Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)

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Symbolic rallies appeal for Francis to reform Church Baby shoes display is part of silent protests »Varadkar wants ‘truth and healing’ Pope calls cleric scandals ‘repugnant’

- BY SYLVIA POWNALL BY AILBHE DALY BY FERGHAL BLANEY Political Reporter Leo Varadkar and the Pope in Dublin Castle yesterday

DEMO SEVERAL protests were held in the capital yesterday as the Pope embarked on his whistle-stop tour of the city.

The We Are Church Ireland group held a protest on Dublin’s Ha’penny Bridge calling for reform within the institutio­n.

It called for abuse to be tackled, for LGBT members to be made welcome and for women priests.

Spokesman Brendan Butler said its members hope Pope Francis can end injustices within the church.

Blue ribbons and rainbow flags were tied to the bridge in a symbol of solidarity with victims and survivors of clerical wrongdoing.

Tourists stopped to watch as those taking part held placards with the message “justice for abused women”.

Eddie McGuinness, 49, an organiser of the annual Gay Pride festival in Dublin, said he wanted the church to welcome LGBTQ people.

He added: “The Pope asked for forgivenes­s but let’s show forgivenes­s and embrace the diversity of all families.

“Men cannot do this on their own, they need women behind them and they need the LGBTQ community behind them as well and that is what we need to embrace.”

Pete Saunders, a survivor who was abused in Jesuit school in London, travelled to attend the protest.

He said: “I came to Ireland to give support to survivors here.”

HAUNTING A SERIES of silent protests against the Church will take place across the country today.

Symbolic baby shoes tied with black mourning ribbon will be hung on the front railings of former Magdalene laundries and mother and baby homes as the Pope says mass.

Will Hamilton, spokesman for Baby Shoes Remember, said: “This is part of the One Million Baby Shoes Remember worldwide project.

“We demand Archbishop Diarmuid Martin leave the shoes up on the Pro-Cathedral and everywhere else. If the Catholic Church remove them, it is symbolic of the ongoing cover-up.”

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