She survived gruesome medical experimentation at the Ravensbrück concentration camp to become a psychiatrist — counseled by the priest who would become John Paul II.
In unusually sharp remarks published this week, Pope Francis said some conservative American Catholics wrongly ignore much of the Church’s mission and reject the possibility of change.
Sinead O’Connor shocked her strongly Catholic country when she tore up the pope’s picture. But the Church’s sexual abuse scandals made Ireland more secular, and more understanding of her criticisms.
In Ireland, Ms. O’Connor spoke out about abuse and the complicity of religious institutions. When she came to the United States, many were not ready to hear her — yet.