Dear Editor, Martin O’Brien’s investigation into the Pope’s decision not to visit Northern Ireland this year (‘No Pope here?’ IC 14/6/2018) invites serious questions about links between our local Church and the Vatican.
The Pope’s decision not to visit the North has, understandably, caused dismay and continues to cause confusion across both Northern communities, and indeed across Ireland as a whole, such that it is hard to accept that this decision was driven by a fear that a papal visit to the North would somehow overshadow the World Meeting of Families.
The line seems to be that this summer visit is not really a visit to Ireland as such, rather, it seems, the Pope is coming to the World Meeting of Families, which just happens to be being held in Dublin, and that he is visiting Ireland’s Marian shrine to pray for the success of that venture.
The problem here is that according to previous Vatican statements, it’s not a fluke that WMOF2018 is being held in Ireland. On the contrary: Cardinal Kevin Farrell told The Irish Catholic last year that the Pope personally picked Ireland to host the family gathering because of Ireland’s missionary history, and his hope that Irish people could play a part in promoting a revolution in family life.
The North’s role in Ireland’s missionary history can hardly be downplayed, with St Patrick, the great missionary to the Irish, being buried in the North, Armagh tracing its episcopal history back to him, and with one of our greatest missionaries, St Colmcille, being patron saint of Derry.
It would be a terrible shame if the Pope had decided against visiting so important a place for Ireland’s missionary history because of lobbying by Irish and curial prelates who feared that events in Dublin would be overshadowed.
Yours etc.,
Susan O’Toole
Belfast, Co. Antrim.
Why is sensitivity a one-way ticket?
Dear Editor, How dreadful that, according to deputies Claire Daly and Richard Boyd-Barrett, voters in Booterstown and Garristown, Co. Dublin felt intimidated when passing an altar in the Catholic school and were unable to have statues removed before voting. How petty is that? After all it was the month of May, Our Lady’s month, when altars are decorated in her honour, and it is to be expected that statues are to be found in Catholic schools.
These schools were made available to facilitate the electorate. Perhaps next time those objecting will ensure that neutral venues are provided so that they will not have to endure passing statues and other articles associated with the Catholic faith.
Have we really a tolerant society, or is it only tolerant when it does not involve Catholics? I think it’s time for standing up and being proud of our Faith, which is welcoming to all.
This, however, does not mean that we have to apologise for our existence when doing so might intimidate someone. It certainly seems that sensitivity is a one-way ticket which does not apply to Catholics or the Catholic Faith and this needs to be challenged.
Yours etc.,
Mary Stewart,
Ardeskin, Co. Donegal.
Did Vincent Browne play a part in his own findings?
Dear Editor, Mary Kenny described Vincent Brown’s participation at the recent Listowel Writer’s Week and his denunciation of present day Ireland (IC 07/06/18). I wonder if Vincent has ever considered whether the TV programme he presided over for so many years, contributed in any way to the situation he describes?
Yours etc.,
Judith Leonard,
Raheny, Dublin 5.
Time for repentance
Dear Editor, If so many Catholics voted with their conscience for abortion, then the question is, were all of them not properly informed in time as to the full consequences of that decision? Should the pastors of the Church have taken a dominant role? The Catholic Church is entitled and obligated to declare Catholic doctrine whether all of members of the Church take heed or not.
Because Jesus is truth itself, he never soft-pedalled on wrong-doing. Even the apostles, whom he loved, were admonished.
In recommending Confession, Bishop Kevin Doran is following the lead of our Blessed Lord. What is needed now is repentance, forgiveness and healing. It might even have some beneficial effect on this sad outcome for the innocent victims.
Yours etc.,
Aoibheann Ni Ruaidhri,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.
That just won’t do, Fr Ron
Dear Editor, I must say I was astonished at some of the assertions contained in Fr Rolheiser’s article entitled ‘Mercy, truth and pastoral practice’ (31/05/18). He says that “God has no favourites” and of course God hasn’t. But Fr Rolheiser goes on to assert that “God loves sinners and saints in exactly the same way”. So why bother being a saint? Do we not cut ourselves away from God’s love by sin? And if we don’t, why not keep on sinning?
Further on in the article Fr Rolheiser states that “it’s not necessarily those who explicitly profess God and religion who are his true followers, but rather those, irrespective of their explicit Faith or Church practice, who do the will of God on earth”. Now, I thought that explicit Faith and Church practice are the will of God and are very necessary in our lives. Are we Catholics not enjoined to attend Mass on Sunday, receive the Sacraments, and so on?
The kind of teaching expounded in that article by Fr Rolheiser is becoming the dominant teaching in our Church today. No wonder we have shrinking congregations!
Yours etc.,
Pat Naughton,
Clondalkin, Dublin 22.
Catholics should learn to always expect opposition
Dear Editor, Please allow me to express my pleasure in the courage displayed by Bishop Kevin Doran in speaking the truth about the seriousness of a ‘Yes’ vote in the recent referendum knowing that one’s ‘Yes’ was consenting to the killing of pre-born babies.
Laoise-based priest Paddy Byrne’s reported response to Bishop Doran is not surprising but is very revealing of the malaise, division and confusion in the Church in Ireland today (IC 31/05/18).
Fr Paddy Byrne seems worried about the polarisation that will ensue if the truth is spoken about sin: “Do not walk away, together we can be strong”. In essence I think what he is saying is: we need you; we need your money; the numbers are small enough as it is. We need your contribution on the plate on Sundays (or on Saturday evenings).
It is time that the Church in Ireland took a serious look at what Jesus says in Luke 12:51 and Matthew 10:34: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace, no I tell you but rather division…a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.”
It is difficult to see anything good coming from this whole episode but if the Church here is woken up to the reality that to be true to Christ we will always be in conflict with the world, then maybe all is not lost.
Yours etc.,
Joe Bolger,
Dungarvan,
Co. Kilkenny.
Unwanted feelings became a gift
Dear Editor, Fr Martin Delaney’s Notebook article ‘Do we we still have a place here?’ (IC 14/6/2018) resonated with many people who voted ‘No’.
The heartbroken disbelief, devastation, shock and upset have lessened but still remain.
I tried to shake off these feelings but decided that they were a gift, because they help me to continue to fight for justice for the unborn.
I don’t agree with Fr Delaney that some people who voted ‘Yes’ did so because of abuses, disrespect and injustices of the past; I believe its because society today is rampant with abuse, disrespect and injustice.
How can anyone justify taking their adult anger and grudges out on an innocent unborn human being ?
The fight for justice for the unborn continues – let the ‘No’s’ unite!
Yours etc.,
Anne McGrath.
Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.