Dear Editor, I write as others have already done to express my gratitude to Michael Kelly for his many years of dedicated service as editor of this paper. I wrote several letters during the unquestionable lockdown period and found any dealings I had with Michael Kelly very helpful and supportive.
I am glad he continues to write in this paper
I now write to draw attention to Brendan O’Regan’s contribution. Regarding public policy, I believe his comments are what so many know to be true and are grateful to see them in print here. I hope many of your readers have read and have shared his words and appreciated the truth in what he so aptly and succinctly expresses.
Yes, Brendan, you have hit the nail on the head and have helped readers voice the confusion and conflict that abounds in our society today. I quote another very wise and insightful statement that adds more clarity to this widespread confusion “there is no conflict between old and new; the conflict lies between the false and the true”.
How we need the help of Jesus Christ who is God’s light and our truth as we live through this time of darkness and much confusion. He is the way, the truth and the light and has promised to be with us until the end of time.
Yours etc.,
Sr Susan Evangelist
Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal
Timeless words always resonate
Dear Editor, Archbishop Eamon Martin’s condemnation of the terrible effects of modern warfare, echoes the words of Pope Pius XII in his encyclical Summi Maeroris. Appealing to all people of good will and especially to those in charge of nations, to work for peace, the Pope wrote: “Let the whole world recall what war brings. We know this only too well from experience: ruins, death, and all sorts of miseries. Modern technology has created and prepared such murderous and inhumane arms, not that only can armies and fleets be annihilated, not only cities, towns, and villages, not only the inestimable treasures of religion, art, and culture, but innocent children with their mothers, the sick, and the helpless elderly. Everything which human genius has produced that is beautiful, good, or healthy – everything, or almost everything can be destroyed.”
Isn’t this message as relevant today as it was in 1950?
Yours etc.,
Alasdair MacKenzie,
Tralee, Co. Kerry
Hierarchy must listen to radical changes needed
Dear Editor, I’m extremely disappointed firstly with the shortage or priests all over our country. The hierarchy are to blame for this.
People blame the current situation on the Pope. This is certainly not true – the Lord didn’t say priests shouldn’t be allowed get married. The Apostles were married and even popes were married in the early years. Many young men would be more interested in becoming a priest if this were allowed happen – otherwise we will be left with a lot of our parishes closed sadly.
Some dioceses in the country have closed churches. This is totally wrong, our churches, and I stress, are the temples of the Lord. Every church here in Ireland and elsewhere should have a Mass celebrated at the weekend.
The hierarchy should’ve never agreed to close churches for Mass during the lockdown. All we had to do was sanitise and wear a facemask. Instead of doing this, people were advised to stay at home, listen to Mass on our laptop, television, phone or radio. This is not the same as going to Mass because Holy Communion wasn’t received and it’s the most important part of the Mass.
Why were women being discriminated? Why are they not allowed become deacons, if they want to? Why are nuns not allowed say Mass? We have some lovely nuns in my parish in rural Laois. We have some foreign priests in our diocese. They are really nice and they’re all doing an excellent job. I wish we could get more of these men.
In these challenging times we need more Masses than ever. Time is running out for us all. I think the God of money has taken over the real true God in our world today and it makes my heart bleed. I ask the bishops to encourage everybody to come back to their churches – remember we need more masses and prayers than ever.
Yours etc.,
Mary Delaney,
Abbeyleix, Co. Laois
Church much protect integrity and resist ‘anything goes’ approach
Dear Editor, I sense that a mixture of deliberately controlled secular sensationalism and Church apathy are being rapidly and subtly blended together, here in Ireland, in order to promote a fast-developing problem that should not ever occur to threaten our country’s Catholic sense of strength and belonging.
I am less than happy at the apparent lack of clarity in positive Church leadership thinking on whether or not we should tolerate any form of acceptance in regard to matters such as the right of Church members to engage in abortion, same-sex relationships, divorce or assisted suicide.
In an article by Cindy Wooden, much of her writing seemed to be about a strong wish by the present Pope (He and I are the same age, and I very much admire his papacy). He appears to say that the Church might cater, and include on our ranks, those who are engaging in the above practices (who are unlikely to conform to existing Church norms, now or in the future).
If I understand correctly, the hope is that relatively minor concessions would be offered to those requesting them and a confrontation/crisis thereby avoided. What may not be appreciated is that what would actually be happening is concession of an ultimate major transformation from a nationwide warm and strong sense of familial Catholicism to secular ‘anything goes’ abnormalism.
In reflecting these views I am doing so, not only from a religious belief, but from my past experience as an industrial relations negotiator. This type of agreement, when concluded, was generally referred to in trade jargon as ‘change of stealth’ or ‘creeping change’.
What about setting up a top 20-member National Church PR committee comprising 50% twenty-somethings and 50% 30-plus religious and laity. I would suggest their role primarily as (i) to protect Catholic integrity, (ii) Wake up Church members, (iii) Torpedo the hostile news media and politicians, and restore the Catholic Church to its proper place.
Yours etc.,
Seán O Briain
Bray, Co. Wicklow