Different rules for different people

On Saturday evening in an inner-city church in Dublin at the beginning of Mass the celebrant made what he thought was a smart comment about the colour of the vestments he was wearing - pink. The comment was distasteful and inappropriate and not at all funny.

At the funeral Mass of Paidi O Se in Ventry today one of the many eulogists interspersed his words with 'Christ'.

That's all fine. And the funeral Mass was a real community celebration. But how many of us have heard tales of priests refusing family members to speak at funeral Masses.

And the comment of the priest in the Dublin church will go unchallenged. No one will dare say a word. It would not be polite.

The world well knows there are two rules one for the rich and one for the poor.

And certainly right now within the Irish Catholic Church those who control and are in positions of 'authority' seem to be able to do as they wish. And do it with such arrogance.

Might the lesson of it all be, 'Cast a cold eye on life on death, horseman pass by'.