Dear Editor, Faced with the appalling evil of war, I suggest that the word ‘complicity’ is a more appropriate term than ‘cooperation’ as used by David Quinn in his recent article: “Is the Church cooperating with evil in Israel?”
Complicity implies partnership in an evil action. It requires neither involvement in the core activity itself or presence at the crime scene. Aiding and abetting the crime of war, by whatever means, is involvement in murder on an industrial scale. Whether this involvement is direct or indirect and remote, it is still a manifest evil and a criminal act.
As Christians the Church taught us to always resist evil and to struggle in faith for justice and peace. These are not options that can be accepted or rejected, but an undeniable requirement of all people and all societies that seek to humanise themselves and to be free.
Yours etc,
Domhnall Mac Cionnaith
Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Homilies in the electronic era
Dear Editor, Dominican Provincial Fr John Harris OP is (via his August 28 interview article) telling us a timely truth. We no longer need church buildings and parish structures, not only because we shortly won’t have many Parish Mass priests and attenders. All we need in this electronic era is a few preachers and streamed communication.
We can now do what the first Christian preachers did, only much more easily, inexpensively, and effectively. Among the letters of St Ignatius is one that is most pertinent. He didn’t have parishes and churches.
The letter asked church members to be in private houses for Eucharist sessions. During them they would ask Christ via his Eucharist Presence to ‘neutralise the influence of The Evil One’. That neutralising was the prime purpose for being a Christian then as it is today.
A small group of Tallaght Priory Dominicans could prepare homilies for daily delivery for that purpose via a streamed 15-minute Eucharist session that would be repeated every half-hour. If viewers/listeners in Dublin, Ireland and planet-wide found them audible and inspiring, they would look forward to each daily session and spread the word.
Via homilies during 365 days annually, much could be said and remembered about the ancillary Commandments and Sacraments. Why not start now! The sooner that is done the more will people of all creeds gain from the ‘neutralising’.
Yours etc,
Joe Foyle
Ranelagh, Co. Dublin
Jesus Christ is the only saviour of the world
Dear Editor, Dr Sheila Curran refers to the list of ways women can participate in the life of the Church in the final document of the most recent meeting of the Synod and claims “this permission comes not from the working of the Spirit but from the decisions enshrined in Canon Law by the male hierarchy.”
This implies that the hierarchy, the successors of the Apostles, are devoid of the Holy Spirit and the Law directing the activity of the People of God is not imbued with the same Spirit. The irony of her position doesn’t seem to have dawned on Dr Curran since she signs off her article “a member of the Council for migrants, refugees, justice and peace of the Irish Bishops Conference”. Are these not the same people through whom the Holy Spirit refuses to work because they are not women?
Dr Curran also mentions the Document on Human Fraternity signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Iman of Al-Azhar in 2019 which states that all religions lead to God. This is a heresy, attributing the same status to Jesus Christ and Christianity as the prophet Mohammad and Islam. Jesus Christ is the unique, supreme and only Saviour of the world and no one can come to the Father except through Him. Dr Curran’s left-wing feminism and her poor thelogy are common traits among those in the Church enthused by the prospect of a synodal Church.
Yours etc,
Fr Gregory O’Brien PP
Leixlip, Co. Kildare
‘Ambient’ Catholic schools stoke the fire of uncertainty
Dear Editor, Breda O’Brien (The Irish Catholic, August 28) provides statistical evidence pointing to a substantial religious problem in schools designated as Catholic in Ireland.
Culture is one of the related problems. Schools are far more reactive to the ambient culture than they are proactive in regard to it. The teachers and students live in the ambient culture wherein for decades many Catholics have become timorous and uncertain about their faith, even repudiating it. These attitudes and norms seep into schools whose Catholicity by and large depends on the level of observance of the Commandments in the broader culture. In Ireland, observance of the Third Commandment is inadequate to support a satisfactory level of Catholicity in the many schools designated as Catholic.
The fix is not quick. But two initiatives, while insufficient, are both reasonable and necessary. The first concerns the source of the Catholic faith and its growth – the Sacrifice of the Mass. Unfortunately, the nationwide appeal to Catholics to return to Sunday Mass, cited on page 1 of The Irish Catholic, is a deficient catechesis which omits reference to the central reality of the Eucharist – a Sacrifice offering ‘all glory and honour’ to God. The more the already faithful congregants understand the event they are participating in, and can respond accordingly, the more their awareness and understanding of the Trinity improves. The consequent growth in grace leads to greater expression of the symbiotic interaction between the religious faith and good works, thus furnishing witness within and without the Church and renewal therein.
The sufficiency of awareness among secondary school staff of the Catholic faith is not clear. God has given Catholics the capacity for dialogue informed by appropriate apologetics. The ever-developing emptiness of the culture affords opportunity to Catholic patrons to offer credible insights thereto based on both philosophy and theology.
Yours etc,
Neil Bray
Cappamore, Co. Limerick
Humility and service: The Carmelite way
Dear Editor, Babs Keating is remembered by many as a legend in Irish sport. But for those who know him closely, there is another side of him, one not always seen in headlines. Together with his wife, Nancy, he has been a true friend to the Carmelite community in Kildare and to many ordinary people who have crossed his path.
What makes Babs remarkable is not only his achievements, but his character. His humility, kindness, cheerfulness, and calm presence touch the hearts of those around him. He carries himself without pride, treating everyone with respect. His faith is quiet but deep, expressed most strongly in the way he lives with gentleness and generosity.
As a friend of the Carmelites, Babs shows the spirit of simplicity and service that marks the Carmelite way: to walk humbly with God and to bring peace to others. He listens, he encourages, and he supports with warmth. Many have found strength in his example.
On a personal note, I feel blessed to know Babs and Nancy. His patience and help, even in something as simple as guiding me with my driving, have been a gift. More than that, his friendship has been a source of joy. Nancy, too, shares that same spirit of kindness and welcome, making their home and their lives a place of hospitality.
Legends are often remembered for victories, medals, or fame. But the true measure of greatness is found in humility and love. In this, Babs Keating shines quietly but brightly. He inspires not by words alone, but by a life lived with grace, cheerfulness, and calm strength.
Yours etc,
Fr Johnson O.Carm
Kildare Town, Co. Kildare
Boycotting Allianz and other ‘culprits’
Dear Editor, “Is the church cooperating with evil in Israel?” The answer to the question is “yes”.
Jews from the Jewish State are genociding Palestinians, (and have been doing so since 1948), according to many reputable Jewish sources, including the Jewish Israel-American genocide scholar Raz Segal who has called its up-scaling a “textbook case of genocide” in October 2023.
They have destroyed Gaza in a two year blitzkrieg, and are now further starving the population. No amount of lies from the them can hide this fact.
The Catholic Church must end its immoral, unethical, sinful link with the Allianz company, because of its support for the genocide.
The respected female Italian expert Francesca Albanese has issued a UN Human Rights report detailing the companies contributing to the genocide. Allianz is one of these culprits.
Boycott is a respected and honorable Irish tradition since 1880. We did not support the genocidal Nazi state, and we must boycott to peacefully dismantle the current evil Isreali State, and the genocidal, sectarian, colonial, supremacist, terrorist dystopian Hell it has created in Palestine and the surrounding front-line states.
There are now three seperate anti-genocide groups in Letterkenny, and are holding weekly hospital and interfaith vigils, supported by Jews and Muslims, praying and acting to end the genocide.
It’s time for the Pope and Catholic leaders to speak up daily and passionately against the genocide, and to boycott the evil that Allianz is actively supporting.
Of course we must pray daily for the Palestinian victims and the Jewish perpetrators.
Yours etc,
Dr Joseph O’ Neill
Letterkenny, Co. Donegal