Letter of the week
Not to sound sanctimonious, but….
Dear Editor, As communities enjoy the season of welcoming the children who have reached the age of reason to the table, and celebrate their young people answering an invitation to step forward either for Confirmation, or to be blessed, I wonder if, in our talk of ‘bouncy castle Catholics’, and the ‘bribing of children to make their Communion’, have we forgotten, or even read, Brendan Behan’s story of the Confirmation suit. Are we ignoring, or have we forgotten, the lessons on faith, humility, hope, human dignity, true piety and people’s religion that the life and death of David Kelly’s Rashers Tierney in Strumpet City taught both a young priest, whose well-meant but patronising, paternalistic attempts to help his parishioners were met with contempt? We may have diverse worldviews, may wonder at people’s actions, and question them. We may well call others out on things when we need to allow for progress in a pluralist society where the majority are from the Catholic tradition.
But, when it comes to expressions of culture and of faith, what right do any of us have to look down our noses on others?
Yours etc.,
Sinéad Nic Mhathúna, MRelEd
Donnycarney, Dublin 9
The Eurovision and The Emperor’s New Clothes
Dear Editor, Well done to Colette Colfer on an exploration of Eurovision singer Bambie Thug and gender ideology [The Irish Catholic – May 16, 2024]. Everyone is entitled to self-identify as they please, but the scientific evidence – while something they can ignore – should not be dismissed by our media. It was amazing to see how mainstream media presenters worked so hard to avoid referring to Bambie as a woman or using the word she. It did remind me of the fable by Hans Christian Anderson ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’.
Yours etc.,
Deacon Frank Browne,
Ballyroan Parish, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.