In many places and in many situations, there is a "statute of limitations" that prohibits prosecution of certain crimes after a period of time. In the United States, the "statute of limitations" was lifted because of the huge number of offenses uncovered, and the Catholic Church paid billions in damages, a large portion of which was for offenses committed in the 1950's through 1970's.

While I admit the offenses were horrendous, it's hard to defend oneself against a charge that's thirty years old. In this case, it was the employer of the defendants who was being held accountable - and the bill is being paid by lay people who were children at the time the offenses were committed.

While there may not be the huge charge for reparations in Ireland, many of the offenders may be over the age of 80. Certainly, they should have been held to answer for their offenses; but if their age is so advanced, is it really worth the expense to prosecute such people? I'm sure that there is a great desire to punish the Catholic Church for the offenses committed by its priests and nuns, and by those who covered up the offenses - but it's too late for that. The Catholics who get the blame, were children when the offenses were committed. It seems to me that much of the anger is misdirected, and much of the cost is being borne by people who are completely innocent of the offenses - and much of the energy spent on this whole thing is an expression of revenge, and not a solution to the problem.


-Joe-