Bishop launches broadside on 'secular arrows'

In today's Irish Times Bishop of Raphone Philip Boyce is reported to have said that: "the church is attacked from outside by the arrows of a secular and godless culture, rocked from the inside by the sins and crimes of priests and consecrated people".

Bishop Boyce mentions nothing about the sins of bishops.

Does Bishop Boyce not realise that had the 'secular and godless culture' not exposed all that we have heard and read, we might well still be back in the 'golden age' when priests felt untouchable.

These words of Dr Boyce as reported in today's Irish Times are not helpful in any discussion in discovering the truth.

It does not at all follow that a secular world is firing 'arrows' at the church. It might well have reason to fire arrows at the institutional church and many of its bishops.

Bishop Boyce has to know about the privileged position bishops and priests held in Ireland in the past and indeed still hold.

Bishop Boyce has to know about all that was shovelled under the carpet for years upon years.

Did Bishop Boyce ever speak out in the 'good old days' in the name of truth and Gospel values?

Bishop Boyce's comments as reported in today's Irish Times are glib and indeed inaccurate.