the online poll method is always unscientific, so why did you expect this to be different? your reasoning doesn't add up i'm afraid. shame.

You were correct to suspend the poll. Interesting how there was a surge in support for Bishop Murray in your poll immediately after the so called meeting of clerics and laity on Sunday (This is the PR stunt that I refere to in my email to the bishop). Clearly there is still a group of people in the Diocese who have their head buried in the sand.

This is the text of an email which I sent to Bishop Murray's office yesterday.

"Hi,

Just a short email to say that I am extremely disappointed at Bishop Murrays' failure to take responsibility.

This was compounded by yesterdays' PR stunt.

It was to clever by half that a group of senior priests and their handpicked lay people got together and purported to speak on behalf of the people of our Diocese.

We have been seriously damaged by this scandal, but you guys still don't get it.

Keep it up & there will be no church left in Ireland.

The Bishop and the sycophants surrounding him know full well what needs to be done.

Bishop Murray is a clever man, a political man. He knows that the game is up.

What remains to be seen now is for him to prove that he is a man of conscience, a man worthy of his calling and to end his time as Bishop of Limerick on an honorable note by resigning.

Or will he remain on and be seen as just another venile time server, squandering whats left of our church's good name?"

Heres the way I see it, the Bishop was just one man who did what he could back in the day. Now people (the report) are saying "well you could have done more". Its easy to say that in hindsight to everything and anything a person did. Before I crossed the street I could have walked further to find an old lady also looking to cross the road so I could help her but I didn’t. Sure people are hurting because of some evil men, and Ill be first in line to do something about it but don’t misdirect anger at a man just because he is not Sherlock Holmes.

The media is throwing this way out of proportion and it seems to me its a plain old witch hunt.

It might also be worth noting that child protection awareness and training has made great strides forward here in Limerick since Bishop Murray has been in office. Something to think about before you pick up the pitch fork.

By the way I do not speak for, nor am part of the church, these are my own opinions based on what Ive read and my own experience.

Interesting defence of Bishop Murray in the comment above.

Look how it is laid out

1.Suggest that the Bishop did all that could have been expected of him, and sure isn't hindsight a great thing etc etc ......"the Bishop was a just one man who did what he could back in the day. "

2.Throw in a token nod to the crimes committed ....."Sure people are hurting because of some evil men"

3.Trivialise the matter under discussion..... ."Before I crossed the street I could have walked further to find an old lady also looking to cross the road so I could help her but I didn’t.

2.Use the phrase "back in the day" to suggest that this belongs in the distance past

3.Suggest that the Bishop has recently being doing good work

4. Ignore the actual findings against Bishop Murray by the enquiry and blame it on the media.

5.And all of this then building up to this outrageous distortion of what this debate is about ....."but don’t misdirect anger at a man just because he is not Sherlock Holmes."

Bishop Murray did not have to be "Sherlock Holmes" to realise that moving suspected peodphile priests between parishes was exposing a fresh batch of young children to danger. There judge has carefully considered the evidence and concluded that Bishop Murray did not do all that he could have. Think about that.

Im sorry you feel that way "Limerick Born" as I said, its just my opinion, Im not here to argue it, just voice it. "token nod", "trivialise", "or suggest that this belongs in the distance past" were not the way I intended it to be read. I believe he did what he could. People say he could have done more. Perhaps we should read both sides of the story before making our decisions. Hope you find peace.

"Perhaps we should read both sides of the story before making our decisions."

The Judge heard all sides of this story when she took her evidence. I accept her judgement in this matter. Peace be with you.