Dear Editor,
72% of online respondents to the recent The Irish Catholic poll said ‘Yes’ when asked if the church should step back, divest schools and prioritise Faith formation. But will we listen to this awakened majority?
All our internalising of hostile media-shaming has led to an unhealthy loss of connection by Catholics with our radical mission. As a single mother, I know all about difficult conversations with my child and I have no issue with difficult conversations in the pulpit or anywhere else. I support priests who courageously care for my soul by advising me to vote only with a conscience informed by the Church.
I’m sick and tired of the continuum of mundane apostasy practised by other Priests and Church staff, cheerfully reducing our churches to rites-of-passage centres for non-practising Catholics and their children. This has to stop. Why must our Sacraments be desacralised to service lapsed Catholics who insist on using them for their own folly?
And yes, divest. Get trustees to sell the buildings and land at full market value to the highest bidder. Let the State figure out the rest for itself: we owe it nothing. Channel these funds into the establishment of true independent Catholic education. We used to be really good at this. We still have enough talented Catholics to do it well again.
What a joy to die baptised, in communion, confirmed, wedded perhaps, formed and supported throughout by a Christian community. A decent chance too of knowing that God is waiting with open arms, the good fight fought, the course finished, the Faith kept. Please Church leaders, give us what we need, not want you think we want. Shake off the shackles of fear and start shining the Light and Love of God into the hearts and minds of all.
Yours etc.,
Kelley Rickard,
Doughiska, Co. Galway.
Editorial presentation was inappropriate
Dear Editor,
Mary Harris’s implied assertion (Letters IC 31/5/2018) that Bishop Kevin Doran weaponised a sacrament was unfounded and its editorial presentation inappropriate.
Bishop Doran was reflecting a fundamental spiritual reality central to Catholic teaching on correct moral judgements, highlighted by St Basil: “We have received interiorly beforehand the capacity and disposition for observing all divine commandments.” Conscience implants in human beings an original memory of the good and true, a redemptive road to truth.
The dominant culture may regard conscience as a faculty that dispenses with truth; it may deny that the capacity to feel and recognise guilt are essential parts of human nature. But those populating that culture too have the memory of the good and true somewhere within. (Romans 2: 14-15)
The Irish electorate had been reminded repeatedly of what was being voted on. Irrespective of sinful or non-sinful motivation, every “yes” vote rendered the voter voluntarily or involuntarily complicit in the summary extinction of innocent human life on foot of abortion on demand. This was the cultural reality addressed by Bishop Doran.
The Pharisee in the parable didn’t recognise his absence of guilt which rendered him impenetrable to God and others. Bishop Doran’s preaching the word in season and out of season facilitates the emergence of conscience’s just censure. Should conscience surface with its attendant interior distress, his advocacy of Confession enables a power of expiation that allows guilt to vanish and redemptive truth to propagate. Weaponising? Hardly.
Yours etc.,
Neil Bray,
Cappamore, Co. Limerick.
Women are part of the Church too
Dear Editor, The Catholic Church has to start recognising women as human beings and as equals and refer to them in the prayer of the Church. At present it is only ‘men’ who belong to the Church and are referred to in the Creed and other prayers in the Liturgy. It is time to change the language of the prayers in the Liturgy if we are serious about treating women with respect.
Yours etc.,
Fr Joe McVeigh,
Enniskillen,
Co. Fermanagh.
Amendment outcome actually has very little support
Dear Editor, The Eighth may have fallen, but those who understand that an unborn child’s right to life continues may take heart that all is not lost.
The first point to bear in mind is that the new amendment, the already infamous 36th, does not grant the right to an abortion; rather, in stating the state “may” legislate for the termination, it grants the Oireachtas the right to legislate for abortion, or not, as it sees fit.
And politicians, as we all know, can be put under pressure – and not only by the media but by those who elect them.
The second is that while two in three may have voted ‘Yes’, according to the exit polls only about 50% of those regard the unrestricted abortion that was proposed by the government prior to the referendum as being acceptable.
This means that, despite the massive ‘Yes’ vote, only one third of the electorate favour the government’s heinous proposals. The pro-life movement still has a lot to work with to limit the damage. Tragically, the slaughter will still be immense; but we must not be disheartened and do what we may to save those we can.
Yours etc.,
Rev. Patrick G. Burke,
Castlecomer,
Co Kilkenny.
Conflict with the world is what we were promised
Dear Editor, Please allow me to express my pleasure in the courage displayed by Bishop Kevin Doran in speaking the truth about the seriousness of a ‘Yes’ vote in the recent referendum knowing that one’s ‘Yes’ was consenting to the killing of pre-born babies.
Laois-based priest Fr Paddy Byrne’s reported response to Bishop Doran is not surprising but is very revealing of the malaise, division and confusion in the Church in Ireland today.
Fr Byrne seems worried about the polarisation that will ensue if the truth is spoken about sin: “Do not walk away, together we can be strong.” In essence, I think what he is saying is: we need you; we need your money, the numbers are small enough as it is. We need your contribution on the plate on Sundays (or on Saturday evenings).
It is time that the Church in Ireland took a serious look at what Jesus says in Luke 12:51 and Matthew 10:34: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace, no I tell you but rather division…a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.”
It is difficult to see anything good coming from this whole episode but if the Church here is woken up to the reality that to be true to Christ we will always be in conflict with the world, then maybe all is not lost.
Yours etc.,
Joe Bolger,
Dungarvan,
Co. Kilkenny.
Communication must be undertaken effectively
Dear Editor, The reaction to comments made by Catholic bishops following the abortion referendum result was very unpleasant, particularly on social media. Clearly to any practicing Catholic who is aware of the Church’s social teaching on abortion, voting ‘Yes’ would be hard to justify. However there is a skill to being able to communicate with the media and at times some of our leaders within the Church failed to communicate effectively our Church’s radical and compassionate social teaching on the need to respect the dignity of life and the rights of the most vulnerable.
Yours etc.,
Frank Browne,
Templeogue,
Dublin 16.
