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Re:’ SAY SORRY’ by Ann Thompson
It was not money, but an unconditional acknowledgement of wrongdoing that Ann Thompson most wanted, and needed, from the Catholic Church. A genuine apology includes an admission of wrongdoing, a request for forgiveness, and adequate restitution. The Bishops have not provided this.
Worse, Ann has been told repeatedly that there was no wrongdoing. The Lawyer for the Catholic Church said publicly on ‘60 Minutes’: “There was no wrongdoing”. Bishop Barry Jones has been supportive, but the best he could manage was: “I am sorry you had such an unhappy childhood”.
There is no real admission of wrongdoing – ever! So any words that sound like sorry have no real meaning, especially since the terms of the 2001 mediation settlement have never been properly met by the Catholic Church. Bishop Barry seems unable to correct this, and that is why the book ‘Say Sorry’ was published.
Ann has to ask ‘The Nun’s Committee’ for each legitimate item needed, and suffers scorn, rejection and tears at each unfair refusal. Other abusees are being paid for the same items. This is re-victimisation at its worst. If the Catholic Church was truly sorry, surely they could do better than this?
Ron Hackett,