Dear Editor, I’m delighted that Róisín O’Rourke, who responded to my original letter (IC 06/07/2017), is enjoying teaching religion in Leitrim Village. It reminds me of my own experience, 60 years ago, when I too was a primary teacher. I am presently the curate in the largest city parish in Limerick. We have marvellous First Holy Communion services, and Confirmations as good as mini-Eurovisions: but apart from these two ceremonies, and possibly their grandparent’s anniversary Mass, we never see the children in the church again.
Most of our young people, who have experienced 14 years of ‘faith formation’, are now part of the two lost generations of ‘practising Catholics’. So, neither the knowledge they have learnt, nor their compulsory attendance in religious education classes has converted them into active members of their parish community.
Interestingly, a friend of mine who got first place in the religious knowledge exam, when he was in Leaving Cert, flung the silver medal that was his prize into the Lee during his first week in UCC. That was his way of symbolically rejecting the religion that had been part of every school day in both his primary and secondary education. So, it is not about knowledge, but about faith-formation that starts in the home – and nowhere else.
I agree that primary school children are stimulated to ponder on God, outside of their class. In fact, I have been asked on several occasions by young primary school children, whether I believed in God or not. And they had no problem telling me that they didn’t. Personally, I was not surprised.
The one thing that I would concede to Róisín is the fact that, in an increasingly secularised society, every mention of God is good.
Yours etc.,
Fr Patrick Seaver,
Farranshone, Limerick.
A child is a child, no matter the argument
Dear Editor, Subsequent to the concert at Manchester Arena, outrage was expressed worldwide in the media at the deliberate targeting of the innocent.
Among the dead and injured were a sizeable number of young and teenaged children. Some of them were accompanied by parents to act as guardians in getting them there, ensuring to the best of their ability that they would be safe throughout the concert, and getting them home safely, having made happy memories that would remain a highlight of their young lives. Having detonated the device the bomber was amongst those who died. Had he survived he would have served a long prison sentence.
What concerns me is the lack of condemnation when it comes to the deliberate targeting of pre-born vulnerable, innocent children during an abortion procedure. I try to imagine what must take place to carry out this outrageous act. The child in the womb is scanned, is visible on screen to the abortionist and s/he terminates the life of the child by one of the various methods we read about. This is done with the approval of the child’s mother and, at times, that of the father.
The Manchester outrage, was termed deliberate, indiscriminate, mass murder. Abortion is a targeted, deliberate killing of a vulnerable child who will never see daylight never mind enjoy an exciting pop concert. Abortions, like suicide bombings, require the participation of more than one person to complete the task.
When will the media, which dispatches reporters to the troubled areas of the world to report back in a balanced way, the outrages they observe, not now get to grips with the wealthy abortion industry and call it to account. There is an on-going holocaust of pre-born children taking place worldwide today!
Yours etc.,
D.A. Martin,
Raheny, Dublin 5
Thank you, archbishop
Dear Editor, You published on July 13 Archbishop Diarmuid Martin’s recent address at a conference in Germany. The archbishop concluded that the Church is “the redefinition of power in terms of the way in which Jesus revealed who God is”.
To me anyway, I have not ever read words that outline the true meaning and purpose of the Church and faith in an ever-changing world.
Thank you, Archbishop.
Yours etc.,
Robin Gill,
Church Hill,
Carrigaline, Co. Cork.
Time to hand over civil marriage requirements
Dear Editor, In relation to Bishop Kirby’s contribution to the conference ‘Let’s talk Family, let’s be Family (IC 20/07/2017), the State definition of marriage “which cannot be described in terms of traditional Christian doctrine” is at odds with the Christian definition of marriage (“the creator from the beginning made them male and female…is why a man must leave father and mother, and cling to his wife, and the two become one body”), perhaps now is the time for the State to adopt the approach of continental Europe where the civil registration of marriage takes place away from any denominational building (church, synagogue, mosque or temple) and ministers of religion are no longer required to be solemnisers of weddings.
Yours etc.,
Fr Oliver Skelly,
Coole, Co. Westmeath.
Never was so much decided by so few
Dear Editor, Amongst the several useful points made by Martin Mansergh in his article on how Irish people should decide on the shape of their future society without the influence of foreign funding (IC 20/07/2017), is his comment that a “decisive battle between two very different visions of Irish society is not far off”.
He further makes the point that legislation will follow a referendum on repeal. This is an appalling prospect. By saying “Yes” to repeal, this important matter – the deliberate taking of (unborn) human life – will be handed over by two million people and given to the opinions of 80 politicians in the Dáil.
We already know that the leaders of all parties are partial towards restrictive abortion (initially). We also know that the reasons given for abortion has changed dramatically in the UK. These reasons have changed from those of compassion, to mere feticide, which is now being openly canvassed (e.g. guidelines, etc., of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the British Pregnancy Advisory Service).
If repeal takes place, this will be the most serious surrender of power since the foundation the State. It is similar to the intended constitutional changes in Venezuela (e.g. the ‘People’s Assembly’ of 500).
A root cause of the problem is that the Government, not the people, have the deciding of the wording of a referendum to be put to the people. This needs to be changed, though it will not happen in the short term, or ever. Drawing the teeth of the Constitution has now become the prime focus of politicians.
Back to a referendum on repeal, followed by legislation, this will be an easy sell. Many seek a reasonable “middle ground”. This is laudable, of course, but it is a “will-o’-the-wisp”, and, with the aid of the courts, cannot be attained.
Therefore, we are likely to have a referendum, followed by legislation. QED (Quite Easily Done).
Yours etc.,
Donal O’Driscol,
Blackrock, Co. Dublin.
Cardinal Schoenborn hit the nail on the head
Dear Editor, At the end of the article ‘Building on Doctrine that speaks to real Human Situations’ (IC 20/07/2017) Cardinal Schoenborn states:
“…It’s very often a matter of justice…what is due to the other…the Bible teaches us to be very attentive to justice.”
One often hears the statement: “The Church was too focused on sexual sins etc.”
The Cardinal touches the heart of the matter. Sexual sins and injustice in society are almost always inextricably intertwined.
Yours etc.,
Judith Leonard,
Raheny, Dublin 5.