The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Connell, last night took part in a special service of prayer and healing for the abused, at St Andrew's Church, Westland Row, Dublin.
It was attended by a large crowd including many religious, and had followed a request by two female victims of violence, who did readings. The main organiser was Father Pat O'Donoghue, director of music in the diocese of Dublin.
Among the attendance were Ms Christine Buckley and Ms Carmel McDonnell who had spent their childhoods at Goldenbridge orphanage. At the start of the service Dr Connell spoke of "the pain of those who often cried in vain for help and of those who could not even name their anguish."
Members of the congregation lit candles from a large `candle of healing' on the altar, and were blessed with the Sign of the Cross, "as a gesture of healing", by victims and others,
Afterwards a rose bed was inaugurated at Archbishop Ryan Park, Merrion Square. A sign dedicated it to all those who had been "physically, mentally, emotionally, or sexually abused."
Ms Olive Braiden of the Rape Crisis Centre, who attended the service, described it as "a first small step in a long process for the Church of asking for forgiveness."
Ms Buckley said she had not been invited to the service but had become aware of it through the media. She had not lit her candle, and wondered why the readings of stories of violence had to be from the Old Testament when they could have been from Dublin today.
Ms McDonnell wondered why there were not representatives of the religious orders there to say "I'm sorry" and why no one from the Church had said "sorry." She was "absolutely appalled." Ms Buckley said two nuns remarked, on seeing her as they left the Church after the service, "Would you look at that brazen hussey."
The two female victims, whose initiative led to the service and who did not wish to be named, said invitations had been extended to all through the media.
Mrs Patricia McDonnell, of the Magdalen Memorial Committee, contacted The Irish Times prior to the service to say had she known of it before the weekend she would have organised a picket.
