Irish Americans shocked, outraged at Irish child abuse report

'The collar shouldn't save them from prosecution'

“The fact that someone wears a collar, it doesn't exempt them from prosecution,” he says.

In order for the church to survive the crisis, Corridan feels it needs to “take responsibility for the wrongdoings of its members,” and act in a “proper manner” towards the victims instead of making halfhearted apologies.

American-born Mike McGovern, with roots in County Cavan, is an extremely devout Catholic. McGovern, 65, has been a Eucharistic minister for 12 years, and a catechist in his parish in Long Island for 11 years. He was the parish school board president and a volunteer with his wife at the parish social ministry office.

McGovern said that priests should be allowed to marry. “Then maybe pedophiles would most likely not be accepted,” he added.

McGovern, who attended Catholic schools during his childhood, said he could remember two nuns and two religious brothers hitting the kids.

“In eighth grade there was a nun called Sister Dynamite. She was feared by all the boys; she was always hitting them. She was about five-foot tall and about 250 pounds, I think. The brother principal loved to put the boys' over his knee, and wack them with a ruler, or hard across the hands,” recalls McGovern.

McGovern said those responsible for the lewd acts reported in the Ryan report should be “punished for the evil things they did.”

“Even priests and religious people should face up to what they have done,” he said.

What do you think about the abuse report? Talk to our reporter April Drew adrew@irishcentral.com

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Nster.com