Dear Editor, I was born in Ireland and educated in Ireland as a Catholic. I worked all my life as a consultant in South Africa. When I retired some years ago I reflected on the Ireland we have today. Catholicism and Christianity is very much on the wane. Indeed, in 10 years we will have a very small amount of believers as most young couples rarely attend Church services.
I feel it would be unwise to repair churches or build new ones. The time is coming when all these churches should be sold off.
It would appear to me that the Church is useful for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, marriages and funerals. In a few years, I think the Church will not be needed for the administration of the sacraments – this will disappear in 10 years’ time.
It would appear that the GAA is the religion of today – all parishes in Ireland have a GAA lotto to finance clubs and members, besides the many ‘Church Gate Collections’ for clubs.
You would never hear of a Mass for a county team when or whether it triumphs, as it appears the Church is in the background and does not exist. I never hear of a president of the GAA give credit to the Church except for finding money. Training is carried out with the blessings of players and parents and guardians during Church service times and the GAA officials never say stop. All the bishops of our land do not care or feel that it is irrelevant.
I would welcome views from your readers.
Yours etc.,
Dr Andrew Maxwell,
Foxrock,
Dublin 18.
The human cost of abortion statistics
Dear Editor, Abortion advocates are fond of claiming that Ireland’s abortion rate is the same as other countries. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Laws surrounding abortion are like every other law – they guide the public in letting them know what kinds of actions are deemed acceptable. The more acceptable something is, the more likely it is to happen.
We only have to look to Britain to see the perfect example of this. Abortion was introduced there in 1967 under the Abortion Act. At that time, one in every 40 pregnancies ended in abortion. Within just five years, that figure had risen to one in every seven pregnancies. Today, one in every five women who becomes pregnant in Britain will have an abortion.
We don’t always realise the human cost of a statistic like one in five or reflect on what it means – the ending of a baby’s life and the loss of a unique individual who would have meant so much to others if he or she had been given a chance at life.
Every abortion is a tragedy for mother and child. But the fact remains that the Eighth Amendment has meant that the abortion rate in Britain is some 300% more than the rate of Irish abortions. Pro-life or pro-choice, we can surely agree that fewer abortions is a good thing.
The way to see that trend continue is to keep the Eighth Amendment and to work on increasing the supports for families in Ireland.
Yours etc.,
Mairead Fallon,
Pro Life Campaign,
Lower Fitzwilliam Street,
Dublin 2
K&L answering Pope’s call
Dear Editor, I write to say well done to the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin for organising a family picnic for all their parishes (IC 13/07/2017). It is great to see a diocese thinking outside the box for ways to gather people together as a community and to see a bishop who is open to new ideas and keen to mix with his people. I’m sure that Pope Francis would approve of this endeavour, especially with the invitation being issued to refugee families living in the diocese.
Yours etc.,
Maureen Griffin,
Templeogue,
Dublin 6W.
Giving up schools is no answer
Dear Editor, Provocative is the best word I can use to describe Fr Seaver’s letter (IC 06/07/2017), which poses some interesting and much needed questions in respect of sacramental preparation in the Irish Church, including his outlandish suggestion that the Department of Education should take religion out of schools.
Observing school and parish sacramental preparation of my grandchildren, I regret that I have seen very poor practice with ever-declining numbers of First Communicant candidates attending successive parish ‘Do This In Memory’ Masses with no apparent concern. In this context I do share Fr Seaver’s concerns.
But it would be so sad if Ireland gave up on its Catholic schools. Surely Fr Seaver should instead be challenging our schools to live up to the demands of the Gospel.
Yours etc.,
Alan Whelan,
Killarney, Co Kerry.
Every person has a right to live
Dear Editor, I was really impressed at the great crowd of people who attended the pro-life rally in Dublin recently. I was happy to be there myself too. The unborn are helpless and vulnerable, they have no voice, so we, as a Christian people have a solemn duty to do what we can to protect the unborn. I believe that pro-life groups should be set up in every parish in this country and that prayer vigils and holy hours should take place so that the lives of the unborn can be saved and that the Eighth Amendment can be saved too in our Constitution. Every person has a right to live and enjoy the gift of life.
Yours etc.,
James Corcoran,
Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo.
Euthanasia will be the next topic for debate
Dear Editor, Abortion on demand is a bit like saying to an elderly family member with a disability, “We cannot look after you anymore, neither can we afford the outrageous nursing home fees, so, we have decided to book you in for a termination.”
This analogy might seem a bit far-fetched now, but if abortion on demand is passed in this country then the next topic for debate on the agenda is euthanasia.
Babies and the elderly have a right to live out their lives for a short or long period of time in loving care of a family who will watch over them at the most vulnerable stage in their lives.
Yours etc.,
Breege Murray,
Adare,
Co. Limerick.
Religious education should teach children love
Dear Editor, At its best religious education should inculcate a true understanding of love. Love includes: kindness, unselfishness, genuine care for others, mercy, forgiveness, empathy, gratitude, generosity, true justice – and so many other noble qualities to which, at our human best, we aspire.
Love can and must be taught in our schools and at home, not only as a single 30-minute subject, but as a way of life. Our world is hungry for the Spirit of Love. It is at our peril that we omit to teach it.
Modern methods of communication allow for several innovative approaches to teaching.
Yours etc.,
Angela Macnamara,
Churchtown,
Dublin 14.
One hour with the Lord not too much to ask
Dear Editor, I disagree with Mary O’Brien (Letters IC 06/07/2017) when she says – “and so say all of us”. She was referring to five-minute sermons.
She certainly does not speak for me. There are 168 hours in the week: is one hour too much to ask to spend with the Lord at Mass? It amazes me how people can stand for hours in the rain at concerts and sport events, in pubs, etc.
Here in Navan we must have brilliant orators as none of them have the “charisma of a cardboard box with poor oratory skills” – as some were referred to.
Thank God for them.
Also no matter how short or long the sermon is – there are certain people who leave Mass at Holy Communion.
Yours etc.,
Jane McGuire,
Navan,
Co. Meath.