In October 1962, with much fanfare and with high expectations, Catholic bishops from all over the world were summoned to the Vatican – in view of the whole world on black and white television – to the opening of Vatican Council II, which had the aim of seeking to renew and modernise the Roman Catholic Church.

Fifty years later, in January 2012, Catholic bishops from 100 countries were summoned – this time, with no fanfare – to debate, behind closed doors, how to prevent sexual abuse by Catholic priests.

To those of us who were adults in 1962, such a large gathering of bishops at a summit to discuss sexual abuse by Catholic priests would have been shocking, scandalous and simply inconceivable – which goes to show how far the Catholic Church has degenerated since 1962.

I am not referring to the decline in church attendance or to the scarcity of vocations to the Catholic priesthood or to the ignoring of Catholic doctrine and morality by Catholics themselves. I am referring to the scandalous cover-ups by bishops, as in Ireland and in the United States.

Behind the façade of The Year of Faith, we have the testimony of men and women who were sexually abused by priests.