Seanad debates

Wednesday, 8 October 2003

Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (Resumed).

 

I do not want to omit any of the points I wished to make. It is sad that the church is on its knees. Why does Ireland top the poll when surveys list countries in terms of alcohol consumption? Ireland is the number one country for binge drinking. Young people have no moral authority. For all its faults, the Catholic Church established the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association, for example, to encourage people not to drink. It is a tragedy that the church is on its knees because there is now a lack of moral authority. Anybody who believes that young people listen to their parents, or do what their parents tell them, must be living in Disneyland. An authority other than parents is needed. I know that the church was repressive, but aspects of it were extremely good for social stability, and its downfall is a tragedy.

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