Connell's actions drowning out words
Added on February 6, 2008
Independent.ie
Perhaps the most serious consequence for Cardinal Connell arising from his High Court action is that, given his earlier promises of his intent to co-operate fully with the enquiry, all previous statements on the subject must now be regarded as null and void.
This includes any statement of remorse, because, according to the church's own teaching, remorse must be shown, not simply expressed.
This is not the action of a remorseful man or church, but the last desperate act of a man and an institution incapable of understanding that the hurt they have caused to their members must finally be confronted.
Given the opportunity to reach out to the victims of his church, Cardinal Connell has, as we have seen so often before, reached out to his lawyers.
What the majority of clergy, good men and women, will make of this, heaven only knows.
No doubt we will hear further spin from the diocese that the cardinal's action is simply a legal issue, as a result of lawyers being involved, but this argument simply will not wash.
This action is being taken on the cardinal's clear instructions, in order to ensure that Cardinal Connell can control the amount of information that is to be fed to the enquiry -- a far cry from his promise of full co-operation.
We will be told that the cardinal is entitled to defend himself -- big news, we already know that when he faced the relatively voiceless victims of his church's pervert clergy, and even as one of the most powerful churchmen in the country, Cardinal Connell always had his lawyers handy.
We also know that if Cardinal Connell had given the victims of his church as much pastoral care as the legal care he has always given himself, then this situation would not be as serious as it is today.
I await the decision of the High Court, and hopefully, an enquiry report based on full documentation.
This is the only report to which anyone should attach any credibility.
Entirely as a result of his own actions, any statement from or on behalf of Cardinal Connell relating to any aspect of this issue has to be considered null and void -- a dismal ending to the credibility of a prince of a once-proud and once-powerful church.
ANTHONY O?LEARY
PORTMARNOCK, COUNTY DUBLIN
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