Madam, – A long time ago during one of the periodic bouts of government belt-tightening I suggested in a discussion on the Vote for Foreign Affairs that one embassy in the city of Rome would suffice for this little country.
I thought that our Ambassador to Italy could fulfil in his spare time whatever duties pertained to the Vatican. Some ministers at least felt this might be a good idea but the Department of Foreign Affairs was apparently outraged and described the suggestion as “unthinkable”. Might this not be a good time to reconsider my proposal? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Regarding all the “shocking” revelations of the Murphy and Ryan reports, I have to say that, as a 19-year-old, most of this wasn’t shocking in the least. What is shocking is that I cannot recall a time in my life when members of the Catholic Church were not surrounded in controversy.
There are many older people who refuse to believe the content of these reports. The main reason is that they have grown up trusting the church completely. My generation, however, is of a very different persuasion. Having grown up with this knowledge, my faith in members of religious orders is verging on nonexistent. With this as my generation’s legacy, I wonder how people will regard religion in future generations. Could we be approaching a time when the Catholic Church no longer has any influence? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – John Waters (Opinion, December 4th) is absolutely correct, “Ireland has been a Catholic country, but not really a Christian one”. Jesus Christ told us to recognise this on the basis of the fruit in people’s lives. He is clear about the outcome on the day of judgment for some religious people who try to justify themselves – “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’.” The issue for everyone is to decide whether we will order our lives in accordance with what he says or not. It is an active and conscious choice that we have to make as adults rather that a tradition we are born with. Such a new beginning is what Christ is talking about when he says, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again”. Individually we have to ask God to give us a new life and a new relationship with him in order to receive the power to overcome sin. This is what is lacking. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – In the parables of man the physical manifestation of evil is represented by the forked tongue of the serpent. The half truth. The malevolent obscuring of reality to obtain or maintain dominion. Sadly, we may now believe that the serpent and the institution of the Catholic Church share much in common. At least this appears to be so if one believes the sworn testimony of a cardinal.
The parables also suggest how we might deal with the serpent. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I await with interest the reaction of the INTO to the Murphy report, given that the vast majority of the membership are paid by the State to teach Catholic doctrine in schools with Catholic patronage. Surely they have a view? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – In the middle of what history may come to see as a witch-hunt, spurred by politicians, clerics and, sadly, some journalists, it is consoling that a few words of humanity and commonsense come from a young woman of 17. Amy McCloskey, daughter of abuse victim Peter McCloskey, believes her father’s tragic story is being used to “get at” Bishop Murray (Home News, December 3). She is quoted as saying she does not blame the Limerick bishop for her father’s death and does not think he should resign.
She adds that Bishop Murray had been a huge support to her mother and her two younger sisters since the death of her father. Peter McCloskey’s widow is also quoted as being concerned at the attacks on Dr Murray.
Perhaps the voices of people closely involved should be listened to. And perhaps the cherished principle that a person is innocent until proved guilty – so carelessly (or cynically) abrogated in recent weeks – should be restored. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – What have Christianity and Catholicism got in common? Nothing. Christ sacrificed himself to protect the innocent whereas the Catholic Church sacrificed the innocent to protect themselves. In light of the litany of horrors being unearthed, how can any right-minded person wear the robes or attend the services of an organisation that is the opposite of what Christ taught? A corrupt Rome put him to death 2000 years ago and today an equally corrupt Rome rules in his name. Shame on those who are clearly shameless and shame on us for letting them get away with it. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Recently the news has been, deservedly, dominated by the Murphy report; therefore repeatedly exposing one to the galling, blinding irony of RTÉ’s major news programmes being heralded by the Angelus. Voltaire surely put it best, “écrasez l’infâme” – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I applaud the courage and the bravery of the victims of clerical abuse. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin comes across as an honourable man trying to right the wrongs of many. A lone voice! The Catholic church is rotten to the core, and is still more worried about protecting its own, than dealing with and helping the survivors of horrific clerical sexual abuse. Not only should Bishop Donal Murray resign, but so should Cardinal Desmond Connell and Pope Benedict XVI. All have colluded and played their part in this sickly sorry mess. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The Catholic Church is down. Mary Raftery should learn when to stop kicking. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – In a week dominated by the Murphy report, a cardinal has stated “homosexuals can’t enter into heaven” (World News, December 2nd). Are we to take the silence of the church in stating that child rapists and serial abusers won’t have the same fate, as confirmation that being in a loving, consensual, same-sex relationship is worse than raping a child? If so, it may help explain why the church failed to act to stop this horrific abuse. – Yours, etc,