Dear Editor, I am pleased to see the result of your social media poll (IC 05/03/2020), that 85% of respondents are in favour of the Irish Church not cancelling Masses over coronavirus fears. The overall view, it was reported, is that Mass is needed now in Ireland more than ever.
This response echoes the statement by Bishop Pascal Roland of Belley-Ars in France, issued on March 4: “More than the epidemic of coronavirus, we should fear the epidemic of fear! For my part, I refuse to yield to the collective panic and to subject myself to the principle of precaution that seems to be moving the civil institutions. So, I don’t intend to issue any specific instructions for my diocese. Are Christians going to stop gathering together for prayer? Will they give up going to see and help their fellow man? Apart from measures of elementary prudence that everyone takes spontaneously to not contaminate others when you’re sick, it’s not advisable to add on more.”
I think that we who are Christian should be very careful to respond to the coronavirus outbreak in an appropriate, balanced way, and not add to the media-generated hysteria.
We must not hesitate to serve and care for victims of the illness. In our prayers it is good to remember those dealing with the COVID-19 illness and the family members and healthcare workers who look after them.
We would also do well to remember the 25,000 people who die every day as a result of hunger (the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations estimate); 13.5% of the world’s population is battling hunger. And we must pray, too, for the unborn children whose lives are terminated by abortion.
Infectious diseases have always been a challenge to humanity, and Christians have always been bravely to the forefront in the service and care of victims.
I appeal to our priests to avoid prayers of the faithful which add to the impression that the virus is apocalyptic in its enormity. It isn’t, and will cause a mild illness for most.
Yours etc.,
Shane Hogan,
Bruff, Co. Limerick.
The theological question most people avoid
Dear Editor, I think the most interesting theological question to ask someone is not whether or not they believe a God exists. But whether or not they want there to be a God.
This question gets to the root of the atheist’s gripe with Christianity. This question gives us the deliberation between a meaningless chaos where your actions have only their immediate consequences or an ordered universe where there is justice and there is hope.
Of course, the latter is the preferable scenario that a just person would idealise, but as we know there are people who would rather have the former. Their preference of a meaningless chaos shows their true intentions in their rejection of God.
They know deep down – even if they won’t admit it – that if there is a God to judge them, they won’t fair well. The obligation to live a moral lifestyle is oppressive to them. They don’t like ‘the truth’ of their actions; they prefer the concept of ‘my truth’. They aren’t on a truth quest, they are on a happiness quest. To them these two concepts of ‘truth’ and ‘happiness’ aren’t a perfectly overlapped Venn diagram. As G.K. Chesterton pointed out “the whole truth is generally the ally of virtue; a half-truth is always the ally of some vice”.
Yours etc.,
Ruairi O’Connell,
Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry
Speculation on the next Dublin archbishop
Dear Editor, I very much enjoyed the article on the potential candidates for the next archbishop of Dublin (IC 27/02/2020. Although it could be described as idle speculation, the candidates seem to be well-chosen and seem like they have great credentials (although I would certainly be opposed to a few of them). Whatever happens, I hope and pray that our next archbishop has the courage and fortitude to make tough, innovative decisions in the coming years to set us on the right track. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has done a lot for the archdiocese, particularly in how he handled the abuse crisis, for that I believe the faithful will be forever grateful. But it is time for new blood and it seems he also knows this to be true.
Yours etc.,
Darren Casey,
Cherrywood, Dublin.
Our Church must always protect the fifth commandment
Dear Editor, A quotation from the American letter (IC 5/03/2020) states ‘The Church’s job is not to discern which political, partisan or military force we should support in order for good to triumph’. However, surely it is the Church’s job to point out that a Catholic in good conscience is never free to vote against the fifth commandment – you shall not kill.
Regarding abortion being one issue, it has to be said that it is the most important one as it denies the right to life, without which no other right may apply. It is so sad that so many Church leaders seem reluctant to speak out loudly for the basic teaching of the Church. As happened in the abortion referendum, the majority of those who voted for abortion claimed to be Catholics despite their action being in total contradiction of a fundamental teaching of the Church.
Surely there should have been more comment on this from those who are charged with promoting the teaching of the Church. It is well to remember that Jesus said that those who do not point out an error are guilty as well.
I hope and pray that President Trump is re-elected as he is helping to stem the push for abortion. It is not necessary to agree with him on all matters but it would be wise to realise that the media in general have not a good record in accurately reporting on his activities, and the alternative Democratic candidate in the presidential election most certainly will be fully supportive of abortion, as such candidate will only be accepted if they do so.
Yours etc.,
Mary Stewart,
Ardeskin, Co. Donegal.
Admiring Asia Bibi’s response to persecution
Dear Editor, I have been following your coverage of the tragic story of the persecuted Catholic Asia Bibi who was released from almost a decade of incarceration on death row in Pakistan because of their vile blasphemy laws that target minority religions.
Now we see this brave woman saying she forgives those who treated her so badly and stole so much of her life (IC 05/03/2020). Asia is an example to all of us Christians that forgiveness is a powerful gift, not just for those being forgiven but also the person who has the courage to forgive.
May her life in Canada, where she and her family had to flee due to death threats in Pakistan, be peaceful and prosperous – she deserves so much for her powerful witness.
It also must be said that those fighting against these inhumane blasphemy laws, which carries the death sentence in Pakistan, should be supported.
Yours etc.,
Deirdre O’Malley,
Tallaght, Co. Dublin.