Church’s abuse rhetoric ‘empty’

Sir – It has been confirmed at the child sex abuse inquiry for England and Wales that the Holy See has claimed diplomatic immunity arising from its statehood in order to refuse to assist the inquiry into child sex abuse by its priests and the cover-up by its hierarchy.

No doubt this same prerogative will be exercised in relation to the current Scottish child sex abuse inquiry.

This clearly demonstrates the emptiness of Pope Francis’ rhetoric about the Catholic Church adopting a “zero tolerance” policy on child sex abuse.

It is also worth noting that the Holy See’s claims to statehood change depending on the circumstances. In recent years the Holy See has, when convenient, both asserted and renounced its statehood.

In 2009 it claimed statehood to ask for diplomatic immunity from sex abuse cases in the United States while almost simultaneously denying statehood in order to refuse co-operation with the International Criminal Court.

It is therefore pertinent to ask why the Scottish Government is happy to continue allowing the Catholic Church to run a segregated sector of our education system.

Surely any organisation that has such blatant disregard for Scotland’s governance and the safety of its children, combined with its appalling global record on child sex abuse and its cover-up, is not fit to have access to Scottish schools in this way?

Alistair McBay. Lawmuirview, Methven,

Perth.

No doubt this same prerogative will be exercised in relation to the current Scottish child sex abuse inquiry ALISTAIR MCBAY