RSS
News


Home Page > News > Sinead O’Connor writes letter to Pope Benedict over pedophile remarks

Sinead O’Connor writes letter to Pope Benedict over pedophile remarks

By
MOLLY MULDOON,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Thursday, December 23, 2010, 5:32 AM
Updated Thursday, December 23, 2010, 6:33 AM

print this article Print
email this articleE-mail
comment on article 39 Comments
 

Sinead O'Connor
Sinead O'Connor


READ MORE- Sinead O'Connor rips into Irish Catholic Church again on child-abuse scandal

The outspoken music star, Sinead O’Connor has composed a letter to Pope Benedict XVI in which she launched a scathing attack on the pontiff for his remarks that pedophilia was theorized in the 1970s as being "fully in conformity with man and even with children".

In the open letter the Irish singer urged Pope Benedict to detail who exactly in the Catholic Church supported such a belief.

Ms O’Connor has been a critic of the Catholic Church since the early nineties when she famously tore up a picture of the then Pope John Paul II during a television appearance.

The letter reads: An open letter to Pope Benedict from Sinead O’Connor:

Sir, Some burning questions arise from the following statement you made in your Christmas address to your cardinals on December 20 regarding how it came to pass that the house of the Holy Spirit became a haven for criminals of a sexual nature.

‘In the 1970s pedophilia was theorized [by the church] as something fully in conformity with man and even with children.’

Please deign to respond to this letter directly and personally and put aside all the pomp and titles and so-called ‘proper channels’ all of which belong not in the 21st century but the 12th and are unbecoming of Christ.

Exactly who held the theory that pedophilia was fully in conformity with man and with children? Please give us their names.

Exactly when did they hold this theory? Exactly when if ever did they cease holding the theory?

Why was this information not given to victims?

Why was it never given to any commissions of enquiry or civil authorities?

Why in all the years since these scandals broke out was yesterday the first mention of this information?

It is highly disrespectful of the victims that you would throw this out as an aside remark and not present yourself for questioning on such a very serious piece of information which would be key in the potential recovery of the church.

The Holy Spirit requires you to familiarize yourself with honesty and respect if you retain any desire to salvage the remains of the church which has been ruined by its being allowed to live by its ownlaws and not God’s.

READ MORE- Sinead O'Connor rips into Irish Catholic Church again on child-abuse scandal

Most Emailed on IrishCentral

Most Popular on IrishCentral

​
print this article Print
email this articleE-mail


39 Comments

15 - 39 | See all comments

NYCsheridan | Jan 31, 2011, 10:22 AM EST
To all the idiots in the comments section who turn this discussion of Pedophilia into a discussion of abortion...good God, shut up!
Report abuse
StaleCake | Jan 01, 2011, 04:28 PM EST
I am amazed more people aren't up in arms about this. The Pope said it was cool back in the 70s for adults to have sex with children. He said everyone agreed with it. As someone who was a teen in the 70s, I know for a fact sex with children was completely frowned upon. And since when did the church go along with popular culture? Haven't they bound themselves to archaic convention? Isn't that why women can't be priests? So it's okay to ban women, but not ban sex with children? The church is horribly, terribly corrupt and we're talking about Sinead O'Connor's hair! How do we get our church back from these monsters?
Report abuse
Towngate | Dec 30, 2010, 05:30 PM EST
SANCTIMONIOUS CLAPTRAP: Dangerous, and, as always,stupid words from someone who could get bad news at any time from any or all of the three 'softies' he has somehow managed to 'thumb in'!
Report abuse
sirpeter | Dec 29, 2010, 05:53 AM EST
@paricaliswishes..i thought you were religious,surly you don't condone abortion? I don't want an irish person who took the life of three of her babies..THEN wrote a song about it to make money,told Shane McGowan he would be dead soon, years ago,who also said she was an attention seeker,saying anything to the pope,her credibility is in the toilet.
Report abuse
paricaliswishes | Dec 28, 2010, 07:22 AM EST
Sinead You're a genuinely beautiful woman and i'd love to see you with long hair please sinead and a short tongue to go with it.
Report abuse
esatdigiwank | Dec 28, 2010, 04:53 AM EST
its amazing what 3 abortions can do to the ole grey matter../
Report abuse
oldboreen | Dec 27, 2010, 03:31 PM EST
I seem to remember that Sinead loves children so much that she killed three in her own womb-sorry-terminated-that's the euphemism for the life of a chld denied by this publicity seeking egotist.Not that the point she makes isn't valid, it is.But not from you Sinead.
Report abuse
STUMPTOWN | Dec 27, 2010, 10:46 AM EST
This is what is needed. Speak out and always ask questions. Sinead O'Connor has done correctly. Thoes that look the other way and say nothing are part of the problem on the abuse of children. The administration of the RCC has done more damage to the RCC then the abusers by their silenceing the truth to protect the image which is a major crime as well. The one that brought out the truth of the RCC Irish abused children to light has not been awarded at the Vatican Irish administration meeting but he is what the RCC needs as a pope. I feel sorry for the good religious that get a bad image from the abusers and more from the RCC administrators that silence the truth to protect the image. What would CHRIST done?
Report abuse
Silling | Dec 27, 2010, 10:14 AM EST
Santa Claus is a Pedophile, he stops coming to us when we grow up. Perhaps Sineid O'Connor should focus her energy to ban father christmas. And as she is at it, try and get that looser Jesus removed from the crosses in all the catholic Churches in Ireland. Robinson's were forced to remove the Golliwog from their label years ago. So, Sineid, your mission position, should you accept, No more Santa's and get I.N.R.I out of our churches. Tell pope been a dick in your next missive.
Report abuse
ironjustice | Dec 27, 2010, 12:54 AM EST
I was actually surprised when this fella was ENDORSED by the last pope. I had my reservations when I read about his background and NOW it kind of throws a stench of the last pope BECAUSE he hadn't SEEN this 'attitude' IN this fella. It wouldn't be the first time a CEO was a psychopath.
Report abuse
sirpeter | Dec 26, 2010, 03:53 PM EST
Silling..I'm inclined to agree with ya..I was molested when I was 12 by an 18 year old for ages..I never told anyone.I was afraid they would get her to stop.
Report abuse
sirpeter | Dec 26, 2010, 03:44 PM EST
Creakinggate...Ha ha ha..Hardly Towngate trials..To be honest I don't think you have the wit or the skill,when it come to the battle of the posts..My last post from the P.R.O.C Newsletter over on "For hire: deer hunters in Ireland" was a knockout punch.ha ha ha...You just had no answer to that one..ha ha..Writing that stuff come so easy to me.ha haha..2011 is going to be a long year for you..;))
Report abuse
cuddlybuddly | Dec 26, 2010, 01:04 PM EST
Sinead, I fully support and stand by your questions to the pope. These 'beings' that drag Christ's name in mud need to take responsibility, stand up and identify themselves, because they are nothing like Christ...scathing attack on the pope? no scathing attack on every child by the Catholic "church" haven for psychopathic priests.
Report abuse
IrishCanuck | Dec 26, 2010, 12:19 PM EST
Good on you Sinead some one has to teach this Idiot that he is not God, far from it. Anyone who who would shovel this under the rug should be taken out and #@&* themselves especially this clown Sillying who was molested and doesn't think it was a big deal, lady or man you need help.
Report abuse
Towngate | Dec 26, 2010, 10:53 AM EST
MERRY LIKEWISE SIR: It appears you have escaped from the shed and survived the deer-skin incident,so Jesus must want you for a Moonbeam ... or to suffer even greater Towngate Trials. Slainte!
Report abuse


IrishCentral Mobile QR code


Connect to IrishCentral with your Facebook account

or Sign-Up directly

Already Registered? Sign-In!

Welcome to IrishCentral!
Please provide the following information in order to create your account

Username:
E-Mail Address:
Password:
Confirm Password:
I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy


Welcome to IrishCentral!
All we need is the following information and you will be part of the #1 Irish community in the US

E-Mail Address:
First select a unique username:
Username:
Now choose a password:
Password:
Confirm Password:
I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Thank you!

Just one more step and you will be part of the largest Irish community in America! Tell us a little more about you to start enjoying all the features of IrishCentral.

Additional Information:

First Name:
Last Name:
Date of Birth:
Zip:
Gender: Male  Female 
Country:
Degree of Irishness:
Household Income:
Level of Education:

Subscribe to our newsletters:

The Best of IrishCentral - Daily Newsletter
Special Offers from our sponsors

or
Skip

You can edit your information at any time, just go to "my account" when you're logged in.

Log into IrishCentral with your Facebook account

or sign-in directly

E-Mail:
Password:
 Remember me Forgot my password
Not a member? Register Now!