Dear Editor, In the course of the last week, it emerged that the HSE, at the behest of the Department of Health, had offered €450 (around twice the normal delivery) to GPs, for each abortion (assassination) they performed.
This stunning news was hardly mentioned in any newspaper.
It was stunning, because of the value placed by the Minister, Simon Harris, on a human life.
It was stunning also, because of the revelation that a once-respected body was found to be little more than a union, and was more concerned about wealth, rather than health.
One would have expected that the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) would have reacted strongly in the circumstances. This was not the case. It appears from a letter in the Irish Times of November 14 that the ICGP did not express concern that many members appeared happy enough in facilitating the taking of human life.
Neither did it intend to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) until December 2, after the Abortion Bill would be passed. Any discussion, then, would be only desultory. One can only conclude that the ICGP had already done a deal. And was the – hitherto unannounced – fee of €450 a factor?
And where do the people who are actually sick fit in to all this?
Let alone the all-important question of the deliberate taking of unborn human life?
Yours etc.,
Donal O’Driscoll,
Blackrock,
Co. Dublin.
The story of sugar is not so straightforward
Dear Editor, Regarding the article on sugar (IC 8/11/2018), I do not think that it is a “magical formula”. Take my own marriage for example.
My wife Mary Patricia and I were very much in love and happily married for 65½ years. Sadly, Patricia died unexpectedly on September 30, 2018. She never took sugar in her drinks, cereals etc., and lived for 94½ years. In contrast, I was 95 years of age on October 30, 2018, and have always taken sugar, not less than two teaspoonfuls in my drinks (tea, coffee, etc.) and on my cereals.
There we have two people, so close for so long, one always taking sugar and one never taking sugar, so to refrain from taking sugar is not some magical formula guaranteeing a long life. ‘Tricia and I were both nonagenarians, deeply in love and supremely happy but with opposite tastes regarding sugar.
Yours etc.,
Francis Bailey,
Killiney,
Co. Dublin.
Remember the Hippocratic oath
Dear Editor, Pro-life doctors must not compromise their Hippocratic oath by referring mothers for abortions. They must all stand united along with other pro-life healthcare professionals and be prepared to lose their jobs, licences and even go to jail to defend future generations of unborn babies. It is better to suffer in this life for what is right than suffer eternal damnation for unrepented wrong in the next life. Believers and unbelievers are all answerable to God.
Yours etc.,
Ann Campbell,
Scotstown, Co. Monaghan.
Populist statements must be addressed
Dear Editor, Colm Fitzpatrick’s article ‘Casey’s woman Pope’s hopes quashed’ (IC 8/11/2018) refers to populist presidential candidate Peter Casey’s call for woman priests and a woman Pope.
Between past presidents and aspiring presidents making claims as to how the Catholic Church should be reformed, I can only be grateful that there are still people like Dr John Murray lecturer of Theology at Dublin City University who is willing and able to explain the reasons for the Church’s teaching which is based on Scripture, Tradition and doctrine.
Clearly women should be able to play a full role in our Church in terms of leadership and ministry but simplistic and populist statements from self-appointed pseudo-theologians will only add to division rather than lead to a renewed vibrant Church based on the radical Gospel message of love of God and neighbour.
Yours etc.,
Frank Browne,
Templeogue, Dublin 16.
Prayer at All Saints
Dear Editor, I refer to the article ‘A Month of Remembrance’ written by Maria Steen (IC 8/11/2018). Beautifully written, it left an impression on me, dealing as it does with matters of life and death and the perils of Hallowe’en, as well as the battle between good and evil in the world.
She goes on then to deal with one of the great feasts of the Church, All Saints – a celebration of all the saints, both known and unknown, which is followed by the feast of All Souls, in which we remember in a special way the souls in Purgatory, and how we can keep in touch with them through our prayers.
It is good to be reminded of these things now and of how it is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins
Yours etc.,
Patrick O’Neill,
Killorglin, Co. Kerry.
