MASS-GOERS at Dublin’s pro-cathedral and St Colman’s Cathedral in Cobh, the cathedral church of the diocese of Cloyne, were largely unimpressed by the Vatican’s response.
Margie O’Reilly from Raheny, Dublin, said the Vatican should have taken “loads of responsibility” for what happened.
“They are too old-fashioned in their views. They are going to have to come back to the real world and listen to people. Because people are just not going to go [to Mass] . There has been too much hurt and too much abuse,” she said.
Oliver O’Leary from Cork said the Vatican was not facing up to its responsibilities.
“They can collect the money, they are responsible for making the rules but when it comes to a bit of blame they shy away from it,” Mr O’Leary said,
He expressed sympathy for the grassroots clergy. “I think the ordinary priest is suffering on account of all of this.”
He compared priests to bank clerks being spat on while bank executives were “getting away scot-free”.
Nora McCarrick from Drumcondra, Dublin, said there were “an awful lot of unanswered questions and somebody has to be held accountable.”
She backed Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s criticism of the Vatican.
Eddie Synnott from Kilkenny said the Vatican was right to defend itself .
“Enda Kennys criticism was very unfair and unmeasured because he was basically painting the whole Catholic Church with the same brush. The vast majority of people are decent,” he said.