Courtney McGrailWhile most viewing was ‘fascinating’, Brendan O’Regan was left feeling that “if there was a conspiracy to bash the Church and traditional values things could hardly turn out much differently”
Every now and then RTÉ produces a classy documentary, and last Tuesday night’s Mary McAleese and the Man Who Saved Europe (RTÉ One) was a case in point.
Tired of the ‘syrupy’ versions of the lives of saints, Mrs McAleese presented this enthusiastic treatment of the life and work of St Columbanus and it was obviously a labour of love for her. She described him as “a spiritual genius”, “a political genius” and “our first European”.
She described as “the biggest idea” the Christianity he practised in Ireland initially and spread throughout Europe at a time when barbarian tribes had decimated Roman and Christian culture and civilisation on the mainland. It was quite impressive how much one man could achieve in times when communication and travel were so difficult.
He negotiated with kings and fought with bishops, and in one stinging letter he challenged the Pope and urged him to better leadership. Mrs McAleese obviously liked his rebel streak, but I didn’t see any evidence of Columbanus challenging any Church teaching, more the materialism and style of some of its proponents.
The broader history of the time was fascinating. Professor David Howlett of Oxford University described how the Irish came to Europe with no army, but instead brought “intellectual acumen”, persuasiveness, rigorous religious life, and mastery of argument (!). I wondered if it wasn’t stretching things too far to credit the saint with sowing the “seeds of the European Union”, a Europe “united in diversity”. Mrs McAleese quoted Robert Schumann (one of the founders) paying tribute to Columbanus as “the patron saint of those who seek to build a united Europe”.
She outlined how Columbanus brought “new hope for sinners”, including “ordinary sinners” like herself by championing private Confession… the public penance that was common in Europe until then was obviously more off-putting for the aspiring penitent.
The fact that Confession has fallen from regular use was noted in the media last week following last week’s cover story in The Irish Catholic – the initiative in Shannon whereby priests will offer Confession in Skycourt shopping centre on the afternoon of December 8. George Hook was bemused and impressed – on his Right Hook show on Newstalk on Thursday he described it as a “really good idea”.
The story also featured on Today with Sean O’Rourke (RTÉ Radio 1) last Friday. Fr Tom Ryan outlined the story of this creative venture, putting it in the context of the Year of Mercy. For him it wasn’t a numbers game, just making the facility available and offering reassurance. He said that even if only one person benefited from the event it would be worth it.
But it wasn’t all positive last week. I’m not into conspiracy theories but if there was a conspiracy to bash the Church and traditional values things could hardly turn out much differently.
The attacks vary from week to week – (denominational education, traditional marriage, euthanasia etc.) but last week it was another assault on the Eighth Amendment, which guarantees the equal right to life between mother and unborn baby. Strangely many of the prophets of equality and children’s rights find this offensive.
The pattern of debate largely followed the usual pattern – liberal presenter talking to liberal journalist/commentator/politician. These folks of like mind (possibly some alive due the Eighth Amendment) promote the narrative that this equality amendment is bad for women and ignore the vulnerable though often short lives of the babies supposedly ‘incompatible with life’ (aren’t we all in some way other?) and those babies who survive despite the doom laden and sometimes inaccurate diagnoses.
‘Leadership’ is seen only in terms of liberalising our abortion laws, and failure to do so is seen as ‘kicking the can down the road’. Newstalk’s Lunchtime show was a particular promoter of this kind of thinking last week.
Two exceptions – Cora Sherlock of the Pro-Life Campaign got a good run on Newstalk’s Breakfast Show, last Thursday. Presenter Ivan Yates allowed Ms Sherlock some space to outline a humane, inclusive and compassionate approach to the issue that respected the lives of all concerned and likewise with Yates on Sunday: AM Live (TV3) when former Taoiseach John Bruton gave clear and unequivocal support to the Eighth Amendment.
Unfortunately there was breaking news from Belfast High Court last Monday morning, when the human rights of vulnerable babies were trampled on, thanks ironically, to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
Pick of the Week
Advent Reflections
EWTN
Sunday, December 6, 7.30am and 10.30pm, Tues 7pm, Wed 2pm
Mary as ‘The Mother of Advent’, and how the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a beautiful example of God’s infinite mercy.
Songs of Praise
BBC 1, Sunday, December 6, 4:15pm
WIth festive features and carols galore from across the country.
Pure in Heart
EWTN, Tuesday, December 8, 8am and 9pm
The history and work of Pure of Heart: an Irish apostolate that spreads the Catholic Church’s teachings on love, purity, chastity and human sexuality.