No defence

THE Vatican’s response to the Irish Government (your article, 7 September) quotes Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, former Head of the Congregation for the Clergy, as telling Ireland’s bishops in 1998 that they “should not in any way put an obstacle in the legitimate path of civil justice.” This is advanced to illustrate the Vatican’s support for referring offenders to the civil authorities.

Yet this is the same Cardinal who, in 2001, wrote to a French Bishop congratulating him for not denouncing a paedophile priest to the civil administration and being jailed for the omission.

If there was ever conclusive proof that the most senior Vatican figures deliberately sought to conceal abusive priests from prosecution under civil law, the Hoyos’ letter is it.

Alistair McBay

Lawmuirview, Methven