Madam, – Fr Desmond Wilson stated “abuse of children is a worldwide problem” (February 26th) and suggested “the Catholic Church is one of the few institutions that could create a worldwide inquiry as it has intellectual power; it has universities and other resources . . .” With all due respect, what planet is Fr Wilson on? Has he not heard of the Ryan and Murphy reports? Has it ever dawned on him how the Catholic Church accumulated its wealth in the first place?
This wealth was accrued from the enslavement of 165,000 children in religious-run institutions. This wealth was further enhanced by the enslavement of thousands of young girls/women in Magdalene Laundries. In addition, this wealth was further augmented by the laity (many who could ill afford it) and their enormous voluntary work for the church (mostly women).
What happened in religious-run institutions and in relation to diocesan abuse is an Irish problem. Just like Cardinal Brady, Fr Wilson is attempting to shy away from what the religious orders did to the most vulnerable here in Ireland by stating it was a worldwide phenomenon. This is a futile exercise, because the barbaric behaviour of many religious orders here was transmitted to countries such as United States, Canada and Australia.
In other words, the seeds of evil were rooted here in Ireland.
So how could Fr Wilson have the temerity to say that the Catholic Church is in a position to create a worldwide inquiry, when Fr Pádraic Conway, the director of UCD for Newman Studies, states that the Irish bishops need to “assume the mantle of leaders of the people of God in Ireland”? – Yours, etc,