Courtney McGrailDear Editor, I read with interest Martin O’Brien’s interview with Mary McAleese in your November 12 edition. He was high in his praise and admiration of her. We all admired her many good qualities, her courage and determination, her intelligence, her eloquence and not least her commitment to build peace between the two communities she had such experience with. She was in her own words a bridge builder. Everyone recognises she was a good president and made quite a contribution.
However, she seemed unaware of the need of a bridge builder within the Catholic Church itself, between the liberals and the conservatives. In fact she was a leader in one group and helped to widen the gap. That was obvious in the recent referendum on same-sex marriage. I have no doubt she might be a legal expert. But for their own purpose the media made her an expert in theology and kindred matters as well. Something I know she was not. Her grasp of moral ethics left a lot to be desired.
Pope Francis is himself trying to bridge the gap between liberals and conservatives. That is something that Vatican II failed to do. Vatican II unlike previous councils avoided anathemas. It depended on its documents. But they achieved nothing because the liberals said they were going in accordance with the spirit of Vatican II. So Pope Francis has his work cut out for him. Some say he is really walking a tight rope. All we can do is pray for him. At the moment anyhow he gets respect and attention from all sides. I think his humility is his big asset. Let us hope and pray he will succeed in bringing the world back to Christ.
Yours etc.,
Rev. James Neville,
Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick