Madam, – I disagree with John Hunter’s comments of March 4th. The relics of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, Patroness of the Missions (1873-1897), were well worthy of an Army escort. Such a great international figure transcends what Mr Hunter sees as “an embarrasingly sectarian confusion of church and state”.
Born into a family of nine children, of which five girls survived, St Thérèse died a cloistered Carmelite at the age of 24 without ever setting foot on the mission fields; yet she influenced the world with her journal, Story of a Soul, setting an example of performing even the minutest tasks out of love. In this, she set a headline internationally for people of all faiths – and, indeed, no faith. Her name is known the world over and shall be remembered when the names of numerous visiting dignitaries to our shores are long forgotten.
Many lesser lights in the field of global influence have received Army escorts down the years, so let us try to rise above petty complaints on this issue and applaud the honouring of this remarkable woman known as “The Little Flower”. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – James Fitzgerald should actually read the Constitution before he gets too outraged. His claim that “we have a religion-free Constitution” is absolute nonsense.
Article 44 begins: “The State acknowledges that the homage of public worship is due to Almighty God. It shall hold His Name in reverence, and shall respect and honour religion”. There are many other references to God. For example, the declaration taken by the President on entering office begins with the words, “In the presence of Almighty God” , and ends: “May God direct and sustain me”.
I would be quite happy to see a new “religion-free” Constitution introduced, but we certainly don’t have one now. – Yours, etc,