Sir, Patrick Touher's recollection of the Christian Brothers in the Artane Orphanage (October 7th) makes grim reading, it is true. But in fairness, it should he pointed out that the real fault lay not with the Brothers but with the Irish society of the time, which left its weaker elements so much in the lurch.
Furthermore, anyone dealing with these social outcasts had no practical resources given them by society to do the work. In a very real sense, they were all victims, the orphans, the Brothers and the army of unsung heroes in the religious life who gave so much so unselfishly for their fellow men and women.
I'm not a Christian Brothers boy, it is true, but I have met a veritable legion of men who were. It is sad that the Church has been slow to recognise their work only at a time when so many Brothers have been called to their eternal reward. Let's not be too hard on their sean nos disciplinary methods. They were good enough to be used in Eton College.
How many people ever black guarded Eton on that account? Now many . . . Rather let us think of the innumerable positive aspects of their work, that spirit of self sacrifice and of charity which underpinned their work and the extent of the Christian Brothers Diaspora world wide being not the least. - Yours, etc.,
Garden Street,
Magherafelt,
Co Derry BT 45 5DD.