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The true history of the site in Tuam has been revealed by local woman Catherine Corless. LauraHutton/RollingNews.ie

Catholic bishop: 'We hang our heads in shame' over Tuam mass grave

Bishop Brendan Leahy was challenged by a woman at today’s Citizens’ Assembly.

BISHOP BRENDAN LEAHY has told the Citizens’ Assembly that they in the church “hang our heads in shame” over the Tuam babies revelations.

Leahy was responding to a question from one of the assembly’s 99 members who identified herself as Cathy from Tuam.

She asked, given the context of the mass infant grave, whether the church had the “track record” to offer its opinion on the care of children.

The woman took particular issue with the assertion from pro-life groups that “every life matters”.

“How do the church expect us to go along with this given the horrific track record the church and religious orders have when dealing with the most vulnerable and, as you call them yourself, the voiceless weak in our society historically,” Cathy said.

And specifically, in the light of the recent discovery of 780 babies and infants bodies thrown into septic tanks in Tuam, and coincidentally I’m from Tuam myself.

Chair of the assembly Justice Mary Laffoy questioned the relevance of the question but the woman added:

“It’s the stance that everyone has a right to life regardless of the situation, how do they correlate the two when the historic track record stands as it is for itself?”

Katie Liffey, who presented on behalf of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, first answered the woman. She said she considered pulling out of her speaking slot on foot of the revelations.

“It is something that as, I suppose, an ordinary Catholic that I spent the weekend deeply upset by myself and I spent a lot of time reflecting did I want to be here?,” she said.

“Did I want to speak to this question given what has been uncovered in Tuam? So I deeply respect where you’re coming from.”

Bishop Brendan Leahy, who had joined Liffey on the stage for the Q&A portion of the session, then responded. He described the Tuam babies revelation as a “wake-up call”.

“Obviously I want to echo that sentiment, we’re all as shocked as everyone else about all of this. But I think it just brings home to us the key point is that is that society has to, both the born and the unborn, welcome them, care for them protect them and that’s true always,” he said.

“And we stand with a renewed kind of wake up call to us all, this is essential, and we want this to be essential in our mission as a church as well but also the common good.”

So certainly we hang our heads in shame but it brings us back to the fact that this is what we want. To promote a culture that really does care for life both before and after birth.

The comments come after the confirmation that “a significant number” of children’s remains have been discovered in sewage containers at the site of the old mother and baby home in Tuam.

Speaking this morning on RTÉ radio, government minister Simon Coveney said that it’s “hard to see how that there wouldn’t be garda involvement” in the case.

Abortion

The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference was speaking as part of the Citizens’ Assembly’s deliberations on the Eighth Amendment and was arguing that the law be kept as it stands.

Liffey had said that it is their belief that people are “the responsible stewards of creation” and that “we are all unique from the moment of our conception”.

The Church of Ireland made a short presentation in which Rev. Michael Burrows said that, while it has been the church’s position that terminations should only take place of in cases of “strict and undeniable medical necessity”, it has questioned whether such nuance should be dealt with in the constitution.

Atheist Ireland argued in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment.

Earlier this afternoon, the Citizens’ Assembly heard from the Pro-Life Campaign and the Iona Institute who favour the status quo. Amnesty International and the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment argued for a referendum and repeal.

Read: No mourning at final resting place of Tuam babies – only an eerie silence >

Read: Youth Defence: ‘Sex traffickers and child molesters love abortion’ >

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190 Comments
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    Mute stephen kavanagh
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 5:05 PM

    ‘A demonstrable interest in how women are portrayed on the internet’ is one of the criteria, why?

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    Mute Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 5:13 PM

    @stephen kavanagh: The article says ” internet culture giant DailyEdge with its core audience of smart, internet-devoted women,” so it would seem that they are aiming the product at women and I guess they want someone who has an interest in that area. Personally I do not see why a site with celeb nonsense and “light” news should be considered to be for women but then I guess I’m just an old fashioned feminist.

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    Mute stephen kavanagh
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 5:16 PM

    @Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: Ah I didn’t see that, how old fashioned and stereotypical

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    Mute Michael Kelly
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 9:50 PM

    @stephen kavanagh: I don’t particularly know but I’d recommend Brendan o Carrol for the Job. As most of that type of shite, is shite & he could make that shite a whole heap of shite worthy of the effort of having a Gander, so to speak, He/She would be a F*(‘ng Rocket to send the shit right to the top…

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    Mute Daniel Wilson
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 5:46 PM

    All your CV needs to say is “Great at scouring Reddit, lovin Dublin, and Buzzfeed”

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    Mute Morgan Freeman
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 6:34 PM

    @Daniel Wilson: you make it sound like lovin Dublin don’t rob all their content

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    Mute Bob Lynch
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 6:43 PM

    @Daniel Wilson: being able to copy and paste is a must.

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    Mute Conor Deane
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 5:10 PM

    Give Kevin Myers a call. Seriously. That would spice up the content and give the IT a run for it’s money. Excellent journo who has apologised and ate more than enough humble unlike so many others who ought to be thrown out ages ago.

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    Mute Ron North
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 6:21 PM

    @Conor Deane: He definitely has a demonstrable interest in how women are portrayed on the internet.

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    Mute Atheos Euripides
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 7:25 PM

    @Conor Deane: *Sunday Times.

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    Mute Elizabeth Gregory
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    Aug 4th 2017, 1:06 AM

    @Conor Deane: @Conor Deane if I was hiring I’d give you the job for that suggestion alone!

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    Mute gjpb
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 5:02 PM

    hopefully the next editor won’t allow the same tired sexist articles be published as the last one did

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    Mute Dan
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    Aug 4th 2017, 8:59 AM

    @gjpb:

    Criteria:
    - A demonstrable interest in how women are portrayed on the internet

    So that’s not gonna happen.

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    Mute Gagsy 99
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 5:30 PM

    “The Edge just advertised for a new Editor and broke the internet….”

    Madcap website, The Edge has published an advertisement for a new editor on ITS OWN WEBSITE and nobody can cope.

    Etc etc…

    Do I get the job?

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    Mute gjpb
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 5:37 PM

    @Gagsy 99: yip ,and if you are a man you will obv be paid more due to the gender pay gap.

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    Mute Andrew Tuite
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 6:40 PM

    @Gagsy 99: no gagsy you didn’t!! Why?? You didn’t document 7 places to have a hangover breakfast in Galway before you die!!

    And you didn’t say ‘that’s so stoneybatter’

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    Mute Ally
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 6:45 PM

    @Andrew Tuite: check out this GAS comment. The notions!!

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    Mute Séamus Ó Lochlainn
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 8:43 PM

    @Gagsy 99: I think you need to include randomer’s comments on twitter and a list of 16 other examples of how Irish people have broken the internet to be seriously considered for the position.
    Sorry.

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    Mute Declan Moran
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    Aug 4th 2017, 12:11 AM

    @Gagsy 99: Don’t forget the “Social Influencers”

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    Mute Brian King
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 6:20 PM

    Was the DE always aimed at women? I thought it used to be a fun, light-hearted site for everyone. I know it’s turned into feminist.ie but I thought back in the days of Michael Freeman it wasn’t gender specific.

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    Mute WJH
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 5:11 PM

    If I get it can I set those riveting polls? Do you wash between your toes? Have you ever swallowed a spider? Have you ever crossed the road without looking? Etc, etc…..

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    Mute Aaron Gibson
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 6:48 PM

    @WJH: You’re hired !

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    Mute Alex Marquis
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 7:47 PM

    I. Can’t. Even.
    10 celebrities who’ve had a new haircut in the last month.
    Why the pint in Paddy Murphy’s in Ballywhatthefeck, Co. Whatsisface is the best one. Ever.
    We asked every TD what verse of Rihanna’s “Umbrella” they preferred and the answer will leave you speechless.
    Where do I sign in?

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 8:04 PM

    Seems to be all about women, why?

    50
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    Mute Daffy the Bear
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 8:19 PM

    @Kerry Blake: the forked tongue of modern feninism..

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    Mute Michael Kelly
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 10:29 PM

    @Kerry Blake: Coz their the only Species that hav’nt got ANTI-SHITEWARE on their phones.

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    Mute Eoin Doe
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 7:03 PM

    One that can spell check and through an article beforr it’s pootsted

    40
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    Mute Catherine Mc
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 6:23 PM

    Was this post not advertised a few months ago?

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    Mute Brian O Reilly
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 5:40 PM

    Here’s five headlines I would want to see :”Trump succumbs to Mad Cow Disease ,”North Korean Leader quits post and joins Boy Band”
    “President Putin announces Gender Reassignment Operation a complete success ”
    “Michael Martin admits to ménage a trois with Regina Doherty and Leo Varadkar ,but says “we did not cross swords ”
    “Joan Burton ,Kidnap Victim ,”Garda says,”Not a Hoax”

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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 6:12 PM

    @Brian O Reilly: Cross swords lol

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    Mute Paddy Norton
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 6:11 PM

    Must have experience creating polls

    35
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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 5:01 PM

    Is Micheal gone then ???

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    Mute Eamonn Sheen
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 5:47 PM

    What’s the wages like?

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    Mute Rui Firmino
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 6:44 PM

    @Eamonn Sheen: you’re paid i penny’s make up

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    Mute Eamonn Sheen
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 7:00 PM

    @Rui Firmino: Hopefully some shares in Penny’s too.

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    Mute Rochelle
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 6:13 PM

    Someone with a more credible taste in crisps hopefully. I’m still not sure how a hierarchy declaring Burger Bites as “shite tier” made it to publication.

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    Mute Dan
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    Aug 4th 2017, 8:59 AM

    - A demonstrable interest in how women are portrayed on the internet

    How sexist.

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    Mute john culhane
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 6:05 PM

    I blame brexit

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    Mute Paul Lane
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    Aug 3rd 2017, 6:44 PM

    Kevin is out of a job and he could start straight away

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    Mute Joseph Siddall
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    Aug 4th 2017, 10:16 AM

    Presumably a command of the English language, sentence construction and grammar are not pre-requisites. Just the ability to cut and paste from any other source, the less sensible the better.

    What’s Bono doing these days? Might suit him

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    Mute Eamonn Sheen
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    Aug 4th 2017, 2:34 PM

    @Joseph Siddall: 2 rite

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