There's a very old book called In God's Name by David Yallop, who is now dead.

My sister loaned it to me, saying, 'You probably will never go back to church', and that was true. I never did.

I once saw David being interviewed on television and I was struck by his sincerity.

This is a harrowing read for those of us who grew up in strong Catholic communities.

I have a friend, a retired teacher, who works in schools training children in catechetics. She is paid a pittance. But she's doing God's work so she brushes it off.

One of my teaching principals, a nun, and her friend, also a nun, found when they reached retirement age, having worked for a pittance, that they had no super.

Closer to home, and in our parish, my dad worked tirelessly for the church and paid what were called his Easter and Christmas dues, (as well as weekly plate contributions), amounts given all read out on the altar. This meant people gave more than they could afford.

When my dad's business went up in smoke, literally, no help came from the parish. I was a child back then and I wondered why.

I live in Australia where I have seen first-hand the suffering of young men, by paedophile priests.

When you add it all up, it's difficult to see Catholicism in a good light.

I'd be back tomorrow if I could see some evidence of Mother Teresa in their principles.