Empty rhetoric of the Cardinal

AFTER reading Rosemary Goring’s excellent article on the demise of Cardinal O’brien (“Cardinal O’brien’s tale was a betrayal of hope and trust”, The Herald, March 21) I then was completely surprised by the letter (March 21) from the CND stalwart Bruce Kent, who referred to him as his “friend”.

Ms Goring emphasised the unresolved issues of the Cardinal’s victims and the ineffective handling of his deviant actions by the Vatican hierarchy downwards.monsignor Kent does not want the Cardinal’s support for nuclear disarmament to be forgotten, while acknowledging his lack of “sexual standards”, omitting to add that the Cardinal only admitted his guilt after being forced to do so because of the overwhelming claims.

While condemning nuclear disarmament the Cardinal was simultaneously condemning homosexual acts and gay marriages. His empty rhetoric must have been so easy for him to deliver during the decades in which he led his double life for his own perverse satisfaction.

In this instance I think we should agree with Shakespeare and let the “good” be interred with the bones, if only in an attempt to gain closure for his victims.

Tina Oakes,

Hanover Court, Stonehaven.

I FOUND the article by Rosemary Goring to be hard in condemnation, and without any grain of compassion or insight into a man so tragically conflicted. It took the Letters Pages to lift my spirit with the balanced and more kindly contribution from Bruce Kent with a timely reminder, to me at least, that there is bad even in the best of us. A betrayal of trust? Perhaps. Hope? Never, I hope.

James Devine,

Birch Knowe, Bishopbriggs.

IN response to Bruce Kent’s letter regarding Cardinal Keith O’brien, I wonder if any of the victims of his chosen abuse wish to acknowledge the good he did and to pray that he may rest in peace.

Laurence Wade,

11 Shaw Place, Coylton, Ayr.