In March, Pope Benedict XVI wrote a pastoral letter to the people of Ireland. It came following the publication last year of the Ryan and Murphy reports into clerical child abuse in Ireland.

Some described it as an emotional and long overdue apology from the pope, delivered with complete honesty and transparency. Others said the pope still refused to address the church’s – and the Vatican’s – policy of protecting sex offenders, thereby endangering children.

Now that we have had a chance to digest the letter’s contents, it’s time to reply.

The purpose of this campaign is to remove the filter of the media, the church, the politicians, and organise a collective response  to the pope’s letter – be it positive or negative – from the citizens of Ireland. We want to hear from everyone  – Catholic or otherwise  – who has something to say about the Catholic church’s handling of clerical abuse in Ireland.

All you have to do is write a reply and POST or EMAIL it on Saturday 15th May (click here to get started).

It can be long, it can be short, it can be copied from other letters on this blog if you find it difficult to articulate your feelings. But together we can send a message to the Vatican that the people of Ireland care about their children and their beliefs.