Sir, - The letter from the nuns of the Presentation Order, Killarney (August 20th) is an over-reaction to revelations about the activities of religious orders in the past 50 years in Ireland. There is no way of balancing the good works of individuals with the depraved acts of others within the religious community, and to try to do this would be a futile exercise. There is simply no defence to the abuse of children by any organisation or individual.
For years there has been an imbalance in what was reported in the media about the Church and its various orders. The truth about the abuse was actively suppressed, often by supporters of the Church and sometimes even the clergy themselves. The time has come to redress that balance, and if that means that the image and credibility of the Church are called into question, then so be it.
It is not that people want to knock the Church off the pedestal that Irish society and the Church itself have supported for such a long time; it is merely that they want to come out of denial and tell the truth about what exactly happened. However, it is the abuse of power and position by clerics and the perpetration of physical, sexual, emotional and mental abuse of children in their care that is condemning the Church, not the "self righteous, scandal-mongering tabloids" and other papers. These are only reporting the truth of those abuses, albeit sensationally. As distasteful as that truth might be, it must be told.
Responsibility must be accepted, graciously and humbly, by all concerned. Perhaps then we can work at trying to resolve the emotional fallout from the experience, which is felt by all involved. Then and only then can both the Church and the Government move forward. - Yours, etc.,
Michael O'Brien, Secretary, Alliance for Healing from Institutional Abuse, Josephine Baker, Founder, Organisation for Recovery from Institutional Abuse, Clifden Court, Dublin 7.