Texts and emails, Wednesday 10 March 2010

Topic: The first bishops conference since their meeting with the Pope.

Panellists: The first part of the programme was filmed from the bishops conference in Maynooth, and features exchanges with Bishops Denis Brennan (Ferns), John McAreavey (Dromore)and Christopher Jones (Elphin). Mary Raftery and Patsy McGarry joined Vincent in studio.

That Press conference was a disgrace. They are in total denial, with all their studies they don’t care about the victims.

Mary O Brien, Kilkenny.

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Stop the unfair blaming clergy who are not guilty - the older bishops {I am in this age group} would not have heard of paedophiles. Give us a break from Buckley, O'Gorman, Madden et al - they have their own agenda. 

Noreen Keenan.

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I never heard of 2 of those bishops before, and never heard any of them speak. I hope to never hear them again. They were pathetic!

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2 things we must do: nationalise all faith schools and hospitals without compensation and break off diplomatic relations with the Vatican. 

Henry Magee.

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I am one person abused in Ferryhouse. Please tell me how could you believe them I will never forgive them, why can’t they say sorry my life was ruined? I can’t even trust to be with anyone alone. I am 56 years and it took years to tell my wife what was wrong, I have 3 children that don’t know.

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Vincent you are so good at insisting on your question being answered. You really showed the bishops up at that conference and the 2 hour notice was really sly. Mary Raftery and Patsy Mcgarry are great. Keep up the good work. I love your programme.

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The pope scared d bejaysus out of the Irish bishops. I'd say they'd all burst into tears if they heard the word excommunication.

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For Bishop Jones to describe Bishop Drennan as a 'scholar' and a 'holy man' was an insult to believers of God. God put children before all else in the bible. Bishops who covered up paedophilia should be cast out of Gods church. 

N.G.

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For a supposedly clever men, some of those bishops should b put in enclosed orders where their input and effect on human beings would be minimised. Satan talks in many guises.

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Vincent you have to stop talking to and about the bishops and concentrate on why they are not under arrest. All this is red herring and you’re buying it.

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Vincent, look at it this way, would you go on your own show and really expect to get a hearing rather than a mauling? While your programme is very entertaining at times, an objective forum it is not. Margaret Downey.

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Inter agency communication in important in preventing child abuse. I applied, as teacher, for place on post grad trinity child welfare protection course. Fourteen places.  Must be funded in advance. Dept of Education refused, citing reasons that teachers don't need to know lot about the issue, also if they funded me it might set precedent for another teacher to apply the following year? Not a good investment they thought! 

Mairead, Kildare.

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Brian Cowen said he had confidence in Mary. Remind me did I hear him say the same thing about a certain minister of defence only weeks ago?

John Morrison,Tralee.