// when the IRA were killing and bombing, the Catholic Church wasn't continually being asked what they intended to do about it. //
then he has a short memory
they did and they were. There were RCs in the army who served with honour ( Robert Nairac GC)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Nairac
Cardinal Cathal Daly was a bit soft on it
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cahal_Daly
altho his wiki entry doesnt mention this
He mentioned support for 'the boys in the North' to disbelief and horrified disapproval on one occasion
Cardinal Basil Hume ( "my cardinal" a/c to the Queen ) used to wipe the floor with him regularly on the subject of rejecting terrorism (or in Daly's case failing to do it loudly and regularly enough). To the extent that Daly was 'out' ( to lunch) whenever Hume was in town or telephoned him