Cathal Barry
The Church has been called to harness Confirmation programmes to tackle the problem of crime and violence among young people in disadvantaged communities.
Former gangster John Pridmore told The Irish Catholic that Confirmation programmes are an “opportunity” to show children “how they can use their gifts to help others rather than hurt people”.
“There are projects and organisations that can really make a massive difference with young people and the Church is, I think, doing a lot in youth clubs and in different outreaches.
“Confirmation projects are another thing that can be used.
“Most of the kids in Ireland are confirmed so it is an opportunity to show them how they can use their gifts to help others rather than hurt people,” the ex-mobster said.
Mr Pridmore made his remarks following the shooting of Martin O’Rourke in inner city Dublin last week in a case of mistaken identity.
Insisting that gang violence was driven by “self-centredness” rather than financial reward, Mr Pridmore said the Church “already says a lot to these people but if they don’t want to listen they won’t hear”.
Blinded
“There are people out there who are completely blinded to the grace that God wants to give them to the joy of life,” he reasoned.
“These people need to step back and look at the consequences of what they are doing. They are leaving families bereaved, you are leaving innocent people hurt and shocked by the violence they have witnessed. They need to look at what they are doing to society,” he warned.
Mr Pridmore also said the Church could play a great role in helping to rehabilitation prisoners.
“We have to take opportunities to reach those people when they are in prison. Drugs, gambling and violence kill conscience but in the silence of prison you tend to reflect on what you have brought to humanity. If gangsters could step back and do that before they go to prison I think a lot of them would actually see that they are unhappy and are just bringing unhappiness to others,” he said.