Sinister side to abortion debate
Dear Editor, The sinister and illegal activities of pro-abortion advocates over the last two weeks has been shocking and outrageous. Where is the condemnation from public figures? The fact that three hotels were forced to cancel pro-life events because of threats and intimidation of staff members should be investigated by An Garda.
I also find it astounding that people who describe themselves as advocates of women’s rights would take down posters advertising an event where brave survivors of rape were offering to give their perspective on pregnancy following that terrible trauma.
This is really about freedom of speech and a militant side to the abortion who wants to silence any voice that they disagree with. The repeal of the Eighth Amendment is a complex issue and should be debated thoroughly from all sides. The fact that some elements of our society want to shut down that debate is deeply worrying. What’s more, I think things are only going to get worse as we get closer to a referendum next year.
Yours etc.,
Clodagh Murphy,
Bray,
Co. Wicklow
Ordinary Catholics need to stand up for the Church
Dear Editor, So another TD has attacked the Catholic Church (IC 28/09/2017). While Joan Collins’ ridiculous claim that the Constitution is rubbish because a priest write it, is not on the same level as Brid Smith’s desire to throw the Church in the “dustbin of history”, it is another example of how Catholics are viewed as an easy target in today’s culture.
Church-bashing has become so common in public rhethoric now that it sometimes passes me by unnoticed, and I’m sure it must be the same for others. We’ve become so used to it we no longer react. But we need to snap out of this spell. It is up to ordinary Catholic voters to call our TDs out when they are wrong and unjust. It is also up to ordinary Catholic citizens to complain when the media is wrong or unjust towards the Church. We can’t leave it up to the bishops or organisations like this newspaper. We need to remind public figures that when they bash the Church, they are attacking the grassroots faithful, not just the institution.
Yours etc.,
Maureen O’Sullivan,
Ennis,
Co. Clare
Being single is just a fact of life
Dear Editor, I thoroughly agree that there cannot be a vocation to a single life. God does not call people to be single, it is just a circumstance of life. God has given us free will to live our lives. If we do not find someone suitable to share our life with or something goes wrong and a relationship does not last, we cannot blame God. That is just life. It happens. Unfortunately, some people end up alone, but this is a calling from a loving God.
Yours etc.,
Patrick Williams,
Drogheda,
Co. Louth
Permanent singleness must be God’s will
Dear Editor, I note with great concern your views on life as a single person as expressed in your Editor’s Comment on September 28. I note particularly your closing concession that “uncommitted single people must never be regarded as anything less than full members of the Church”.
To what are these “single people” uncommitted? As Members of the Church – the Body of Christ – they are, like everyone else, integral parts of that Body and therefore committed to the other parts of the Body, especially to its Head.
I draw your attention to paragraph 158 of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia, where, opening the section on ‘Marriage and Virginity’ he asserts that many single people “are not only devoted to their own family but often render great service in their group of friends, in the Church community and in their professional lives. Their dedication greatly enriches the family, the Church and society”.
As for ‘vocation’, that comes from God, and not from the Church. Admittedly God’s call to single life may be unwelcome, denied, resisted, or difficult to recognise, but for those who have found that their life’s journey led them to permanent singleness, there can be no explanation other than that this was God’s will for them. The large number involved in Ireland alone (as evidenced by the 2016 Census returns) demands that their vocation be acknowledged, and that they be accorded parity of formation, support and affirmation with other groups. Single people are valuable and self-giving members of the Church, and of society in general, and it is time that this was acknowledged and respected.
Yours etc.,
Mary Keane,
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6
Catholics must understand reasons for Church’s rules
Dear Editor, I write regarding your comment on Jacob Rees-Mogg’s recent media interviews (IC 21/09/2017). I agree that Jacob Rees-Mogg is to be admired for standing up for his belief in the teachings of the Catholic Church on same-sex marriage and abortion under all circumstances. However if he wishes to publicly defend his beliefs it is not enough to simply reply, when asked why he is opposed to these issues, that “it is the teaching of the Catholic Church”.
In order to defend a belief, when challenged, you must be able to provide the evidence to support your argument. The only way this can be achieved is to ensure that adults are catechesised so that they not only know but understand the reasons why the Catholic Church opposes these issues; after all parents should be the main catechists in passing on the Faith to their children. When Philip asked the Ethiopian eunuch: “Do you understand what you are reading? The eunuch replied: “How can I unless someone guides me” (Acts 8: 30-31).
Yours etc.,
Christina Coakley,
Ballyhaunis,
Co. Mayo
WMOF should commemorate dead of 1918
Dear Editor, “What are we doing in July 2018 to commemorate the centenary of the deaths of our uncles and aunt?” was an out of the blue email enquiry from a first cousin. Shortly afterwards he emailed me copies of memorial cards with details of the deaths of our uncles and aunt. I hardly knew of their existence.
I suspect that there are a great many other families who have forgotten their ancestral victims of the 1918 black flu. In the meantime as a family we have researched the descendants of our grandparents who must have suffered greatly at the time. We agreed to have a gathering in July 2018 starting with Mass for our ancestors.
This leads me to suggest that it might be a good idea for a similar Mass at the forthcoming World Meeting of Families in Dublin, which is where my ancestors and so many others died in July and August 1918.
Yours etc.,
Alan Whelan,
Killarney,
Co Kerry
Catholics cannot secretly vote against God’s word
Dear Editor, On the subjects of same-sex ‘marriage’ and abortion there is much written in The Irish Catholic of September 21. St Paul (1Thess 2.13) puts it simply: “Accept God’s word for what it really is, God’s word and not some human thinking’.
God’s word (Mt.19) is that marriage is an exclusive and life-long contract between one man and one woman: “so that they are no longer two, but one”. On abortion God’s word is given in the Fifth Commandment: “You shall not kill”.
As practising Catholics we stand in church to individually and collectively affirm our belief in the Gospel (God’s Word) – and stand again at The Creed, affirming belief in the teaching of “the Holy Catholic Church”.
Jesus taught an unconditional love for truth. “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.” Without being hypocritical can I publicly pass myself off as a practising Catholic, while also regarding myself as ‘progressive’ Catholic, who sometimes secretly votes against God’s word and the teachings of his Church?
Yours etc.,
Brian Rooney,
Downpatrick,
Co. Down