Some like to live, work and preach with God’s compassion

Dear Editor, Since I am named in a recent letter in your paper, under the heading, ‘Some priests are openly at odds with Church teaching’, ( letter from C.D.C. Armstrong, Belfast, IC 20/10/2016.) I hope you might allow me a small space to reply. 

Indeed your correspondent expresses the hope that I will be censured soon. I have not been censured and trust I will not be, simply because I am not at odds with Church teaching. If I am at any stage in contradiction of the teaching of the Church I agree I should be censured. What C.D.C. Armstrong seems to confuse is adherence to Church teaching and the preaching of God’s mercy. The vast majority of people know the Church’s teaching, especially on abortion. Indeed in this techno-information age it is quite literally at our fingertips. 

However what cannot be googled is God’s compassion. No search engine accesses his tender love and mercy. It’s in this realm that I choose, to live and work…and preach.

Yours etc., 

Fr Joe McDonald,

Ballyfermot, Dublin 10