Dear Editor, I feel so sorry for the homeless people that had to endure the freezing weather this week. People are often left cold in their own homes, so imagine what people without homes are feeling? Over the last year, many homeless people have been found dead, lying in the street, because of the harsh weather conditions and this is just unacceptable.
I have great admiration for charities that give support to this vulnerable part of our society and I think that the government should be investing in more resources to address this problem. A lot of people have the attitude that homeless people are out in the streets for a reason. Perhaps they led a dishonest or immoral life, becoming addicted to drugs, alcohol and crime. This, however, is not always true.
Anyone can become homeless overnight, even those people considered as upright citizens of society. Some people become homeless because their partner leaves them and they’re left with nothing. Others were brought up in abusive families and had to flee.
Regardless, the reason for a homeless person being homeless is irrelevant, as no one deserves to be subjected to such harsh weather. We need to change our perception of people who live on the street. They are not below us, but human beings divinely created in the image of God.
Although as individuals we can’t get everybody out of homelessness, we can certainly play our part. If you see a homeless person in the street, say hello and ask them their name. If you have the time, have a conversation with them or buy them some food. We all need to be treated like human beings.
Yours etc.,
Brian Duffy,
Navan,
Co. Meath.
‘Right is right…even if no one is doing it’
Dear Editor, I’m very impressed by the resignation of Francis Brolly who recently left Sinn Féin because of its liberal stance on abortion. He said that he was “totally opposed to abortion in any circumstances” and that you can’t “justify the killing of an innocent human being whether it’s born or unborn”. Sinn Féin’s stance has definitely put a lot of Irish Catholics in an extremely tricky position, especially those in the North.
Many Catholics would have supported Sinn Féin because it fought against the oppression and discrimination that was commonplace in Ireland during “the Troubles”. Catholics would have had solidarity with Sinn Féin, and wouldn’t have even considered voting for the DUP or UUP because of its loyalist tenets.
But now many Catholics, although having traditionally voted for Sinn Féin, no longer want to support the party because of its pro-choice stance. Its values no longer reflect the values of the Catholic electorate.
I think that Francis Brolly showed leadership by quitting the party, indicating to voters that the party has become corrupt. Abortion is evil no matter how much society says otherwise.
St Augustine’s words ring ever more true today: “Right is right even if no one is doing it; wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.”
Yours etc.,
Frank Callaghan,
The Coombe,
Dublin 8.
We should be confident in what we believe
Dear Editor, Fr Paddy Byrne’s piece ‘Christ wasn’t shy, so we shouldn’t be either’ (22/02/18) was a great read. It must have taken courage and confidence for Jesus to speak to communities hostile to his message. We are all supposed to emulate Christ, so while sometimes talking about our faith may make us feel uncomfortable, we should realise this shyness can prevent people hearing the Gospel message. We should be confident in what we believe, and share that with those who will listen.
Yours etc.,
Maria Toner,
Clondalkin,
Dublin 22.
Faith and reason complement each other
Dear Editor, I was intrigued by Greg Daly’s article ‘Sitcom scientist turns camera on religion’ (IC 01/03/18). Johnny Galecki, who played a scientist in the sitcom The Big Bang Theory, has now produced a new US comedy show about a man who tries to live out the values of the Bible faithfully. Many people today have the perception that science and religion are separate spheres, and often conflictual spheres. I often encounter those who say you can’t believe in God and support science at the same time, they contradict one another.
Although this criticism usually comes from sceptics and atheists, Christian fundamentalism hasn’t helped dispel this outlook.
Young earth creationists maintain, in spite of scientific evidence, that that earth is only a few thousand years old. I can imagine that this would turn any budding scientist away from Christianity had they not been given proper Catholic formation.
Catholics do not believe that faith and reason are separate but rather that they complement one another.
In fact, Georges Lemaître who was a Catholic priest, astronomer and cosmologist, was responsible for formulating the big bang theory. Pope Francis studied chemistry and worked as a chemist before entering the seminary.
These examples highlight that science and religion go hand in hand with one another.
Yours etc.,
Joe Hagan,
Tallaght,
Dublin 24.
Interview throws more light on bishop’s position
Dear Editor, I thought that Martin O’Brien’s interview with Bishop McAreavey was excellent and very informative (22/02/18).
The Irish Church has had a long history with child sexual abuse and it’s about time these predators were condemned for their actions.
Fr Malachy Finnegan perpetrated most of his crimes against pupils in the classroom and it’s a great shame that his disgusting activity was never brought into the public light until after he died. I definitely think that the bishop could have done much more to let parishioners know about Finnegan, but at least he acknowledges this and deeply regrets that he failed to act upon numerous opportunities to do so.
I’m sure many people will condemn the actions of Bishop McAreavey but from reading the interview, it seems like he was put in a very difficult spot.
Some victims didn’t want to cope with the ‘media splash’ of having their names in the spotlight and so he was forever trying to balance the pro’s and con’s. Whatever happens to him, whether he steps down or not, I think it’s important to realise he was in a tough situation. He definitely could have acted better but he is only human after all.
Yours etc.,
Majella Kehoe,
Tullamore,
Co. Offaly .
Baroness’ criticism is just spot on
Dear Editor, I thought that Mary Kenny’s piece about Baroness’ Eileen Paisley’s criticism of the Northern Irish government was spot on (IC 01/03/18). It must have taken a lot of courage for her to condemn the actions of a party that her husband had so passionately built up. She has undoubtedly felt betrayed by the DUP, as their most recent actions fly in the face of the values that the party epitomises.
She criticised Arlene Foster for her failure to stand aside when the cash-for-ash scandal broke which cost taxpayers millions. What I really appreciated was her Christian perspective on the current deadlock, where she said that political parties need to confess their sins and mistakes, be honest with one another, and face up to the truth.
Although politicians are known for being deceitful and conniving, wouldn’t the world be so much better if our institutions behaved in a way that reflected these Christian values?
Yours etc.,
Seamus Kelly,
Castlebar,
Co. Mayo.