O'Donnell denies plotting against Catholic Church

Monday February 6th 2006

John Cooney

FORMER Minister of State Liz O'Donnell has denied being in a plot to undermine the Catholic Church in Ireland.

However, she said in light of the Ferns report, she would be standing by her recent call for a reduction in the Church's control over the national school system.

The Dublin South TD noted that the plot claim had been made by an anonymous theologian in the current issue of the religious magazine 'Intercom'.

Poking fun at theologians who did not put their names to their views, she said "I can stand over what I say."

She said she had spoken out in the Dail because the Ferns Report showed that there had been a dereliction of duty by church authorities towards children.

Referring to the Catholic Church's power in the bulk of the country's 3,000 national schools under the patronage of the clergy, she questioned whether it was right in an increasingly multi-cultural society for one church to control 95pc of schools.

Referring to calls from Labour leader Pat Rabbitte for the withdrawal of the church from schools the former Minister of State said: "I am glad the debate has started."

? Irish Independent