By  Frank McGinnis

Apology to begin with ?

How difficult would it be for the Comboni Missionaries to issue an apology to those who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of Fathers Pinkman, Valmaggia and Nardo ?. Ten minutes and your intention to do so could be emailing it’s way to us. Pope Francis has shown you the way. It may take a little courage, not anywhere near as much as we survivors of those wayward priests show every day.

Would it make a Difference ?

Oh yes, it would make a huge difference. The responsibility for what happened to us at Mirfield is not ours. We were children. The trust we placed in the Verona Fathers was betrayed. The responsibility rests solely with yourselves. The Order is accountable. We need you to accept you let us down, we need you to tell us you let us down. We need you to make a start in helping us to mend these broken lives.

Can God ever Approve of lies ?

The depraved actions of Fr Pinkman and the others were acts against the very God you otherwise serve. You protected these people, moved them around, you are hiding Fr Nardo in Verona today. This is not Gods work you do, to turn and look away while children are being damaged, to obstruct natural justice, to lie to save yourselves from scrutiny. The God you taught us about would certainly not approve of you washing your hands. He cannot be mislead. He would never condone His Church harming children, you know that.