EU could fall apart, says parliament's president

President of the European Union Martin Schulz told the German newspaper Die Welt that the Union is in danger of disintegrating, saying that there are forces that want to drive it apart.

He said the alternative to the EU would be a "Europe of nationalism, a Europe of borders and walls. That would be horrific, because such a Europe has repeatedly led in the past to catastrophe."

To see the dreams of the great visionaries of post-war Europe fall apart is simply shocking.

And this insular nationalism, "I'm right, you are wrong" attitude is not exclusively growing in popularity in Europe. Russia, the US and Donald Trump. 

Let's all stand up and stop Trump in his tracks

Suzanne Kelly, a campaigner from Aberdeen whose petition to ban Donald Trump from the UK on the grounds of hate speech has acted as a lightning rod for public disgust at the US presidential candidate’s Islamophobia, has said she is “as shocked as anyone” by its success.

And not a word from the Irish 'management class' who paraded on the red carpet to greet Mr Trump when he arrived at Shannon some months ago.

Not a word from any of them. Wouldn't it be such a gesture of decency and solidarity at least to refer to the silliness of the event. But those sort of people don't do those sort of things - unless they are shamed to do so.

Has the US Ambassador to Ireland said anything about Trump's words of hatred?

Well done Suzanne Kelly.

Politicians and greed in all its various and silly forms

Since the RTE programme on corrupt local politicians on Monday evening there has been much comment on political shenanigans in Ireland.

Just some months ago the red carpet was rolled out at Shannon Airport to greet Donald Trump to Ireland. He was buying a golf course in County Clare and the hope was he would be leaving loads of money here. Ireland wants his money, no matter what nonsense or hatred he utters.

The small-time crook-politicians and the Trump red carpet episode are all scenes from 'Fr Ted'.

Simon Coveney's outrageous comment on RTE Radio 1

On RTE One's Drivetime this evning Minister for Agriculture and Defence, Simon Coveney, said that he did not consider it corruption for councillors not to fill out the necessary forms.

The Minister must make an immediate apology. 

If a citizen does not fill out the reuired Revenue forms she/he would be heavily penalised for not doing so.

Mr Coveney's comment is an outrage.

Understanding words

In the Offertory Prayer of Mass today, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, the priest prays:

"... on account of her prevenient grace,......"

Will everyone in churches, where that word is used in prayer, understand what it means?

What does it mean?

Vernacular?

Always best to use a registered contractor

This week's INM Irish Regional newspapers' column.

Michael Commane

A friend of mine called me at the weekend. She was in a bad way and upset. She had a months’-long nightmare experience with a builder.

The builder had been recommended to her and she felt confident that he could do a good job.

Alas, that’s not what happened and she was out of pocket by a five figure sum. Eventually she had to cut her losses, call stop and go off and find herself another builder.

For starters, two absolutes, never pay ‘cash’ for a job. Be honest and pay the proper tax. It’s ethically wrong and you are leaving yourself wide open to abuse. By using a registered contractor there is the possibility that you will be able to claim back tax on the work.

A small example between right and wrong. Some weeks ago I decided to replace gutters, downpipes and facia. I went to a cash-in-hand man who gave me a price. It was somewhat cheaper than a professional who came recommended. 

The professional explained to me that before he did the job I needed to contact ESB Networks so that they could lower the cable before he began his job. I did that and was most impressed with the efficiency and professionalism of ESB Networks. 

It’s important that the cables are lowered, otherwise the new facia would conceal the cable and some years down the road someone might decide to drill the new facia for some reason or other. The cash-in-hand man was simply going to place the new facia over the electric cable.

Secondly, no matter how much your builder might try to coax you, never pay any money in advance. 

If she or he is an established and recognised builder he/she will have an account with builder providers. If you are asked for money in advance, be merciless and sack your builder.

It’s always advisable to shop around when looking for a builder. The best recommendation is word-of-mouth. Talk to friends, colleagues and ask them if they might have someone they could recommend and then go and have a look at the job.

Doing your homework means that you have all your plans worked out before work begins. If you chop and change during the job you are adding significant sums to your final bill.

There are rules and regulations governing the building trade and no doubt the overwhelming majority of builders conform meticulously to all the rules.

It has struck me as a PAYE employee, whether working as a teacher or in the newspaper industry, both employer and employee are governed by rules and regulations. A code of conduct/behaviour is expected of the employee and likewise the employer is duty-bound to treat employees in a correct manner.

Maybe in the current rush to the bottom in a number of industries there is a need as never before for workers to have the support of a trade union.

When it comes to the self-employed much is left to the ethical behaviour of the individual person.

Without a good business ethic a trader or professional can take short cuts, ignore regulations, deliver poor quality work in order to maximise profits.

Of course bad workmanship will eventually catch up on the trader/professional but in the meantime a lot of grief can be inflicted on an unsuspecting client.

My friend has found herself out of pocket. Not nice before Christmas.

Isn’t it strange how ministers of religion can get worked up on certain moral issues and not a word from them on so many other moral topics?

As I keep saying, it’s a funny old world.  

Pilgrims at COP21

From Saturday's Irish Times.

An apology, a correction and need for another apology?

This is not intended to be disrespectful, but it is so funny it's difficult to avoid mentioning it.

It is worth reading the apology on the left-hand side page and then observe how the author's name is spelt on the right-hand side page.

Is the author's name Chris or Christ?

The pictures are taken from the December issue of Doctrine and Life.

Is it a lift or a stairs?

The notice below appears in a lift in Dublin's Mater Private Hospital.


And it seems 'level' has a different meaning than 'floor'. You can be on Level Four but on Floor Three.

But it's in keeping with the general signage across all hospitals in the State.

Police and priests

The latest review on the Garda Síochána, carried out by the Garda Inspectorate, calls for a root-and-branch reform in the Irish police force.

Anyone close to the Catholic Church will be struck with the similarities between the Irish police and the Catholic Church.

Some comments from the report of the Inspectorate.

Strong, visible leadership is required to develop, inspire and deliver a clear measurable programme of cultural reform.

Some staff are focused on self-preservation. The less interaction, the less confrontation, the better.

The report paints a picture of a cosseted and comfortable management class - albeit one in chaos and making lots of promises without delivering.

At least someone has the wit and common sense to examine the Garda.

Who ever examines Catholic dioceses and religious congregstions in Ireland?

And the situation is seismically worse within the Irish Catholic Church - right across religious congregations and dioceses. Probably not one exception.

F-16s, Su-24s and the cries of John the Baptist

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

Michael Commane

On Monday, November 23 I visited someone in a Dublin hospital. I was struck with the number of seriously ill people I saw. Young people too, looking as if their lives were going to be cut down far too early.

What can one ever say to people in such pain and suffering? It's difficult.

Within 90 minutes of leaving the hospital I was standing in torrential rain at a bus stop in the city centre. I spotted a middle-aged woman carrying two black sacks from an office. It looked as it they were rubbish sacks but certainly they seemed far too heavy for her. No doubt she is on a meagre wage.

The following day a Turkish F-16 war plane shot down a Russian Su-24. Turkish authorities alleged that the Russian plane had violated Turkey's air space.

A Russian pilot was killed. The Su-24 was probably coming from or going to a bombing sortie in Syrian skies.

The downing of a Russian plane by a Nato ally and the alleged violation by a Russian plane on Nato territory could easily spark a serious international crisis. But away from the great world scene, what about the downed pilot and his family?

What about the innocent people who had most likely died as a result of the bombs unleashed by the Su-24? And all the lives that are lost and ruined every day and night in Syria.

We have all been shocked and repulsed by what happened in Paris on Friday, November 13. But probably more worrying is what happens next. Where next will ISIS attack?

It goes on an on and has been for generation after generation. It seems violence is part of our human condition. A century ago people were talking about the war to end all wars. It never happened.

Tomorrow is the second Sunday of Advent. Christians are preparing for the incarnation - the coming into the world of the Prince of Peace.In tomorrow's first reading we are reminded that we will be blessed by God forever  - "Peace through integrity, and honour through devotedness."  (Baruch 5: 4)

In the  Responsorial Psalm the response goes - "The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy." (Psalm 126)

What's the joy in young people dying? What's the joy in looking at burning contrails across the skies of Turkey and Syria? What's the joy in working people struggling to earn a meagre wage?

In the Gospel, Luke quotes the prophet Isaiah to describe John the Baptist."A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.....  The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' " (Lk 3: 4 - 5)

The role of John the Baptist is often quoted. And it is true that he evokes the image of someone who has something to say but no one is  listening to him.

We use him as a role model when it suits us.

But right now do we really want prophets who will shout stop about poverty, slavery, maiming and killing, and institutional violence?

How is it that statesmen, and they are predominantly men, gain great political and popular clout when they stand beside their warplanes?

I keep thinking of that woman who was carrying those sacks, dressed poorly and probably paid a pittance.

John the Baptist crying in the wilderness?

What at all would he have to say to the manufacturers of that F-16 and Su-24? What would he have to say to the woman with those heavy black sacks?

The knowledge that God is in our world should bring joy to us. And also, spur us on to change things.

Francis on fundamentalism

Returning to Rome form the Central African Republic Pope Francis said to jouranlists:

"In the Catholic church we have some -- many -- who believe they possess the absolute truth and they go on sullying others through slander and defamation and this is wrong. Religious fundamentalism must be combated. It is not religious, God is lacking, it is idolatrous."

This man seems to have his finger on the pulse of things within the Catholic Church.

Nasty right wing fundamentalist media in the US constantly attacks President Barack Obama. This month's freesheet Alive manages a snide remark on the US President, quoting Vladimir Putin to do so.

Kindness is always best

It was a wet dark morning in Dublin. At a road junction where I was on the major road a car attempted to cross my path. I shouted some expletives, the driver of the car heard or else saw me at the last moment and slowed down.

We were both stopped at the next set of lights, he in his car and I on my bicycle. He opened the window and apologised. I asked him had he heard my expletives. He had. I too apologised for their use.

He said he well understood why I used them and said he had not seen me. He was most apologetic.

Being kind, gracious and forgiving always works over anger, violence and rudeness.

A nasty way to begin the day. A wonderful way to begin the day. 

Hammond versus Murpurgo

The Channel 4 news this evening concentrated on the House of Commons debate and vote on UK involvement in Syria.

Jon Snow interviewed a number of people including the British Froeign Secretary, Phiip Hammond and the author Michael Murpurgo.

It was stomach churning to watch Hammond. At one stage he even seemd to smirk, then suddenly realising that sort of look would not do on television he changed his tactic. Immaculately groomed. The manager class that sends people to their death and maims them.

On the other hand Michael Murpurgo argued that it makes no sense to bomb Syria and he expressed his concern that the war in Syria could have dangerous world-wide consequences.

To compare the performance of both men on television was revealing, a stunning exercise.

Hammond came across as dangerous and nasty. But of course terribly sophisticated and even learned. Murpurgo, on the other hand seemed a man of sympathy and concern. An ordinary kind man.

Hammond's wealth is estimated to be between £7.5 and £9 million.

It is a shocking scenario.

The stories of two priests

Vatileaks 2 monsignor  Balda (54) admits having sex with another defendant. It so happens this time the defendant is a woman.

The woman, 33-year-old Vatican consultant Francesca Chaouqui had been introduced to Monsignor Lucio Angel Vallejo Balda by 73-year-old French cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran.

Subsequently Ms Chaouqui was appointed by Pope Francis to Cosea, a short-term Vatican economic reform commission, mainly on the recommendation of Monsignor Balda, who had already been appointed.

Balda claims that Chaouqui seduced him in Florence. She in turn says; "From what I know of Balda, the last thing he wants to do is to go to bed with me..... If I wanted to betray my husband, I wouldn't do it with an old priest who does not like women."

A priest who says he was seduced and a woman who says the priest does not like women.

What sort of a man would publicly say he was 'seduced' by a woman?

Pathetic.

Meanwhile in France the Cardinal Archbishop of Lyons sacked Fr Herve Benoir.

Benoir wrote an editorial about the people who attended the Bataclan as being in ecstatic trance.

"They are the living dead. Their murderers, these hash-smoking zombies, are their Siamese twins. The same unrootedness, amnesia, childishness, absence of culture."

Young people carrying the torch for poor and needy

This week's INM Irish regional newspapers' column

Michael Commane

On Thursday, November 19 over 400 young people from all over Ireland attended a seminar in the RDS on how to make this world a better place.

It was organised by the National Youth Council of Ireland and Concern Worldwide.

You might be inclined to throw your eyes to heaven at the thought of such an adventure. You might say it’s inspirational nonsense.

World leaders have agreed a set of 17 goals to be achieved by 2030. These goals focus on such topics as poverty, hunger, health, inequality, education, climate change, gender equality, development, water and sanitation, disability, employment, peaceful societies and partnership.

Throughout the day it was palpably clear to see that young people must be at the centre of shaping a fairer world for all seven billion people. Young people have the potential to have a say. 

There are 1.8 billion people aged between 10 and 24 across the world and half the world’s population is under 30.

Dominic MacSorley, CEO of Concern Worldwide, explained how he has been 33 years with the aid agency.

“When I joined Concern at 26 I thought I could change the world in two years, 33 years on and we still have a long way to go,” he said.

He stressed how Ireland’s history of poverty, famine and emigration, gives us a special role in our fight to make the world a better place.

“We need to move from goals to demands. Everyone, no matter where they live, has a right to a job, to food, to human rights,” the Concern Chief Executive said.

“In a globalised world a disaster like Ebola is just one plane ride away.

“The refugee crisis is not ‘over there’, it’s on our doorstep and if we think Europe has a crisis, it’s a disaster in Syria.

“While in Lebanon in early November I met a young Syrian girl, who is living in a UN camp. She always wanted to be a teacher. That’s all changed and now she will get married at 16 so as to support her mother. It’s called ‘survival sex’. 

“It’s right now we need to be making changes that will allow that girl be the teacher she once wanted to be,” MacSorley said.

Kevin Kelly, from the Department of Foreign Affairs, gave a rundown on the history of the United Nations.

This year Ireland celebrates 60 years as a member state of the UN, which was founded 10 years earlier in the aftermath of World War ll. The world wanted peace and it certainly needs peace today. 

Kelly admitted that there are many who will say the UN is not doing enough but as a senior Civil Servant pointed out to me the UN is simply the countries which make up its membership.

During the last 60 years Ireland has had 66,000 people working as UN peacekeepers in trouble spots around the world. That’s something we have every reason to be proud about.

Did you know that Irish farmers feed 18 million of the world’s population? It was a statistic that the president of Macra na Feírme, Seán Finan, told the gathering.

MEP Brian Hayes pointed out that we Irish should demand for the poorest of the poor around the world the rights we have.

It was impressive to see so many young people expressing such interest in topics that have the potential of making or breaking our world.

Looking around the room, UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon’s words came to mind: ‘young people are the torchbearers of Sustainable Development’.

It’s up to us to follow their lead and keep those torches alight.

Putin to the rescue

A lovely story fro the guardian.

This blog is now read across the Russian Federation. It has readers in over 20 cities, including Moscow, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Kaliningrad, St Petersburg, Samara and Krasnodar. 

After 95 years in exile, the daughter of a Tsarist-era army general has been granted Russian citizenship by President Vladimir Putin, before her 100th birthday on 15 December.

Irene de Dreier left Russia when she was just five. Her father, Vladimir von Dreier, was an imperial officer who fought for the White Army against the Bolsheviks during the Russian civil war, which broke out after the 1917 Bolshevik revolution.

The family fled to Crimea, where the last stand of the Whites took place, and left the peninsula by ship in 1920. The Von Dreiers eventually settled in Paris where the former general opened a wine shop. Irene won second place in a 1936 Miss Russia beauty contest held in Paris among émigrés from the nobility. She was married three times – to a Frenchman, an Italian and an American – and has travelled widely, but always dreamed of returning to Russia.

De Dreier had appealed to Putin in recent weeks: “I want to meet the creator not as a foreigner but as a real citizen of Russia, as a Russian in my heart and soul.”

The myth of too few priests

The international Catholic press has given much attention to the German bishops' ad limina visit to Rome.

The usual suspects - decline in numbers attending the Sacraments, shortage of priests, fall-off in priestly vocations - are the topics of discussion.

The shortage of priests is also a topic in the Irish Catholic press.

Of course there are hard-working, efficient priests, who do outstanding work. But like everything else in the Catholic Church, time and work practices are simply poorly and badly managed.

The managers of the hierarchical Catholic Church would be well advised to employ a company to carry out an audit of work practice within the organisation.

Tess's LUAS adventure

Tess took on a different type of walk yesterday.

She walked along the Dodder as far as Donnybrook and then to Sandymount DART Station, where she boarded a north-bound train - a first for her. Detrained at Tara Street and a short walk over to St Stephen's Green LUAS stop.

Just as LUAS was about to pull out Tess spots an incoming tram. She has a real problem with trams, trains and buses and at their sight gets agitated and barks to the high heavens. And even with her muzzle on she manages to bark. But it's easy to calm her. She is never a threat to anyone.

The driver hears the barking, gets out of his cab and tells the owner to take the dog off the tram. There's something of a set-to but off comes Tess.

Stranded? No. She walks to next LUAS stop at Harcourt and off she goes.

Berlin, probably with the best urban transport system in the world, allows dogs and cycles on all its trains and trams.

Magnificent Dublin and those managers who run the LUAS. 

Francis on neurotic priests

The piece below is taken from the web. The story appears on a number of websites. Pope Francis is reported to have said it earlier in the month.

Obviously Pope Francis has his eyes open and  knows what he is talking about. But will anyone do anything about it?

In a candid moment, Pope Francis expresses his fear of neurotic, overly pious, fundamentalist priests.

Speaking at a conference on training for the priesthood on Friday, Pope Francis said he is instinctively suspicious of overly pious candidates. Francis said:

I will tell you sincerely, I’m scared of rigid priests. I keep away from them. They bite!

AFP reports Francis resorted to humour to make a serious point: some people that are drawn to a clerical career are fundamentally unstable — and they inevitably create problems for the church if they are not weeded out.

Francis said:

If you are sick, if you are neurotic, go and see a doctor, spiritual or physical. The doctor will give you pills. But, please, don’t let the faithful pay for neurotic priests.

Francis told his audience that as well as assessing the spiritual state of candidates, seminaries should also seek to judge their physical and psychological condition:

There are often young men who are psychologically unstable without knowing it and who look for strong structures to support them. For some it is the police or the army but for others it is the clergy.

Francis warned that such disorders inevitably resurface at a later date:

When a youngster is too rigid, too fundamentalist, I don’t feel confident (about him). Behind it there is something he himself does not understand. Keep your eyes open!

Given the history and teachings of the Catholic Church it should come as no surprise that some Catholic priests are scary and neurotic. And Francis is right to point out that unstable people are often drawn to careers in the clergy. The clerical sex abuse scandal is just one indicator of the deep and profound sickness that festers in the Catholic Church.

What is a surprise is the fact that the 78-year-old pontiff has the good sense to be suspicious and fearful of neurotic, overly pious, fundamentalist priests.

IFA behaviour is endemic across Irish organisations

Derek Deane, Chairman of Carlow Irish Farmers Association said about the executive council of his organisation:

"I believe we have not been kept fully informed by the president and general secretary of events and issues that are important to this executive council which is the overall decision making body of the association."

The quote appeared on RTE's Prime Time last evening.

How many organisations are kept in the dark about decisions made and decision making.

It's endemic in so many organisations, societies, communities.a

When will it all unravel? And unravel it will. Some day.

Someone commented this morning that an extra reason for such problems with IFA is because of the male dominance of the  national executive.

The €2m IFA handshake

Yesterday on RTE 1's Sean O'Rourke Show a retailer talking about the sales of large shopping centres said at one stage: "We go shopping for hedonic (sic) reasons."

He also spoke about shopping malls as being "destination centres".

But the breaking news has to be the €2 million deal the IFA president agreed with the outgoing chairman.

The arrogance of it. And that behaviour is not exclusive to the IFA.

Water bills

Anecdotal evidence usually has 'its' pulse on the siutation.

A Post Office in Dublin's South Inner City reports a large increase in the number of people paying their water bills using the Post Office service.

The IFA and all that stuff

Why should anyone be surprised at the current shenanigans going on at the Irish Farmers' Association?

Isn't that the norm in senior management? People who seek power are usually secretive, competitive, greedy.  And most of them do a good job of hiding their secretive, competitive and greedy attributes.

Of course there are times and places that break the norm but are they not usually the exception?

Being there to help people is what really matters most

This week's INM Irish regional newspapers' column

Michael Commane

Research carried out by Trinity College Dublin's longitudinal study on ageing (Tilda) has found that lights at pedestrian crossings change too quickly for the majority of older people.

The study found that 31 per cent of people aged between 65 and 74 do not have enough time to cross the road while the green light is on. And for people over 75 this increases to 71 per cent.

I can imagine if you are under 65 it’s unlikely that you have any interest in Tilda’s findings. Why would you? Maybe you are looking after an elderly or infirm person in which case such a statistic might cause you to give it a fleeting glance.

I got the Travel Pass in April and since then I have become more aware about everything to do with age and infirmity.

But no matter how touchy I get there is nothing I can do about growing older. I have no intentions of saying ‘growing old’.

It would probably be frowned on by educationalists but my introductory remarks the first day to new pupils in class was that the only thing I knew for certain about everyone in the classroom was they we were all going to die.

It seems like yesterday since I started out teaching so when I meet people these days in their 50s whom I taught I simply can’t believe it.

It’s easy to moan and groan about so many things. Right now I have to stop in my step and realise that I am healthy. But what’s around the corner? I have no idea. Even to ask the question is a whole new reality. Up to recently I would never even have thought of such an eventuality.

In our 20s, 30s, 40s, even 50s it is beyond our little minds to think about mortality, that is, if we are in good health. What must it be like for people who suffer serious illness, people who are struck down in so many different ways and left paralysed for life?

What at all to say to people who are in insufferable pain? And it’s so easy to dole out clichés and niceties but surely it’s only when it touches ourselves do we ever get any idea what it must be like.

A man I know, who is in his early 50s had major surgery on his back last week. It is his third operation in an attempt to relieve him of chronic pain. The suffering he has been experiencing is unbearable. Imagine the nonsense it would be to tell him to ‘offer it up’?

When we are confronted with such pain and suffering surely we must be tempted to appreciate good health but also fight our damnedest to make sure that we all take good care of the sick and elderly.

Since getting the Travel Pass I find myself looking around the bus and observing those who are old and have difficulty getting on and off. Yes, in many ways we have made great strides. Buses now accommodate wheelchairs and buggies. 

Those green pedestrian lights are no problem for me. I’m not yet in Tilda’s 31 per cent. But in the meantime I could help make life more bearable for people who are old, sick and fragile.

I have had the good fortune to see how children can care for their elderly parents. Parents, who dedicate their lives to their children, especially when they are ill. It’s inspirational.

It’s easy to talk the talk but walking that road of pain and suffering is another matter. Being there to help is what counts.

Cringe radio performance by Justice Minister Fitzgerald

On RTE's News at One today Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald was interviewed.

Well worth a listen on how not to perform on radio.

The minister was simply appalling: obfuscation, arrogance and simple incompetence, and more flashy arrogance.

Why could she have said she simply did not know when she was asked questions to which she did not have the answer?

It was cringe radio.

The topic was about how prepared Ireland is in the event of a terrorist attack.

Listening to Ms Fitzgerald the listener was left in now doubt how well prepared the State is.

Dominicans leave Athy

The Irish Dominicans moved out of their priory in Athy yesterday.

The modern design church was built in the mid-1960s. The priory, on the site of an older building, was built in the 1980s.

Forward planning?

A woman living in Athy commented that Athy has little or no industry and therefore has high unemployment.

Option for the poor?

Wise words of journalist Nicholas Henin on Isis

French journalist Nicholas Henin, who was captured by Isis while working in Syria, spoke today on RTE 1's This Week.

Henin spent nine months in captivity being release in April. His interview on radio today is well worth a listen. It was aired at approximately 13.50. Wise words.

His main thesis - the violent response to 9/11 didn't work. Why should a similar respone to Paris have success?

The danger of roots

Dublin City Council is carrying out remedial work on Orwell Park at present, including Sunday work.

Tree roots have extended under the road. They have managed to penetrate steel manhols and subsequently block drains.

A relevant feastday

In the Catholic liturgy, today is the feast of Christ the King.

At first glance it might sound alientating. But there's more to it.

Pius Xl introduced the feast in 1925 in the aftermath of World War I. Maybe also conscious of the beginnings of the collapse of the Weimar Republic in Germany, fascism in Italy and the rise of communism in Russia.

Later in 1937 that same pope wrote the encyclical Mit brennender Sorge, on the church and the German Reich, condemning the myth of race and blood.

It might be well worth have a second look at the encyclical in our times.

An age profile

The Irish Times today devotes a page to the pictures and details of the130 people who were killed in Paris last week.

Two of those killed were over 60 and five over 50.