A walking PR disaster

Singer Sinead O'Connor has an open letter in today's Irish Examiner.

And while all this is taking place in the world of the media the church 'motors on'.

Something profoundly tragic is taking place.

Has the church intentionally gone that extra mile to create a PR disaster? Is that part of its plan of action?

Michael Foot, who died yesterday, was a PR disaster, but it was clear that he was an honourable and genuine human being.

During the papacy of John Paul II, great damage was done within the church. So many 'wrong' men were appointed bishops. All the time the emphasis had been on 'orthodoxy' and a 'safe pair of hands'. Is this where 'safety' and 'orthodoxy' leads.

For a bishop to dare mention money these days is simply astonishing. The church is awash with money.

Another worrying phenomenon is the attitude among large sections of the clergy and especially the young people.

What at all is going to happen?