then likely been RSVP'd through the magical medium of "Mental Reservation" Dont hold your breath……..

About time to – I can hope.