I tend to agree that the situation in the Tuam home was deplorable, as it was in most of the other institutions. If we can stick to the facts and explore what actually happened in these institutions, then I would probably agree with most of what is said - and we would all learn something.

When you take advantage of these tragedies to promote an anti-Catholic agenda, then you go beyond the limits of fair play.

The two basic teachings of every Christian church are these: love God, and love your neighbor. If Christians do anything that violates these two precepts, then they have perverted the fundamental principles of the faith they profess - and they deserve to be condemned for that. But I know lots of Catholics and lots of Christians who live their lives by those two principles, and they do not deserve to be condemned along with the wrongdoers.

So, if you believe in fair play and tolerance, I ask you to discuss specific conduct and specific incidents and to back it up with documented, factual information. And please, refrain from blanket generalizations. Blame the people who are to blame, not the people who are fighting to fix what's wrong.

-Joe Offer-