Dear Editor, I refer to the letter entitled ‘Concern about the future of Accord’ (IC 27/02/2020), which discusses “the decline in the amount of people availing of its marriage and counselling services”.
We live in an age where the TV, cinema, and the printed/social media at large frequently portray marriage as a form of mere emotional satisfaction, that can be constructed in any way, modified at will, and disposed of when it passes its ‘best by’ date.
Yet who, we must ask, is helping people to prepare for, and think about marriage – what is probably the most important decision they will ever make in their lives?
It certainly isn’t the aforementioned mass media, who consider Church-bashing as fair game. Neither is it those who comment on the Catholic Church’s involvement in marriage as irrelevant, authoritarian, and oppressive.
As a current ‘trainee facilitator’ of marriage preparation programmes with Accord Catholic Marriage Care, I am hugely impressed by the profound reverence that Accord has for the institution of marriage and for the dignity of those getting married and already married.
On completion of marriage preparation programmes, couples, almost without exception, say that they are pleasantly surprised at the practicality of what they have experienced, in a relaxed, fun and confidential space.
If they discover they need assistance in addressing challenges in their relationship as a result of the marriage course then the Accord counselling service is there to assist. Put simply, by completing an Accord marriage preparation course couples may save themselves from a lifetime of heartbreak and hardship.
Our society at large cannot but benefit from the existence of Accord and any ‘decline in the amount of people availing of its marriage and counselling services’ would be detrimental to the value and dignity of lifelong marriage within modern society.
Yours etc.,
Sinéad Tracey,
Leitrim Village,
Co. Leitrim.
We must protect vulnerable from coronavirus
Dear Editor, I welcome the comprehensive HSE guidance for religious services with regard to the coronavirus (Covid-19). The protection of vulnerable is as important to churches as it is to the HSE.
The guidance about having gels and tissues available and not sharing vessels is sensible and appropriate: we have to assure people that the threat is being taken seriously, with prudent and visible measures.
I have a concern about shaking hands. The sign of peace is naturally suspended, as is the priest’s handshake to greet people at the beginning and end of Mass. But what of the handshakes that accompany removals and funerals held in churches – are these banned too? And if so, who is to implement this; bereaved family members, the funeral director — or the much put-upon parish priest?
I wonder how the HSE would answer this query.
Yours etc.,
Fr Bernard Cotter PP,
Bandon, Co. Cork.
Interesting to note but why are parents sticking to Christian names from the Bible?
Dear Editor, It’s interesting to see that Biblical baby names, particularly for boys, are still the top picks for parents in our new modern Ireland (IC 05/03/2020). One might think that people would start veering away from Christian names as this country becomes increasingly secular. I would say very few parents choose a particular name because of its significance in the Gospels.
Yours etc.,
James Dunne,
Clondalkin,
Dublin.
Disagreement on the Pope’s Amazon document
Dear Editor, Fr Conway’s commentary on Querida Amazonia (IC 20/02/2020) bucks the modern failure to catechise the faithful. He is among the few to address the central issue of the whole viri probati process when he writes “to suggest that we differentiate between the power to celebrate the sacraments and the authority to lead Christian communities…is not unproblematic”.
This statement fails to express clearly the core implication of the viri probati process for the meaning and reality of the ordained priesthood.
Heretofore the Sacrament of Holy Orders was deemed to mark the soul of the priest in a special way to enable him to “act in the person of the head, Christ” in the performance of three functions – to preach, to sanctify, and to govern, none of which individually defined the ordained priesthood but were theologically inseparable and spiritually interdependent in enabling the priest’s mission to build up the parish.
The viri probati process entails dismantling this three-fold mission of the priest.
Perhaps the intended dismantling is more pronounced than Fr Conway conveys. In footnote 136 of Querida Amazonia the Pope quotes canon 517§2, which states: “If, because of a lack of priests, the diocesan bishop has decided that participation in the exercise of the pastoral care of a parish is to be entrusted to a deacon, to another person who is not a priest, or to a community of persons, he is to appoint some priest who, provided with the powers and faculties of a pastor, is to direct the pastoral care.”
Pope Francis omitted to quote that part of the paragraph which insists that the bishop must “appoint a priest who, endowed with the authorities and rights of a pastor, leads the pastoral care”.
A further erosion perhaps of the ordained priest’s leadership of parochial pastoral care?
Yours etc.,
Neil Bray,
Cappamore, Co. Limerick.
Can we all just cut Fr Ray Kelly some slack, please?
Dear Editor, I don’t watch Dancing with the Stars, not due to any moral objections but simply because this household watches Strictly Come Dancing from September to December, and we need a break from the dance floor.
However, I notice that Fr Ray Kelly came in for criticism from some people for his participation when he was on the show. I don’t know Fr Kelly personally, but he was a pastor in my parish for a number of years, and I always found him to be exemplary in that regard.
Perhaps people have genuine concerns, but some of the comments directed at Fr Kelly have a touch of a narrow minded puritanism about them. In my opinion, the two least attractive attributes of any religion, are this puritanical tendency and the flip side, which is an equally intolerant liberalism.
As an occasional ‘defender of the Faith’, I have been on the receiving end of this type of intolerant liberalism, on a number of occasions.
So, hopefully Fr Kelly will be cut some slack by his critics.
Yours etc.,
Eric Conway,
Navan,
Co. Meath.
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Facebook Community
All politicians should be pro-family says Bishop
Well done bishop, Ireland is ruled by international institutions our politicians are only facilitators for them they have not loyalty to the people of this country.
– Peter McNamee
There is no integrity in voting for those
hostile to Catholicism
Challenging one law at a time is a waste, the liberal establishment in Ireland have been butchering the constitution for years. We need a new constitution that overrides all the injustices since 2015 or earlier.
– Chris McDonagh
We certainly must and our bishops must get off the fence and call out those politicians who favour abortion and euthanasia. – Peter Killeen
The power of a homily
Was privileged to attend Mass at Lourdes Grotto last year celebrated by Bishop of Waterford who delivered a fabulous homily. – Eamon Dallett