Letter: Bishop resigns - reader feels let down

When I first heard the news of the sudden departure of Bishop Keiran Conry I did feel sympathetic. Here was someone who has dedicated his life to service then having a fall from grace. All very human. Of course we are a church of forgiveness. Various people have blamed the poor formation he received for the priesthood. The bishop has lived in a clerical environment all his life. The cruelty of celibacy etc.

But as I've given more thought to this issue - I'm beginning to reconsider my views and starting to feel rather angry and let down.

In the 'real world' where most people don't go to church - it is still considered not right to go off with someone else's wife. Or girlfriend or boyfriend.

In the real world, if you join the army or the police force or become a doctor or a nurse or a teacher, you sign up to a number of promises. If you break those promises you are no long allowed to practice in that profession. To get many of those jobs in the first place you will have had to attend college or university courses that you paid for yourself - not have an organisation pay for you - and provide you with free housing and other perks.

I pray for him and wish him well but I hope now that Bishop Conry has resigned from his duties, after a reasonable notice period he goes off and get a job somewhere like the rest of us.

Angela Quinn, SRN, retired
Ashtead Road, Bearsted, Maidstone