"Same as Italy then, "
Italy was a typical example of the church's pragmatism in coming to terms with its limitations - no comparison.
Italy had come through fascism - supported by the Church - "Hitler's Pope" who had turned his back on the Jews being herded into the extermination camps.
The Italian left were extremely powerful in the support they had from overwhelming practicing Catholics - in order that the Church retained their position in Italy they had to give ground - I doubt they would have survived a head-to-head battle there - so they compromised.
That was not the position in Ireland; respect for the church was written into the constitution - they had no need to compromise.
At the height of clerical abuse in Ireland children were being punished and humiliated for suggesting that their priests were sexually abusing them - this happened with the victims of Brendan Smythe, who is said to have sexually abused and assaulted over 143 children - you can't have more proof of the power of the church than that.
General question to all.
Does anybody here agree with this twot?
He's like a mosquito buzzing around and spreading his inanities.
If we're not careful we are all going to come down with a nasty dose of Zika
Go away Keith - and don't you dare accuse me of being a Stalinist
Jim Carroll