Church Should Share in Recompense for Laundries Victims

By Barbara Dorris
SNAP
February 22, 2013

http://www.snapnetwork.org/ire_church_should_share_in_recompense_for_laundries_victims

We are glad that the religious orders who ran the horrible Magdalene laundries will be made to contribute to the redress for victims.

Just because the state was culpable in the victimization of the people who were forced to live there does not mean religious groups should escape culpability.

We also disagree with church officials’ attempts to distance themselves from the Bethany Home survivors. While Archbishop of Dublin Dr. Michael Jackson may argue that the home was “not a home under Church of Ireland governance,” there is no doubt that Catholic orders played a significant part in its running and should be made to answer to the victims there.