Los Angeles Times
October 24, 1992, Saturday, Home Edition

SINEAD'S DEFENSE: SHE SAYS SHE SEEKS TRUTH

By STEVE HOCHMAN, SPECIAL TO THE TIMES


   Sinead O'Connor defended her controversial actions in tearing up of a photo
of the Pope on national television in a passionate letter sent Friday to more
than a dozen U.S. and British news organizations.

   "The only reason I ever opened my mouth to sing was so that I tell my story
and have it heard . . . ," she said in the letter, a copy of which was sent to
The Times. "My story is the story of countless millions of children whose
families and nations were torn apart in the name of Jesus Christ."

   Elaine Schock, the Irish singer's publicist, said O'Connor had planned to
explain her actions in a press conference Friday in London, where O'Connor now
lives. But the singer feared that the press session would turn into a "media
circus" and decided to send the "open letter" to the news media instead, Schock
said.

   The letter comes three weeks after O'Connor tore up a photo of Pope John Paul
II on the Oct. 3 telecast of NBC's "Saturday Night Live." Various Roman Catholic
organizations and hundreds of viewers protested the act, which was done without
NBC's prior knowledge or approval.

   Last Friday, O'Connor was, in effect, booed off the stage at a nationally
televised Bob Dylan tribute concert at New York's Madison Square Garden, an
apparent reaction to the Pope controversy.

   In the letter, O'Connor, who identifies herself as a Christian, continues to
explain her belief that such wrongs as child abuse -- including abuse she says
she suffered -- can be traced to the doctrines and practices of the Catholic
Church.

   It's a message that she includes as a closing "poem" on her latest album, "Am
I Not Your Girl?"

   O'Connor was planning to do a brief U.S. tour in late November to showcase
material from the album, which features various songs that have influenced her
over the years. But Schock said she has postponed the tour, not wanting to
appear to be using the controversy to promote the album.

   Here is the complete O'Connor letter:

   Dear whoever,

   My name is Sinead O'Connor. I am an Irish woman. And I am an abused child.
The only reason I ever opened my mouth to sing was so that I tell my story and
have it heard.

   The cause of my abuse is the history of my people, whose identity and culture
were taken away from them by the British with full permission from The "Holy"
Roman Empire. Which they gave for money and in the name of Jesus Christ.

   The only hope for me as an abused child was to look back into my childhood
and face some very difficult memories and some desperately painful feelings and
a lot of very tricky conversations! I had to have it acknowledged what was done
to me so that I could forgive and be free.

   So, it has occurred to me that the only hope of recovery for my people is to
look back into our history. Face some very difficult truths and some very
frightening feelings. It must be acknowledged what was done to us so we can
forgive and be free.

   If the truth remains hidden then the brutality under which I grew up will
continue for thousands of Irish children. And I must by any means necessary
WITHOUT the use of violence prevent that happening because I am a Christian.

   Child abuse is the highest manifestation of evil. It is the root and effect
of every addiction. Its presence in a society shows that there is not contact
with God. And God is truth to me.

   The Catholic Church have controlled us by controlling education. Through
their teachings on sexuality, marriage, birth control and abortion. And most
spectacularly through the lies they taught us with their history books.

   The story of my people is the story of the African people, the Jewish people,
the Amer-Indian people, the South American people.

   My story is the story of countless millions of children whose families and
nations were torn apart for money in the name of Jesus Christ.

   God IS Truth.

   SINEAD O'CONNOR