David Norris (Independent)

I would like to repeat a call I made last week to the Leader to provide a debate on the relations between Church and State. I say this in light of the tragic revelations of last night. It is extraordinary that these have come on foot of the silencing of Fr. Brian D'Arcy and Fr. Sean Fagan, and in this case children were silenced as well. Gay people have also been silenced. The term used in the church, which demonstrates this prejudice against gay people, was peccatum illud horribile inter christianos non nominandum - that sin so horrible it must not be mentioned among Christians. A veil of silence descended. I compliment Fine Gael on the courage of Deputy Buttimer in coming out. At least I am not the only gay in the village any more. There is quite a little flock gathering.

This is a terribly serious issue, because it also affects the Protestant churches. The Anglican Archbishop of Dublin repeatedly asked the then Minister for Justice to include the victims of the Bethany Home in south Dublin in the investigations into child abuse and the Residential Institutions Redress Board, but this was never done. There is an unmarked grave in which several hundred infants are buried anonymously. If it had been the Cardinal who had asked, it would have happened immediately. I simply do not understand it. Although we are blaming the Catholic Church all the time - like any institution, it deserves a certain amount of blame - we must not leave the State out, and we must make sure we consider any instance of abuse.

I was absolutely shocked to learn of the various cardinals in Britain launching a campaign against gay marriage. Not only are they instructing politicians and having pastoral letters read out, but they have now gone into the schools and instituted an instruction that schools should be made to campaign.