Tom Doyle Wins Hearts and Minds in Ireland
Report from Sean O’Conaill, VOTF Ireland

The Dublin meeting on Friday Dec. 2 in All Hallows College produced lively discussion, and no dissent from Tom Doyle's superb analysis of the failure of the church system we have inherited. Colm O'Gorman's presentation began with a reading of a letter from the former Cardinal Ratzinger, in which we had a great example of the blame-shifting that Tom spoke about. He and Tom were a superb speaking team.

About fifty people attended the Dublin meeting. As Tom says, the energy in VOTF in Dublin will depend upon making contact with more Dublin survivors - people whose anger against the church has not yet found an outlet within the church. The state inquiry into the Dublin archdiocese, due to start very soon, may provide us with such an opportunity.

From both the Derry and Dublin meetings, I believe VOTF established itself as a serious force that won’t go away any time soon; there was considerable interest at the Dublin meeting in the Derry gathering (Derry is in the north-west and therefore far more typical of Ireland's Catholic grassroots).

The Derry meeting was different, and, from all accounts, a resounding triumph, especially for the energetic support that was expressed there on behalf of VOTF's mission and core goals. There was one initial kerfuffle from one woman but she found herself alone against a vigorous lobby for her to leave - which she then did. Tom needed only to wait for this to pass and was then listened to raptly by an audience of about 110 people.

Most importantly, many in this audience had been deeply hurt, either directly by clerical child sex abuse, or by the revelation that their church leaders could have so badly let down their fellow Catholics. One woman made a vigorous and highly articulate attack upon the behaviour of the bishop of the diocese, Seamus Hegarty, saying that nothing could change until he went.

A priest (one of about six who were present) was heard to say "Hear, Hear!" There was considerable applause for this quite unprecedented gesture in this city.

After Tom's impeccable presentation there were many who wished to speak; the meeting went on for over four hours. Most importantly, Tom then generously met with anyone who particularly wished to speak to him. Some who did so had never before been able to unburden themselves of their pain, and were deeply grateful.

Important one-to-one contacts were made for the first time, allowing us to believe that our core group has expanded considerably, and that we are putting in place an enduring support network for survivors that will continue to grow. Furthermore, there were people present from the neighbouring diocese of Raphoe who will be carrying good news of us into west Donegal.

Finally, the experience of the meeting, and of getting to know Tom Doyle, has greatly helped the whistle blowers in this diocese, ending their lonely isolation. Voice of the Faithful has given Derry the realisation that this home diocese of Colmcille of Iona is now firmly part of an international Catholic network bent on restoring compassion and integrity to our Church - and on placing lay people in a leadership role.

This weekend was a Derry, and an all-Ireland, watershed. Things are very much better than they were just a week ago - and they will never be quite the same again.

I cannot adequately express my gratitude to God for Tom's kindliness, approachability to all, wisdom, calm and humility – nor my appreciation for the generosity of a VOTF couple in Boston, whose initial donation made these meetings possible. My way to express that best is just to hang in there, praying hard - knowing the graces that wait in abundance for all who will join us from now on.

The Saturday drive from Dublin to Derry, ferrying Tom to a city that needed him so badly, will live forever in my memory. I learned so much from him - and was so struck by his manner of supporting the newly sprung movement “Body of the Church” in Armagh.

These are rosary-praying Irish Catholics from all over the island, outraged by the treatment of the Maynooth whistle-blower Fr Gerald McGinnity – “rustificated” by our hierarchy for warning against Micheal Ledwith back about 1985. The latter went on to become president of our major seminary - and then to embarrass his supporters still further by falling under the miasma of clerical child sex abuse, which forced his resignation. Tom assured them that what they were doing made him proud.

This story will run and run.