Yulia Navalnaya promises to continue her husband’s work

Powerful words from Yulia Navalnaya after the death of her husband Alexei Navalny:

 "I will carry on Alexei Navalny's fight. I will continue to fight for our country. And I urge you to stand by my side. To share not only bitterness and endless pain but also rage, anger and hatred towards those who dared to kill our future.

"I am addressing you with the words of Alexei, in which I believe very much: 'It is not a shame to do little, it is a shame to do nothing, it is a shame to allow yourself to be intimidated.

"We must use every opportunity to fight against war, corruption, and injustice, to struggle for fair elections and freedom of speech, and to fight to get our country back.

"Keep on fighting, and do not give up. I am not afraid - and you should not be scared of anything either.”

The funeral of  Alexey Navalny will be held in Moscow on Friday.

Navalny’s widow Yulia Navalnaya announced the funeral date yesterday. She said she was unsure if it would pass off peacefully and that plans for a civil memorial service had been blocked.

Bishop clarifies nature of blessing given to same-sex couple

Confusing is one word that comes to mind. Aspects of this must remind the reader of fadó fadó when ‘dodgy’ Catholic weddings took place in the sacristy early in the morning.

There’s always that underlying thinking, once no scandal is given it’s ok. ‘The faithful must not be scandalised.'

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-americas/2024/02/bishop-clarifies-nature-of-blessing-given-to-celebrity-same-sex-couple/

All your bets are off in posh bookmakers’ shops

This week’s Mediahuis Irish regionals newspapers’ column.

Michael Commane

Have you ever been inside a bookmaker’s shop? I have on a number of occasions of late and I have been surprised with what I have seen. 

Before my current visits to the shop my last time would have been fadó fadó. Back then they were dingy places, people smoking, maybe sawdust on the floor and an all-round offending smell. For the non-gambler like me at the time they were not a nice place to be.

No, I have not taken to gambling. I’ve been visiting this particular betting shop while I wait for my bus. 

The bus stop is across the road from the shop. I’m wondering how long it will be before they realise I’m not a betting man and throw me out.

It’s a great place to wait, especially if it is raining. There are lovely soft seats and always a day’s newspaper at hand and indeed, some bookie shops offer free coffee.

The shop I visit has panels of screens showing racing and football games all over the world .You can gamble on anything. I saw one ad offering money back if your team is at any stage two goals up.

I have never been in the shop on my own, there is always someone there and I have never seen a woman betting in the shop. 

On one occasion I was there I counted 10 men fully focused on the job at hand. Silence reigned, as did a great sense of seriousness. There was a newspaper on a table beside a man. He was not reading it but I was scared to ask him if I could have it. And once a bet was won or lost, it was on to the next bet.

Over the last few weeks I have heard on radio and television a number of people speak, about their gambling addiction. 

The gambling problem in Ireland is said to be far worse than feared. Addicts are spending over €1,000 a month on gambling and one in 30 adults have a problem with gambling.

We spend €5.5 billion on gambling in Ireland every year, and half of that sum is spent by people who experience ‘multiple negative effects’ from betting. 

Approximately 12 per cent of Irish adults bet weekly with a bookmaker.

More than 40 per cent of us regularly play the National Lottery. I seldom do it but when I do I’m inclined to do it again the following week. The same goes with the Lotto scratch cards. If I buy one and win €4, I’m inclined to gamble again. I often wonder how close I am to becoming an addict. But so far Alleluia, it hasn’t happened. When Francis was elected pope I put a fiver on Cardinal Mauro Piacenza. Maybe fortunately, for more reasons than one, I lost my bet.

And then there’s the phone. I’ve seen people on trains gambling on their mobiles. And it’s so easy to set up an account and off you go. I wonder do phone gamblers realise that a mere five per cent of phone gamblers come out winning. Gambling is a mug’s game and can be a human disaster.

A number to call if you want to rid yourself of the addiction is 1800 936 725. Good luck and don’t be afraid to seek help. Good luck.

Always the temptation to go for the highfalutin project

The new Dublin MetroLink is back in the news. Or should it be called the old Dublin MetroLink? It’s been in the news now for a number of decades.

The latest estimated cost o the project is €9.5bn, though Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that an extreme cat scenario would see costs rise to €23 billion.

What’s going to cost an additional €13.5bn? Surely that has to be a matter of 'throwing figures around’?

In the meantime why does the State ask Irish Rail to build a spur from the DART/Belfast rail line to Dublin Airport? At a much reduced cost and done in a fraction of the time passengers from all over Ireland would have a rail link to Dublin Airport.

Similarly in Kerry, Irish Rail should have build a spur from Farranfore to Kerry Airport and over the years develop a high speed track from Mallow to Tralee.

Why go for such highfalutin projects when far more simple solutions are staring us in the face.

Ads are all about being catchy, cool and seductive

The world of advertising is an expensive business. Ads cost a lot of money. Much thought and expertise goes into the making of ads.

Do you read or watch ads? What ads catch your attention? WIth television ads do you jump for the remote control once it’s ad time?

Ads of their nature attempt to be cool, clever is their middle name. Ads can be fascinating, slick too.

Supervalu has an ad that runs: 'Real People Real Food', or is it 'Real Food Real People'. Whether or which is it not nonsense? 

Are not all people real and what food is not real?

An ad’s purpose is to draw attention, to catch the eye and that’s exactly what this Supervalu ad did, at least for one person passing it on the upper deck of the number 14 bus yesterday.

And have you noticed how the pronunciation of the word has changed in recent years? Fadó fadó the stress was on the ‘advert', today it’s moved to the ‘tisement’.

In the past the sophisticates laughed at those who stressed the ‘tisement’.

A funny old world indeed.

God is not the exclusive property of any one group

The 'Thinking Anew' column in The Irish Times today.

Michael Commane

One of the best teachers I ever had would often, if not always, say at some stage in his lecture, with an element of exasperation in his voice that he knew nothing.

 That same man is highly intelligent. The story goes that a woman walked into a church one day when he was celebrating Mass. She looked up towards the altar, recognised him and out loud said: “The brains of Cabra.” 

Philip Gleeson infused in his students a great curiosity for the subject he was teaching. After all, he was only following in the footsteps of St Thomas Aquinas (1225 - 1274), who in his old age said that all his works were like straw. Aquinas  is considered one of the great theologians of the church. Indeed he was made a Doctor of the Church in 1567.

When reading tomorrow’s Gospel (Mark 9: 2 - 10) I am  reminded of my lecturer. Jesus was opening new doors to his disciples but they in their innocence or ignorance, sometimes missed the point.

When Jesus takes on a new persona, it confuses Peter, James and John and in their confusion they suggest making three tents, one for him, one for Moses and one for Elijah. Indeed, Peter admits that he is so frightened he really does not know what to say.

I find great solace in tomorrow’s Gospel as I do in the entrance hymn: “It is your face O Lord, that I seek; hide not your face from me.” (Psalm 109). That was written the best part of 3,000 years ago. The author is beseeching the Lord to make himself known. He wants answers, just as did the apostles on the mountain with Jesus.

Maybe it is something in my DNA, my own background, the life I lead but I am dumbfounded when I hear people ‘explain’ or talk with absolute certainty about the existence of God. Have they forgotten that Jesus often mystified his apostles? Does such certainty not run contrary to the story in today’s Gospel? Surely it must? 

The greatness and mystery of God cannot be conveyed by our words. They cannot be more than tiny pointers to  the  transcendence of that supreme being we dare call God?

In the first reading from Genesis we read: “God put Abraham to the test.” And again we see how Abraham got it wrong. Wouldn’t it be awful folly to think we have God in the palm of our hands, and we know the full story. That’s what the sin of idolatry is. 

I’m inclined to think everything we say and think about God has to be a type of fumbling about in our heads.

Nobody owns God and God is not the exclusive ‘property’ of any one group. Christians believe that Jesus Christ is God and that does put flesh and blood on our understanding in faith of God. The kindness, goodness, empathy of Jesus Christ give us a tiny hint into the reality of God. 

The Jesus of the Gospel is a person who goes out of his way to be merciful and good and especially to the marginalised and less privileged. 

We are in the early days of Lent, just one full week of it behind us. There is still time to set out a plan or road map for the next few weeks, setting aside  some time for thinking about and in conversation with God, asking to be enlightened so that we can live better lives. 

Every time we genuinely reach out to the weak and marginalised,  we are increasing/improving our faith in God. In copying Jesus’s care for the less fortunate, surely, we are setting out on a personal pathway  towards God?

Isn’t it interesting that Jesus wanted no fanfare, indeed, he warned his disciples that day on the mountain to tell no-one  what they had seen?

Sometimes I ask myself what Jesus would make of social media. The best answer I have come up with is this: do good with it where you can. 

Isn’t interesting how we are saturated with an all-knowing social media. A hint of humility might well prove a game changer in the current climate.

Clever tips from Pope Francis about fasting during Lent

In the words of Pope Francis:

Fast from hurting words and say kind words.

Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.

Fast from anger and be filled with patience.

Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.

Fast from worries and have trust in God.

Fast from complaints; contemplate simplicity. 

Fast from pressures and be prayerful.

Fast from bitterness; fill your hearts with joy.

Fast from selfishness and be compassionate.

Fast from grudges and be reconciled.

Fast from words; be silent and listen.

Yulia Navalnaya takes the fight to Putin

The Irish Times today.

For years, Yulia Navalnaya eschewed the political spotlight.

She often appeared by her husband Alexei Navalny’s side but left the anti-regime campaigning to him – even during the three years he spent in Russia behind bars.

Now, in the aftermath of his death in a remote Arctic prison colony, Navalnaya, a trained economist and mother of two, has vowed to take on his struggle, humanising the late Navalny and his cause.

“I was by Alexei’s side all these years: elections, protests, house arrest, searches, detention, prison, poisoning, protests again, arrest again and prison again,” Navalnaya said in a video address posted on Monday.

Dressed in a simple navy dress, her voice occasionally breaking, the 47-year-old widow asked Russians to “share her fury” and not give up the fight to overthrow president Vladimir Putin, who she accused of ordering her husband’s murder.

“By killing Alexei, Putin killed half of me, half of my heart and half of my soul. But I still have the other half, and it tells me that I have no right to give up,” she said.

Hours after learning of the sudden death of her husband, she spoke to world leaders at the Munich Security Conference last Friday and urged them to redouble their efforts against Putin. On Monday, she toured Brussels like a visiting foreign leader, meeting European Council president Charles Michel and Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief.

“She isn’t just married to the man, she’s married to the cause,” said Guy Verhofstadt, a Belgian MEP and former prime minister who also met her on Monday.

Navalnaya had played a crucial role in her husband’s work behind the scenes, friends say, particularly after he was jailed in 2021 when he returned to Russia after an attempt on his life with nerve agent.

“Alexei Navalny the politician is two people. Yulia and Alexei Navalny,” said Yevgenia Albats, an exiled Russian journalist and a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

“Alexei was such a strong leader that he inevitably suppressed the people around him. They might be strong, wonderful independent politicians, but none of them could ever hold a candle to Alexei. And Yulia can.”

Belarus

The speed with which the spotlight fell on Navalnaya has evoked comparisons with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who emerged as the unlikely face of Belarusian opposition following her spouse’s detention in 2020 when he ran against the country’s strongman, Alexander Lukashenko.

Tsikhanouskaya made it on to the ballot instead of Sergei Tikhanovsky and galvanised public support that culminated in widespread protests against Lukashenko’s re-election, prompting her to flee the country after a brutal crackdown.

The two women shared an embrace hours after Navalny’s death was announced. Tsikhanouskaya told the Financial Times they “understood each other” without a word. “I don’t think she even had the time to properly take it in and deal with her grief,” she said.

Navalnaya’s popularity could make her “the voice of her husband and the Russians who don’t support Putin,” Tsikhanouskaya added. “But that’s very tough and very risky.”

“First, she has to try to unite her supporters and all of the Russian opposition ... And then Yulia’s at risk herself, because Putin’s secret services will work directly against her. They will threaten her and try to break and demoralise her.”

“I don’t think she’ll give in,” the Belarusian added.

Natalia Arno, president of the Free Russia Foundation, said Navalnaya could potentially solve the squabbling that has long plagued Russia’s opposition.

“The main problem in the opposition camp . . . was that nobody had legitimacy,” she said. The elevation of Navalnaya “might remove some questions”, as the “iron lady” stood a good chance of being supported by the Russian pro-democracy community as well as western governments.

In the wake of Navalny’s death, some observers had questioned why he had chosen to go back to Russia at all, given the likely fate that awaited him. In her video, Navalnaya addressed that criticism: “Why did he come back? . . . Why such a sacrifice? After all, he could live in peace and take care of himself and his family But he couldn’t.

“Alexei loved Russia . . . So deeply and sincerely that he was ready to give his life for it.”

Ekaterina Schulmann, a Russian political scientist, said the speed at which Russians had coalesced around previously unknown anti-war figures showed the demand for an alternative to Putin remained high.

“It strikes me that she’s more radical than he is . . . That might put some people off, because a lot of them are scared of violence and chaos and sticking with Putin, not realising that he’s not the antidote to chaos but the source of it,” she said.

Navalny’s widow would be the most prominent female opposition figure in Russia in at least two decades – a noticeable gear shift for a patriarchal country where the Kremlin is trumpeting “traditional values” such as limiting abortion rights and pushing women to have more children.

Irina Khakamada, Putin’s most credible female challenger for president, faded into obscurity after winning 4 per cent of the vote in 2004. Reformist politician Galina Starovoitova was murdered in St Petersburg in 1998.

But Sergei Guriev, provost of Sciences Po university in France and a long-time friend of the family, said rampant sexism could work to Navalnaya’s advantage. “She has no ‘anti- rating’. There is no compromising material against her. Of course, Russian propaganda has already started to say that she is a puppet. But it will be very clear very soon that Yulia is a strong and independent leader.”

A few hours after her video was released, the “Feminist Anti-War Resistance” (Far), one of Russia’s fastest-growing protest initiatives, issued a statement saying it supported Navalnaya.

“The transformation of Yulia Navalnaya from the role of a wife, which she previously insisted on, to a political figure, will be very inspiring for many women in Russia,” said Daria Serenko, a Russian writer and a Far founder.

“If she has found the strength to act, we cannot afford to wallow and spread the idea through social media that they have killed our hope.” – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2024

People of Trinidad and Tobago express their love for Fr Leo

Since the obituary of Fr Leo Donovan appeared on this blog on Sunday a large number of people, into the hundreds, have logged on to this blog site, presumably to read about Leo.

It’s clear he made a big impression with those with whom he lived and worked. And the comments too tell their own story.

The warm comments on Leo recorded on this blog make sense to Leo’s annoyance and frustration at the chapter he attended in the late 1980s.

It so happens that today, the day of Leo’s burial, is the anniversary of the death of his uncle, Fr Con Roche, who died in Drogheda on February 21, 2007. He was 89.

Iarnród Éireann stays on track with mph

This week’s Mediahuis Irish regionals newspapers’ column.

Michael Commane

I was all set to travel from Dublin to Kerry after work on Thursday for two appointments the following day. 

But it was bucketing out of the heavens, I was coughing and feeling miserable so decided to leave it to Friday morning and take 07.00 train. I broke all my usual habits and booked a taxi for 06.15. Even with my eircode the driver had difficulty finding my house but no hassle, I arrived at Heuston with plenty of time to spare, dry too,  and far earlier than my usual practice.

It was a quiet Heuston. As I headed for the barrier I saw two Irish Rail staff walking towards the shop and guess what, they were walking arm-in-arm. It was such a lovely sight. I recognised the man from my regular visits to the station but I’d never spotted the woman before. 

The two of them were delightfully chatting away with a spring in their step. It was a moment of magic. I would love to have commended them but decided to say nothing. It was clear to see the two of them were in good spirits, indeed enjoying the start to their day.  I said it to a friend but he felt I should not mention it. Why not? It was lovely to see.

It’s 7am, no sign of departure, the doors are still open and then an announcement, apologising about our delay. The train nerd that I am I discover there is a brake problem. I’m a little anxious as my first appointment in Tralee is for midday. 

I get talking to a mechanical fitter on the platform who explains to me there’s a brake problem with a wheel but it would be sorted asap. We get chatting. 

He tells me he’s from India and of course his face lights up when I mention something about Indian railways to him. But he’s called away to chat with the loco driver. Fourteen minutes late, doors close and off we go out into the lights of Inchicore, Clondalkin, Adamstown and then into the dark countryside of Sallins and Newbridge. It’s a dark wet morning. 

After a short snooze I wake up as the train departs Portlaoise and daylight is edging its way across the country. We continue to run 14/15 minutes late, travelling for most of the journey at 160 km/h. Irish Rail has not changed over to kilometres and continues to measure everything in miles. The track is marked every quarter mile with mile-posts and not kilometre posts.

The 14/15 minute delay loses its meaning in Mallow, where there is usually an 18 minute wait for the Cork Tralee connection. Our delay in Heuston means a much shorter wait in Mallow.

The scenery changes as we move into north Cork.

Irish Rail is currently constructing a new pedestrian bridge with lift at Banteer station. Signs of hope and an increase in passenger numbers.

It’s still misty, but off in the distance there’s a glimmer of blue.

From Rathmore on, it’s Kerry all the way to

Tralee where we arrive at 13.04, six minutes late.

Almost perfect and certainly good enough for me. Blue skies in Tralee on arrival. And in plenty of time for my midday appointment. Thank you Irish Rail.

The Ireland of David Quinn and Michael Kelly

Is Ireland really as dark and nasty a place as two former editors of The Irish Catholic , David Quinn and Michael Kelly make it out to be?

Hardly.

Ireland is a fine place to live. There is no paradise on earth but as places to live, surely Ireland is in the Premier League.

Our lack of housing is a scandal but it is a scandal across the world. That does not justify it. We have many problems in Ireland.

Are our politicians as nasty, conniving and tricky as both men seem to describe them? It’s doubtful. 

With all the faults and failures of our politicians, Ireland is privileged to have a democracy, which works.

The constant negative comments of both men are, to say the least, tedious.

The world of social media can be an unhelpful place.

What was it the Taoiseach said about X, formerly Twitter?

It is sad news to hear of the death of Michael O’Regan, who died at home yesterday. Michael was a kind person, who was always there to advise and help journalists setting out in the trade.

Sympathy and humble prayer for Michael and his family and friends.

Leo Donovan OP (1942 - 2024) - an obituary

Dominican priest Leo Donovan

died in Kiltipper Woods Care Centre, Tallaght on Saturday morning, February 17. Leo had been over two years in the nursing home.

Just as Donal Roche and Jordan O’Brien walked into his room at 12.40 yesterday Leo died.  Jordan is the last surviving member of Leo’s group still in the province, and Donal is prior in St Mary’s Priory, Tallaght.

Leo was born in Limerick on February 2, 1942, attended the local CBS school and joined the Dominican Order on completing his Leaving Certificate in 1960. Made his first profession the following year in St Mary’s Priory, Pope’s Cork, studied philosophy and theology in St Mary’s Priory, Tallaght and was ordained a priest in Clonliffe College by Archbishop John Charles McQuaide in 1967.

After priestly ordination he did post graduate studies at the Pontifical University of St Thomas in Rome obtaining his licence in theology.

Leo spent 50 years in Trinidad, where he worked as a parish priest in several parishes in the country, including Mayaro, Arima, Mons Repos, Curepe and parishes in Port-of-Spain. 

In 1974 there were approximately 60 Irish Dominicans in Trinidad and Tobago.

His early parishes involved working with many people of colour, where Leo found himself at home. Indeed, in the five to six years since his return to Ireland he regularly received calls from people in the various parishes where he lived. He had not been forgotten.

He obtained a BA from the University of the West Indies, where he majored in the history of the West Indies. It was important to him that he was well versed in the history of the country if he was to work in Trinidad.

On obtaining his BA he was nervous that he might be sent teaching in the Dominican-run Holy Cross school. It never happened and he spent his priestly life working in parishes.

He was dedicated to preaching, indeed, on completion of his studies in Tallaght he wrote a  dissertation on preaching as a sacrament. He had a strong voice and was a big strong man. A fellow Dominican described him as a diligent priest who gave attention to his preaching.

Leo spent the academic year 1985/'86 in Chicago, studying pastoral theology.

He was involved for many years with the charismatic   movement.

He had two uncles in the province, Aengus Byrnes, who joined the Order in 1921, and Con Roche, who joined in 1938, and like Leo, both men spent many years in Trinidad. He had one cousin a religious sister and three cousins priests.

Two of his cousins were Spiritans Jack and Aengus Finucane.

Working as young priests during the famine in Biafra in 1968, Aengus and Jack joined forces with Kay and John O'Loughlin-Kennedy, who had founded Africa Concern as a response to the crisis.

In recognition of the work the two men did a bench and sculpture were erected in their home city of Limerick in 2022. The commemorative structure is situated on the River Shannon at Barrington’s Pier.

The former CEO of Concern Worldwide, Dominic MacSorley said of the two men at the unveiling: “The Finucane brothers are giants of men, what they achieved was extraordinary."

Leo was fond of animals and for a number of years had two dogs, Cara and Shannon.

He liked living on his own, putting his feet under his own table. A fellow Dominican, who spent many years in Trinidad, said about Leo: “ He was a most hospitable and welcoming host.”

In his initial years in Trinidad he discovered golf and played every Monday with fellow Dominican, the late Paddy Brennan. He was proud of getting three holes in one, which made Paddy Brennan very jealous of him. Any time Pat Lucey went to Trinidad he was obliged to play a round of golf with Leo and Paddy. But it is said about him he was a 'slow learner’ of the sport.

When he came home on holiday he went directly to Limerick and stayed with his brother. On the death of his brother, approximately 10 years ago, he made the priory in Glentworth Street his home.

Leo was a reserved, indeed, diffident person but that did not stop him speaking his mind, especially if he was annoyed or frustrated by empty and meaningless words.

At a provincial chapter in the late 1980s he became frustrated, stood up and spoke his mind, announcing to the assembly that it was all an empty talking shop. Leo used more colourful language to express his annoyance.  At that, he stood up, left the meeting and was driven straight to Heuston Station by a fellow Dominican, who had also worked in Trinidad. He took a train back to his Limerick home from home. Heuston Station is called after 1916 veteran John Heuston, whose brother, Michael John Heuston(1897 - 1984) was a Dominican, an eccentric man, a genius, who was years ahead of his time.

Leo was a kind man, gentle too and was always willing to listen. He had that lovely ability of making one feel at home in his company, while at the same time expressing his own views and opinions.

Before moving to Kiltipper Leo was a member of the Dominican community in Tallaght where he was lovingly attended to by the caring team, under the management of Patricia Slamon and the prior, Donal Roche.

May he rest in peace.

Leo's body will be lying in state in the large parlour in St Mary’s Priory, Tallaght, Dublin 24 tomorrow, Tuesday, February 20 from 1.30pm. Removal later, arriving in the church at 5.30pm. Funeral Mass in St Mary’s Church, Main Road, Tallaght at 11.30am on Wednesday. Burial afterwards in the cemetery at St Mary’s Priory, Tallaght.