Dear Editor, I was glad to read in your paper Fr James Martin’s words of advice on how to welcome gay people into our church communities (IC 5/7/2018). His direction that we should genuinely listen to gay people is, sadly, the sort of thing that’s too often dismissed by those who would much rather talk at gay people, if they acknowledge them at all.
That’s the thing: the Church in its catechism is clear that gay people must be treated with respect, compassion and sensitivity – they must be loved as must anyone made by God in his image. For too many Catholics, unfortunately, ‘loving’ gay people is expressed almost exclusively by what they euphemistically term ‘fraternal correction’. Small wonder that Ballyfermot’s Fr Joe McDonald has warned against what he calls “latent homophobia dressed up as religion”.
Fr Martin is often criticised as a controversial figure because he doesn’t spend time reminding gay people or underlining for others what the Church teaches about homosexual acts, but this seems unfair.
In an article a few years ago he pointed out that everybody knows homosexual acts are contrary to Catholic moral teaching, and that the too frequent refusal of opponents of same-sex marriage to say anything positive of gay people without adding a warning about sin contributes in no small part to why many gay people feel judged and worse within the Church.
With no other group, he rightly said, do Catholics so habitually link identity with sin, acting as though love must always entail and be preceded by admonition. The story of Jesus and Zacchaeus, where a sinner’s conversion follows upon love and welcome, offers us a kinder and more Christian way of behaving.
Yours etc.,
Louise Clarke,
Clonsilla, Dublin 15.
Hypocrisy should be called for what it is
Dear Editor, I would like to congratulate Greg Daly on his excellent article on Josepha Madigan conducting a Eucharistic service and on those who vote for abortion but continue to describe themselves as practising Catholics. Of course it is obvious that this is sheer hypocrisy and it should be described as such. I cannot understand how Ms Madigan was permitted to remain a reader in her Church when she headed the Fine Gael campaign to legalise abortion.
This was in defiance of the Fifth Commandment, you shall not kill, so there is no question that it was anything other than sheer hypocrisy for her to continue to call herself a ‘practising Catholic’. There are no locks on the doors of our Churches keeping people inside. It is a choice to remain a Catholic but, please, would those who openly disregard the law of God in the case of abortion, please either repent or desist from describing themselves as Catholics?
I must say that I disagree with David Quinn when he stated that “a leading member of a parish can be openly pro-choice”. As mentioned above, disregarding the Fifth Commandment surely, debars one from claiming to be such.
Hopefully after the disgraceful lack of balanced debate in the run-up to the abortion referendum, efforts will be made to ensure that this will not happen again and that fact and truth will in future form the basis of debates on vital issues.
Yours etc.,
Mary Stewart,
Donegal, Co. Donegal.
Every voter counted…
Dear Editor, A number of fellow students of mine in NUIG are non citizens, but some of them have told me that they voted illegally in the referendum on May 25. I also have friends who claim to have voted multiple times on May 25.
When Minister Simon Harris was at my University on Monday July 2, I raised this issue with him: I asked him to his face what he thought I should say to those students and what action he would be taking to clean up the register? I also asked him why the register wasn’t cleaned up prior to the referendum. I found his refusal to answer my question quite rude. Have any of the readers of this paper had any issues with multiple polling cards or with the register of electors?
Yours etc.,
Kaitlyn Cocuzzo,
Galway, Co. Galway.
Pope’s visit can bring hope and caring
Dear Editor, As we look forward to the visit of Pope Francis to our shores we hope that he will experience a warm and enthusiastic welcome.
There are, however, those who disagree with the teachings of the Church, handed down by God to his disciples in preaching the Gospel in all parts of the world. Cultural Catholics, headed by people in power, are trying to force the Church to succumb to their liberal views and dictating to the Church what it should believe and how it should act.
We in Ireland should remember how a militant force during during the Penal Times tried to silence the Church by forcing priests to say Mass in hidden mountainous regions. The consequences for people practising their religion were frightening, but the Faith survived stronger than ever.
Pope Francis knows the problems people are experiencing in our modern liberal society. He sympathises with people and wishes he could do more to help them, but it’s not his remit to change or water down God’s law in the 10 Commandments or the Sacraments.
Hoping his visit to Ireland will give hope and caring to the marginalised, the homeless and to those in need in body and soul.
Yours etc.,
Breege Murray,
Adare, Co. Limerick.
Isn’t it time to close underused churches?
Dear Editor, As you sow, so shall you reap seems an apt quote for the times we are in. For decades the Irish Catholic Church has sown heavily in the field of nominal Catholicism, and reaped a poisoned harvest.
The recent abortion referendum result, and the public act of sacrilege performed in St Therese’s Church in Mount Merrion, is the greatest wake-up call the Irish Church has received in decades.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has expressed an interest in divesting some Catholic schools so that the remainder are more fully Catholic. This is a very laudable aspiration, but surely it is now time to close down many churches in the archdiocese so that what remains are truly Catholic.
Recently, The Irish Catholic reported on a talk given in Dungarvan by the archbishop of Utrecht on the Dutch experience of closing Churches in order to better use resources. Based on church attendances in Dublin, as many as 30 to 40% of churches could be closed. This would create vibrant faith communities in the remaining churches, would provide a financial windfall and free a large number of personnel for evangelisation.
Yours etc.,
Gerard Rooney,
Ballymacoda, Co. Cork.
‘We Are Which Church’?
Dear Editor, Recently we are hearing about the group ‘We Are Church’. At least not Catholic Church! What is their aim?
The Church is the body of Christ. He came on Earth that we might be saved. He was obedient to the Father and we are asked to try to obey the Commandments, given us to safeguard and guide us on our journey.
The intention – the mission – of the Church is that every person gets to Heaven. When we hear important, educated people arguing for direct abortion does it not bring home the sadness and folly of not listening to and heeding the Church?
When we see the compassion and caring of Pope Francis, can we not unite and show some love in return.
Yours etc.,
Carmel Ní Chuinin,
Blackrock, Co. Dublin.
Eaten bread is soon forgotten
Dear Editor, I entirely endorse the sentiments of Mr Frank Browne (IC 5/7/2018) regarding our nuns. They, like our good clergy, have, in the main, been given a shockingly biased , scurrilous and unjust press.
Regarding the nuns’ care of children…who else wanted these youngsters? The State certainly did not and their being looked after by nuns saved the Government a great deal of money. Perhaps these children’s parents were dead or ill, unmarried or simply unable to look after them.
Their fathers are seldom, if ever, mentioned; yet some of these fathers may still be alive. They did not, it seems, claim them either.
Regarding the dedication of these good nuns, eaten bread, as they say, is soon forgotten. We all owe a debt of gratitude to these religious, who have borne painful insult and lies with fortitude and dignity. If still alive, may God console them, and rest their souls if they are dead.
Yours etc.,
Isabella Corr,
Greyabbey, Co. Down.