When I read your diary and listened to your interview of Dick Roche I was struck with how reasonable he seemed on many issues and how he was willing to comment rather starkly on many subjects.  I suppose that is the upside of being a minister in the dominant party that is kept in power by the conviction of the pious that this party will keep safe their beloved Church come what may.  This large portion of the electorate might not like what they are hearing about the Church, but probably fear that a less staunchly supportive party would allow things "to go too far."  In such a context having a scandal such as the one now underway could actually prove a benefit to his party.  Does that make sense in an Irish context?  

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."