Courtney McGrailDear Editor, The result of the recent referendum in Ireland has devastated me and everyone I have spoken to about it. I am Irish born and for the first time in my life I am ashamed of my country.
On the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, the college where I teach had a rosary procession and an important part of our prayer was to offer reparation for the disgraceful outcome in the land which has had the reputation of being the Ireland of saints and scholars. It seems that the ‘snakes’ have returned to our country – a reminded of the downfall of Adam and Eve.
I pray that another St Patrick will rise up and renew that Catholicity of our land which has been a beacon of hope to many countries, including Australia – a land which owes much of its faith to the Irish priests, sisters and brothers who have come here as convicts and free-citizens.
Yours etc.,
Sr Mary Thomas OP,
New South Wales,
Australia.