Columnist argues there is no need for embassy in Vatican

Vincent Browne's piece in today's Irish Times on whether or not Ireland should have an embassy to the Holy See in Rome is a good read.

Jesuit priest Peter McVerry is quoted in today's media as calling for the closure of the embassy.

What to do?

It is a most interesting topic. It is worth noting that in the middle of one of the worst economic crisis we can spend time talking about whether or not to close an embassy to a tiny state. Is that what the Vatican is? Hardly.

It is also worth noting how the current US pre-election environment is shaping up. The comments of some senior US church figures are interesting and deserving of attention.

A journalist based in the US has commented that dealing with church matters is like 'walking on eggshells'.

What is it about the church in world politics? Maybe a more worthwhile question might be, who are the officials who represent the church?

Is it always an issue of right versus left? Not at all. It works differently in the church.

Observing the words and style of these men, one can get some idea of the confusion, the secrecy, the politics that ensues.

MI5, CIA, Mossad, BND, FSB all readily admit that the Holy See has the best intelligence service in the world. What does that say?