Nothing whatsoever can ameliorate the damage that has been done to the children who were barbarised in institutional homes. Certainly a misuse of the word 'home'. But where were the people of Ireland when this went on.
The President of Ireland on Radio this morning said that they had hints of it. Why were her parents not speaking up about it? Where were the parents of Ireland. More significantly, where were the journalists of the day?
This did not happen in a vacuum, just as Nazi Germany did not happen in a vacuum.
Anyone who questions authority in any shape or form is considered something of a maverick. If you ask awkward questions you are told you do not know the full story. That is a vein right across all society. And maybe a misuse of the vow of obedience allowed people in authority to behave in an autocratic way.
Just look at the way bishops are appointed and the relationship between a bishop and his priests and people. The Bishop Brennan episode of Fr Ted is written by someone with inside knowledge!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Who were the people in charge?
Kevin O'Connor's article in yesterday's Irish Times obliges the reader to ask is there a nexus between all of this horror and mandatory celibacy. It certainly must have something to do with it. And while we hang our heads in shame, what wisdom and honesty is being contributed to make any sense of celibacy?
What sort of training courses were in place for those men and women who caused such mayhem? Who were the people in charge?
Who is 'forming' the current group of men and women who have decided to become sisters, priests and brothers?
Should all such formation courses be validated by the State? Why not?
What sort of training courses were in place for those men and women who caused such mayhem? Who were the people in charge?
Who is 'forming' the current group of men and women who have decided to become sisters, priests and brothers?
Should all such formation courses be validated by the State? Why not?
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Titles
No doubt the Catholic directory for Ireland for 2010 is being currently prepared.
Men will be given titles, such as Reverend Father, Very Reverend Father, Most Reverend Father.
Is that not absurd?
Men will be given titles, such as Reverend Father, Very Reverend Father, Most Reverend Father.
Is that not absurd?
The man in the bracelets
At a time such as this when public indignation is high it may well be difficult to say something measured and meaningful. Maybe that is not at all the case.
Today's Irish Times carries articles by Fintan O'Toole, Kevin O'Connor, Tony Flannery and Elaine Byrne, plus many other news items and comments on the Ryan Report.
Hopefully every member of the Irish hierarchical church will read Kevin O'Connor. They might even consider inviting him to talk to their communities, congregations and orders. They might even begin a worthwhile and true dialogue among themselves. Is that possible?
As to comments in the media re no comment from Fr Sean Healy, is it not the case that Fr Healy's 'branch' of Cori has 'broken away' from the main Cori body?
And what is waiting for us in the Dublin Report?
Today's Irish Times carries articles by Fintan O'Toole, Kevin O'Connor, Tony Flannery and Elaine Byrne, plus many other news items and comments on the Ryan Report.
Hopefully every member of the Irish hierarchical church will read Kevin O'Connor. They might even consider inviting him to talk to their communities, congregations and orders. They might even begin a worthwhile and true dialogue among themselves. Is that possible?
As to comments in the media re no comment from Fr Sean Healy, is it not the case that Fr Healy's 'branch' of Cori has 'broken away' from the main Cori body?
And what is waiting for us in the Dublin Report?
Thursday, May 21, 2009
On this Ascension Thursday
There is little or nothing to say today on this blog on this Ascension Thursday.
Maybe one sentiment and that is that all forms of clericalism will be banished from the face of the earth. Alas, the signs are not good.
Maybe one sentiment and that is that all forms of clericalism will be banished from the face of the earth. Alas, the signs are not good.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Three elections in one day
Watching the election countdown is interesting. Fine Gael canvassers were in the Churchtown area last evening. They were polite and knowledgeable and most informed when it comes to Ireland's overseas aid policy and how we have reneged on our commitment.
But what good do the posters do? How would it work for a candidate if she/he decided not to put up a single mugshot of themselves? So far I have not seen a poster of EU South candidate Seán Kelly in West Kerry. Has anyone spotted how similar he is in looks to the Iranian president?
Are the politicians cutting back on their electioneering expenditure?
The number of posters falling off poles in this inclement weather is noticeable and certainly a danger to cyclists.
Any chance of a non-poster candidate. Obviously and sadly late for this time round.
But what good do the posters do? How would it work for a candidate if she/he decided not to put up a single mugshot of themselves? So far I have not seen a poster of EU South candidate Seán Kelly in West Kerry. Has anyone spotted how similar he is in looks to the Iranian president?
Are the politicians cutting back on their electioneering expenditure?
The number of posters falling off poles in this inclement weather is noticeable and certainly a danger to cyclists.
Any chance of a non-poster candidate. Obviously and sadly late for this time round.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Fergus Finlay on child abuse
According to informed sources the report on the Dublin archdiocese, due out later this month, will carry horrific revelations.
Nothing can be done to change the past but we can learn from it. Is the institutional hierarchical Catholic church in Ireland at present capable of learning from the past?
As long as clericalism exists it seems the chance of any real learning is slim. And clericalism lives in Ireland, indeed, it seems to be getting a new lease of life.
The article below appears in today's Irish Examiner.
Child abuse: get set for new round of shock, horror and hypocrisy
By Fergus Finlay
OVER the next week or so, we will see another couple of reports that will confirm, once again, how children really don’t matter in Ireland.
And once again we will be shocked by the evidence and hurt by the pain and suffering contained in those reports. We will make all sorts of resolutions that we’re going to do better in future, that we’ll never let this happen again. And then the reports will go away to gather dust. The media outrage will die down. Other news stories will come along and we will have to wait till another tragedy happens, or another scandal is revealed, before we go through the whole hypocritical charade once again.
Despite the things that all these reports say about us, the neglect and abuse of children is not an issue in the elections taking place now. None of the parties seems to think it worthwhile to put real child protection on their agendas. Tomorrow, the Commission to Enquire into Child Abuse will publish its report. Or perhaps I should say reports. Five volumes will be published, covering the work of an investigation committee and a confidential committee. The two committees took testimony from, I believe, more than 1,000 people during the lifetime of the commission. Most of the witnesses before the commission were people who were sentenced as children to live out their childhoods in residential institutions.
The vast majority of the children involved were guilty of no crime or, in some cases, petty crime. The places to which they were sent were run on behalf of the state by a variety of religious orders. Thanks to the work of journalists like Mary Raftery, we know a lot about the abuse these children suffered. Our state has apologised to the children, all of them now adults, and some effort has been made to compensate them.
A deal has been done with the religious orders to limit the financial burden they will have to carry arising from this compensation. One of the things we might wonder about tomorrow, as we start to read and hear about the terrible things that were done to children, is whether that deal was just and fair. But I hope the thing we think about most will be the fact that all the abuse in those five volumes, all the suffering of children that will be revealed, was done in our name. And it could happen again.
Later in the month, or perhaps early next month, the report of the inquiry into abuse in the Dublin diocese will be published. It will talk about the hundreds – yes, hundreds – of children and young people who were abused by priests of the diocese over the years. And it will talk about the cover-ups, the hiding of evidence, the way in which the diocese protected its priests and added to the suffering and abuse of victims by doing so.
And it too will be deeply shocking. We will once again feel betrayed, comforted a little perhaps by the thought that there is a good, strong bishop there now, and nothing like this will happen ever again on his watch. Will we stop to wonder what will happen when he leaves? Will the needs of the institution once again take priority over the rights of children? These two reports – shocking as no doubt they will be – are only the latest.
In the past six months we’ve had two reports from an Oireachtas committee. One dealt with the need for proper and full vetting of people who work with children, and one dealt with the issue of how the criminal justice system should deal with people who have sex with children. We’ve had the report into the activities of the Cloyne diocese, which demonstrated that elements of the church hierarchy weren’t honouring even their own guidelines. We’ve had the Monageer report which showed all too graphically (despite extensive censorship) how the lack of priority afforded to child protection in Ireland has led to chaos in a critically important system. An inquiry is still going on into extremely serious child protection issues in Roscommon.
That’s just the past six months. Before that we had the Kilkenny incest inquiry, the Ferns report, Kelly Fitzgerald, Sophia McColgan. The list goes on and on, for years and years and years. And nothing ever changes. Public attitudes change, of course, but the entire political system seems totally unable or willing even to contemplate anything substantial. Look at the reaction to the Monageer report, with ministers all announcing that the inquiry had found that no matter what system had been in place, the tragedy wouldn’t have been prevented. Ministers couldn’t say that without relying on a very heavily qualified and censored couple of paragraphs in the report, but they seemed prepared to cling to anything that would justify as little action as possible. Why is that? Everyone who works in this area knows there are thousands of children at risk all the time.
Last week it was reported that around 6,500 children were known to the system to be at risk of neglect or abuse and none of them had been allocated to a social worker. And yet the minister for health could assure RTÉ News there is no problem because social workers are not subject to the embargo. But that is the direct opposite of the experience on the ground where social workers are carrying caseloads that are far bigger than their counterparts anywhere in Europe. The truth is that the money is wrong, the staffing is wrong, the communications are wrong, the structures are wrong. The hugely overburdened HSE simply cannot cope with the task of taking responsibility for vulnerable children any more – it’s fighting too many fires, dealing with too many crises.
THERE is overwhelming evidence that the system isn’t coping and that children are at risk on that account. And children will die – maybe they already have. Children will be beaten and tortured, and maybe that has happened, too. Children will go hungry, they’ll be out too late at night, they will end up homeless and adrift. They will be introduced to drugs and street crime. We’ll wring our hands and perhaps we’ll hang our heads in shame. But we will once again stop short of doing the things that must be done really to protect children. We all know what they are – we need changes in law, in structures, in management. We need a fully fleshed out policy on child protection and it needs to be given the force of law. And there needs to be someone responsible for implementing child protection policy in the state – someone who will run the system on a day-to-day basis, someone responsible for standards and practice and communications.
As they say, it’s not rocket science. But why is it so unimportant? When we’ve all finished reading the reports due out in the next couple of weeks, will we march on the Dáil to demand change? Or will we all sit around and hope that’s all in the past now. Is it easier for us all to kid ourselves? Or is it really that children don’t matter?
This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Nothing can be done to change the past but we can learn from it. Is the institutional hierarchical Catholic church in Ireland at present capable of learning from the past?
As long as clericalism exists it seems the chance of any real learning is slim. And clericalism lives in Ireland, indeed, it seems to be getting a new lease of life.
The article below appears in today's Irish Examiner.
Child abuse: get set for new round of shock, horror and hypocrisy
By Fergus Finlay
OVER the next week or so, we will see another couple of reports that will confirm, once again, how children really don’t matter in Ireland.
And once again we will be shocked by the evidence and hurt by the pain and suffering contained in those reports. We will make all sorts of resolutions that we’re going to do better in future, that we’ll never let this happen again. And then the reports will go away to gather dust. The media outrage will die down. Other news stories will come along and we will have to wait till another tragedy happens, or another scandal is revealed, before we go through the whole hypocritical charade once again.
Despite the things that all these reports say about us, the neglect and abuse of children is not an issue in the elections taking place now. None of the parties seems to think it worthwhile to put real child protection on their agendas. Tomorrow, the Commission to Enquire into Child Abuse will publish its report. Or perhaps I should say reports. Five volumes will be published, covering the work of an investigation committee and a confidential committee. The two committees took testimony from, I believe, more than 1,000 people during the lifetime of the commission. Most of the witnesses before the commission were people who were sentenced as children to live out their childhoods in residential institutions.
The vast majority of the children involved were guilty of no crime or, in some cases, petty crime. The places to which they were sent were run on behalf of the state by a variety of religious orders. Thanks to the work of journalists like Mary Raftery, we know a lot about the abuse these children suffered. Our state has apologised to the children, all of them now adults, and some effort has been made to compensate them.
A deal has been done with the religious orders to limit the financial burden they will have to carry arising from this compensation. One of the things we might wonder about tomorrow, as we start to read and hear about the terrible things that were done to children, is whether that deal was just and fair. But I hope the thing we think about most will be the fact that all the abuse in those five volumes, all the suffering of children that will be revealed, was done in our name. And it could happen again.
Later in the month, or perhaps early next month, the report of the inquiry into abuse in the Dublin diocese will be published. It will talk about the hundreds – yes, hundreds – of children and young people who were abused by priests of the diocese over the years. And it will talk about the cover-ups, the hiding of evidence, the way in which the diocese protected its priests and added to the suffering and abuse of victims by doing so.
And it too will be deeply shocking. We will once again feel betrayed, comforted a little perhaps by the thought that there is a good, strong bishop there now, and nothing like this will happen ever again on his watch. Will we stop to wonder what will happen when he leaves? Will the needs of the institution once again take priority over the rights of children? These two reports – shocking as no doubt they will be – are only the latest.
In the past six months we’ve had two reports from an Oireachtas committee. One dealt with the need for proper and full vetting of people who work with children, and one dealt with the issue of how the criminal justice system should deal with people who have sex with children. We’ve had the report into the activities of the Cloyne diocese, which demonstrated that elements of the church hierarchy weren’t honouring even their own guidelines. We’ve had the Monageer report which showed all too graphically (despite extensive censorship) how the lack of priority afforded to child protection in Ireland has led to chaos in a critically important system. An inquiry is still going on into extremely serious child protection issues in Roscommon.
That’s just the past six months. Before that we had the Kilkenny incest inquiry, the Ferns report, Kelly Fitzgerald, Sophia McColgan. The list goes on and on, for years and years and years. And nothing ever changes. Public attitudes change, of course, but the entire political system seems totally unable or willing even to contemplate anything substantial. Look at the reaction to the Monageer report, with ministers all announcing that the inquiry had found that no matter what system had been in place, the tragedy wouldn’t have been prevented. Ministers couldn’t say that without relying on a very heavily qualified and censored couple of paragraphs in the report, but they seemed prepared to cling to anything that would justify as little action as possible. Why is that? Everyone who works in this area knows there are thousands of children at risk all the time.
Last week it was reported that around 6,500 children were known to the system to be at risk of neglect or abuse and none of them had been allocated to a social worker. And yet the minister for health could assure RTÉ News there is no problem because social workers are not subject to the embargo. But that is the direct opposite of the experience on the ground where social workers are carrying caseloads that are far bigger than their counterparts anywhere in Europe. The truth is that the money is wrong, the staffing is wrong, the communications are wrong, the structures are wrong. The hugely overburdened HSE simply cannot cope with the task of taking responsibility for vulnerable children any more – it’s fighting too many fires, dealing with too many crises.
THERE is overwhelming evidence that the system isn’t coping and that children are at risk on that account. And children will die – maybe they already have. Children will be beaten and tortured, and maybe that has happened, too. Children will go hungry, they’ll be out too late at night, they will end up homeless and adrift. They will be introduced to drugs and street crime. We’ll wring our hands and perhaps we’ll hang our heads in shame. But we will once again stop short of doing the things that must be done really to protect children. We all know what they are – we need changes in law, in structures, in management. We need a fully fleshed out policy on child protection and it needs to be given the force of law. And there needs to be someone responsible for implementing child protection policy in the state – someone who will run the system on a day-to-day basis, someone responsible for standards and practice and communications.
As they say, it’s not rocket science. But why is it so unimportant? When we’ve all finished reading the reports due out in the next couple of weeks, will we march on the Dáil to demand change? Or will we all sit around and hope that’s all in the past now. Is it easier for us all to kid ourselves? Or is it really that children don’t matter?
This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Election campaigners
The election material is pouring in our letter boxes and if you are living in a bye-election area the stuff is falling out of the sky on the treble.
Some of it makes interesting reading.
Shay Brennan says he is active almost two decades in local politics. He is now 35 so he was politically astute just after 15. He tells the whole world he works for Anglo Irish Bank as a treasury risk specialist. Makes for great reading. He sports a gigantic knot in his tie. Hard to spot if there is gel in his hair.
A Labour leaflet promotes some individual and does not tell you if he is going up for the council, Europe or the Dail.
And then there is the Libertas candidate for the bye-election, Caroline Simons. Caroline puts a great stress on the importance of the ordinary people. One is immediately forced to think of her leader's mansion in the west of Ireland. The leaflet is full of vague aspirations and nasty comments about every other political party.
Has she any connectiosn with the singer?
Is this democracy?
Some of it makes interesting reading.
Shay Brennan says he is active almost two decades in local politics. He is now 35 so he was politically astute just after 15. He tells the whole world he works for Anglo Irish Bank as a treasury risk specialist. Makes for great reading. He sports a gigantic knot in his tie. Hard to spot if there is gel in his hair.
A Labour leaflet promotes some individual and does not tell you if he is going up for the council, Europe or the Dail.
And then there is the Libertas candidate for the bye-election, Caroline Simons. Caroline puts a great stress on the importance of the ordinary people. One is immediately forced to think of her leader's mansion in the west of Ireland. The leaflet is full of vague aspirations and nasty comments about every other political party.
Has she any connectiosn with the singer?
Is this democracy?
Thursday, May 14, 2009
En route to the Holy Land
This is an interview with Pope Benedict during his flight to the Holy Land. It is something of a 'quaint' set up in that the person carrying out the interview is the Vatican's PR man. Nevertheless, the pope's replies make for interesting reading.
Father Lombardi:
Your Holiness, thank you very much for giving us the opportunity once again for a meeting with you at the beginning of such an important and demanding journey. Among other things, it allows us to wish you a good journey and to assure you that we will play our part in spreading the messages that you wish to convey to us. As usual, the questions I am about to ask are the result of a collection of questions proposed by my colleagues here present. I shall put these questions to you myself, purely for ease of logistics, but they were in fact produced by a joint effort.
Q. Your Holiness, this journey is taking place at a very delicate moment for the Middle East: there are strong tensions – at the time of the crisis in Gaza, there was even speculation that you might decide not to come. At the same time, a few days after your journey, the principal political leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority will also be meeting President Obama. Do you think you can offer a contribution to the peace process that now seems to have become deadlocked?
A. Good morning! First I should like to thank all of you for the work that you do, and let us all wish one another a good journey, a good pilgrimage, a good return journey. As for the question, certainly I shall seek to contribute to peace not as an individual but in the name of the Catholic Church, and of the Holy See. We are not a political power, but a spiritual force, and this spiritual force is a reality that can contribute to advances in the peace process. I see three levels. First, as believers we are convinced that prayer is a real force: it opens the world to God. We are convinced that God listens and that he can act in history. I think that if millions of people – millions of believers – all pray, this is truly a force that influences and can contribute to moving forward the cause of peace. Second: we are seeking to assist in the formation of consciences. The conscience is the human capacity to perceive the truth, but this capacity is often impeded by particular interests. And to break free from these interests, to open up more to the truth, to true values, is a major undertaking: it is a task of the Church to help us to know true criteria, true values, and to free us from particular interests. And so – in third place – we also speak – no doubt about it – to reason: precisely because we are not a political force, we can perhaps more easily, and in the light of the faith, see the true criteria, we can assist in understanding what contributes to peace and we can appeal to reason, we can support positions that are truly reasonable. This we have already done and we wish to do so again now and in the future.
Q. Thank you, Your Holiness. The second question. As a theologian, you have reflected particularly on the common roots shared by Christians and Jews. How is it that, despite the efforts towards dialogue, misunderstandings often occur? How do you see the future of dialogue between the two communities?
A. The important thing is that we really do have the same roots, the same books of the Old Testament, a Book which – both for the Jews and for us – conveys Revelation. Yet of course, after two thousand years of distinct, not to say separate, histories, it is no wonder if misunderstandings arise, because very different traditions of interpretation, language and thought have been formed, there is so to speak a very different “semantic cosmos”, such that the same words used in the two traditions mean different things; and with this use of words that, in the course of history have acquired different meanings, misunderstandings obviously arise. We must each do all we can to learn the language of the other, and it seems to me that we are making great progress here. Today it is possible for young people, future teachers of theology, to study in Jerusalem, at the Hebrew University, and Jews have academic contacts with us: thus an encounter is taking place between one “semantic cosmos” and the other. Let us learn from one another and let us go forward along the path of true dialogue, let us each learn from the other, and I am sure and convinced that we will make progress. And this will also help peace, indeed it will help mutual love.
Q. Your Holiness, this journey has two essential dimensions of inter-religious dialogue – with Islam and with Judaism. Are the two directions completely separate from one another, or will there also be a common message concerning the three Abrahamic religions?
A. Certainly there is also a common message and there will be opportunities to highlight it. Notwithstanding our diverse origins, we have common roots because, as I have already said, Christianity is born from the Old Testament and the Scripture of the New Testament would not exist without the Old, because it makes constant reference to “the Scriptures”, that is, to the Old Testament. Islam too was born in a world where both Judaism and the various branches of Christianity: Judeo-Christianity, Antiochene Christianity, and Byzantine Christianity were all present, and all these circumstances are reflected in the Koranic tradition, with the result that we have much in common in terms of our origins and our faith in the one God. So it is important on the one hand to have bilateral dialogues – with the Jews and with Islam – and then also trilateral dialogue. I myself was the Co-Founder of a foundation for dialogue among the three religions, at which leading figures like Metropolitan Damaskinos and the Chief Rabbi of France René Samuel Sirat and others came together, and this foundation also issued an edition of the books of the three religions: the Koran, the New Testament and the Old Testament. So the trilateral dialogue must go forward, it is extremely important for peace and also – let us say – for living one’s own religion well.
Q. One final question. Your Holiness, you have often spoken of the problem of the declining number of Christians in the Middle East and especially in the Holy Land. It is a phenomenon with various causes of a political, economic and social character. What can be done in practice to assist the Christian presence in the region? What contribution do you hope to make with your journey? Is there hope for these Christians in the future? Do you have a particular message for the Christians in Gaza who will come to meet you in Bethlehem?
A. Certainly there is hope, because while this is a difficult moment, as you have mentioned, it is also a time of hope for a new beginning, for a new impetus along the path to peace. We wish above all to encourage the Christians in the Holy Land and throughout the Middle East to remain, to offer their contribution in their countries of origin: they are an important component of the life and culture of these regions. In practice, what the Church brings – in addition to words of encouragement and common prayer – are chiefly schools and hospitals. In this sense, we have thoroughly practical establishments here. Our schools educate a generation that will be able to make its presence felt in life today, in public life. The Catholic Church is opening a University in Jordan, which strikes me as an important setting in which young people – both Muslims and Christians – will meet, will learn together, and where a Christian intelligentsia can be formed that is suitably prepared to work for peace. But in general, our schools provide a very important opportunity that opens up a future for the Christians, and the hospitals make our presence visible. Moreover, there are many Christian associations that help Christians in different ways, and with practical assistance they encourage them to stay. So I hope that the Christians really will find the courage, the humility, the patience to remain in these lands, and to offer their contribution to the future of these lands.
Father Lombardi:
Thank you, Your Holiness, with these replies you have helped us to put our journey in context from a spiritual point of view, and from a cultural point of view. Once more I express to you my own good wishes, and those of all my colleagues on this flight, including the others who are flying to the Holy Land at this time, in order to take part and to assist, through their reporting, in attaining a positive outcome for this demanding mission of yours. May you and all your collaborators have a good journey, and to my colleagues I say: Buon lavoro!
Father Lombardi:
Your Holiness, thank you very much for giving us the opportunity once again for a meeting with you at the beginning of such an important and demanding journey. Among other things, it allows us to wish you a good journey and to assure you that we will play our part in spreading the messages that you wish to convey to us. As usual, the questions I am about to ask are the result of a collection of questions proposed by my colleagues here present. I shall put these questions to you myself, purely for ease of logistics, but they were in fact produced by a joint effort.
Q. Your Holiness, this journey is taking place at a very delicate moment for the Middle East: there are strong tensions – at the time of the crisis in Gaza, there was even speculation that you might decide not to come. At the same time, a few days after your journey, the principal political leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority will also be meeting President Obama. Do you think you can offer a contribution to the peace process that now seems to have become deadlocked?
A. Good morning! First I should like to thank all of you for the work that you do, and let us all wish one another a good journey, a good pilgrimage, a good return journey. As for the question, certainly I shall seek to contribute to peace not as an individual but in the name of the Catholic Church, and of the Holy See. We are not a political power, but a spiritual force, and this spiritual force is a reality that can contribute to advances in the peace process. I see three levels. First, as believers we are convinced that prayer is a real force: it opens the world to God. We are convinced that God listens and that he can act in history. I think that if millions of people – millions of believers – all pray, this is truly a force that influences and can contribute to moving forward the cause of peace. Second: we are seeking to assist in the formation of consciences. The conscience is the human capacity to perceive the truth, but this capacity is often impeded by particular interests. And to break free from these interests, to open up more to the truth, to true values, is a major undertaking: it is a task of the Church to help us to know true criteria, true values, and to free us from particular interests. And so – in third place – we also speak – no doubt about it – to reason: precisely because we are not a political force, we can perhaps more easily, and in the light of the faith, see the true criteria, we can assist in understanding what contributes to peace and we can appeal to reason, we can support positions that are truly reasonable. This we have already done and we wish to do so again now and in the future.
Q. Thank you, Your Holiness. The second question. As a theologian, you have reflected particularly on the common roots shared by Christians and Jews. How is it that, despite the efforts towards dialogue, misunderstandings often occur? How do you see the future of dialogue between the two communities?
A. The important thing is that we really do have the same roots, the same books of the Old Testament, a Book which – both for the Jews and for us – conveys Revelation. Yet of course, after two thousand years of distinct, not to say separate, histories, it is no wonder if misunderstandings arise, because very different traditions of interpretation, language and thought have been formed, there is so to speak a very different “semantic cosmos”, such that the same words used in the two traditions mean different things; and with this use of words that, in the course of history have acquired different meanings, misunderstandings obviously arise. We must each do all we can to learn the language of the other, and it seems to me that we are making great progress here. Today it is possible for young people, future teachers of theology, to study in Jerusalem, at the Hebrew University, and Jews have academic contacts with us: thus an encounter is taking place between one “semantic cosmos” and the other. Let us learn from one another and let us go forward along the path of true dialogue, let us each learn from the other, and I am sure and convinced that we will make progress. And this will also help peace, indeed it will help mutual love.
Q. Your Holiness, this journey has two essential dimensions of inter-religious dialogue – with Islam and with Judaism. Are the two directions completely separate from one another, or will there also be a common message concerning the three Abrahamic religions?
A. Certainly there is also a common message and there will be opportunities to highlight it. Notwithstanding our diverse origins, we have common roots because, as I have already said, Christianity is born from the Old Testament and the Scripture of the New Testament would not exist without the Old, because it makes constant reference to “the Scriptures”, that is, to the Old Testament. Islam too was born in a world where both Judaism and the various branches of Christianity: Judeo-Christianity, Antiochene Christianity, and Byzantine Christianity were all present, and all these circumstances are reflected in the Koranic tradition, with the result that we have much in common in terms of our origins and our faith in the one God. So it is important on the one hand to have bilateral dialogues – with the Jews and with Islam – and then also trilateral dialogue. I myself was the Co-Founder of a foundation for dialogue among the three religions, at which leading figures like Metropolitan Damaskinos and the Chief Rabbi of France René Samuel Sirat and others came together, and this foundation also issued an edition of the books of the three religions: the Koran, the New Testament and the Old Testament. So the trilateral dialogue must go forward, it is extremely important for peace and also – let us say – for living one’s own religion well.
Q. One final question. Your Holiness, you have often spoken of the problem of the declining number of Christians in the Middle East and especially in the Holy Land. It is a phenomenon with various causes of a political, economic and social character. What can be done in practice to assist the Christian presence in the region? What contribution do you hope to make with your journey? Is there hope for these Christians in the future? Do you have a particular message for the Christians in Gaza who will come to meet you in Bethlehem?
A. Certainly there is hope, because while this is a difficult moment, as you have mentioned, it is also a time of hope for a new beginning, for a new impetus along the path to peace. We wish above all to encourage the Christians in the Holy Land and throughout the Middle East to remain, to offer their contribution in their countries of origin: they are an important component of the life and culture of these regions. In practice, what the Church brings – in addition to words of encouragement and common prayer – are chiefly schools and hospitals. In this sense, we have thoroughly practical establishments here. Our schools educate a generation that will be able to make its presence felt in life today, in public life. The Catholic Church is opening a University in Jordan, which strikes me as an important setting in which young people – both Muslims and Christians – will meet, will learn together, and where a Christian intelligentsia can be formed that is suitably prepared to work for peace. But in general, our schools provide a very important opportunity that opens up a future for the Christians, and the hospitals make our presence visible. Moreover, there are many Christian associations that help Christians in different ways, and with practical assistance they encourage them to stay. So I hope that the Christians really will find the courage, the humility, the patience to remain in these lands, and to offer their contribution to the future of these lands.
Father Lombardi:
Thank you, Your Holiness, with these replies you have helped us to put our journey in context from a spiritual point of view, and from a cultural point of view. Once more I express to you my own good wishes, and those of all my colleagues on this flight, including the others who are flying to the Holy Land at this time, in order to take part and to assist, through their reporting, in attaining a positive outcome for this demanding mission of yours. May you and all your collaborators have a good journey, and to my colleagues I say: Buon lavoro!
Political images
We are in recession. It looks likely that SR Technics will close its doors as planned with no chance of someone buying the concern. The dole queues grow by the day. And yet every political poster shows the face of a smiling politician.
Are politicians another of those group of privileged people for whom the current economic crisis has little meaning?
In this inclement weather the posters on lamp posts are a real danger, especially for cyclists as they are constantly blowing off their fixtures.
While it is extremely dangerous right now to underestimate the importance of the democratic process, it seems there is little or no cut backs in the world of politics.
Are politicians another of those group of privileged people for whom the current economic crisis has little meaning?
In this inclement weather the posters on lamp posts are a real danger, especially for cyclists as they are constantly blowing off their fixtures.
While it is extremely dangerous right now to underestimate the importance of the democratic process, it seems there is little or no cut backs in the world of politics.
Words and how we perceive them
On a posting on this blog on May 5 it was said that a priest in a sermon said that we should ask election candidates if they believe in the immortality of the soul.
On consultation with the priest he said that what he did say was that when the candidates call to our doors we should ask ourselves if they the candidates believe in the immortality of the soul.
That does change the complexity of the issue.
What one says and what the listener perceives to have been said is always a conundrum. It must always be a matter of being careful with our words.
On consultation with the priest he said that what he did say was that when the candidates call to our doors we should ask ourselves if they the candidates believe in the immortality of the soul.
That does change the complexity of the issue.
What one says and what the listener perceives to have been said is always a conundrum. It must always be a matter of being careful with our words.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Pope story is not a story
It certainly has to be a question of lazy journalism. A number of media outlets today have made reference to Pope Benedict as young Josef Ratzinger joining the Hitler Youth.
On becoming pope, the media thoroughly investigated the issue and there is general consensus that he was forced to join and that there was nothing significant in his joining.
Today's Irish Independent has a headline on its front page 'Vatican plays down Nazi claim and the headline on the lead story on page 21 is, 'Vatican forced to deny Pope was a member of Hitler Youth'.
These are not stories. Maybe the current economic downturn is hitting hard the world of media.
On becoming pope, the media thoroughly investigated the issue and there is general consensus that he was forced to join and that there was nothing significant in his joining.
Today's Irish Independent has a headline on its front page 'Vatican plays down Nazi claim and the headline on the lead story on page 21 is, 'Vatican forced to deny Pope was a member of Hitler Youth'.
These are not stories. Maybe the current economic downturn is hitting hard the world of media.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Looking out the window
In good weather there must be few places in the world as beautiful as Ireland.
Yesterday in West Kerry the top of Mount Brandon was clear - not a cloud in sight. The mountains in West Kerry were looking incredibly beautiful.
Later in the day I travelled with the 17.15 train from Tralee to Dublin. Ireland was looking at its very best. Seldom have I seen it look so wonderful. I must have spent most of the journey with my nose pressed against the window looking out at the greatest show on earth.
The rail journey from Tralee to Dublin is just exquisite. It begins with the mountains and roughness of Kerry, especially South Kerry and then the train sneaks away from South Kerry and into North Cork where the land slowly changes to rich farmland.
It's single track from Tralee to Mallow and only for the strategic placing of Killarney, Tralee would have lost its rail service many years ago. Maybe too Dick Spring had something to do with keeping the Kerry line open.
Once in Mallow it is on to the main Dublin Cork double line where trains travel at 165 km/h.
Sad to see the Mallow sugar factory closed and the rail sidings now filled with weeds. Ireland no longer makes a grain of sugar.
From Mallow all the way to Dublin Heuston it is prime agricultural land. It must be the best land in the country and yesterday it was looking as perfect as it could be.
Most of the stations are away from the towns but at Thurles you can see Semple Stadium of Munster final glory and at nearby Templemore the stone church is visible. And the Devil's Bit must stay in the window frame for the best part of 20 minutes and that's travelling at 140km/h. It puts things in perspective.
Yesterday in West Kerry the top of Mount Brandon was clear - not a cloud in sight. The mountains in West Kerry were looking incredibly beautiful.
Later in the day I travelled with the 17.15 train from Tralee to Dublin. Ireland was looking at its very best. Seldom have I seen it look so wonderful. I must have spent most of the journey with my nose pressed against the window looking out at the greatest show on earth.
The rail journey from Tralee to Dublin is just exquisite. It begins with the mountains and roughness of Kerry, especially South Kerry and then the train sneaks away from South Kerry and into North Cork where the land slowly changes to rich farmland.
It's single track from Tralee to Mallow and only for the strategic placing of Killarney, Tralee would have lost its rail service many years ago. Maybe too Dick Spring had something to do with keeping the Kerry line open.
Once in Mallow it is on to the main Dublin Cork double line where trains travel at 165 km/h.
Sad to see the Mallow sugar factory closed and the rail sidings now filled with weeds. Ireland no longer makes a grain of sugar.
From Mallow all the way to Dublin Heuston it is prime agricultural land. It must be the best land in the country and yesterday it was looking as perfect as it could be.
Most of the stations are away from the towns but at Thurles you can see Semple Stadium of Munster final glory and at nearby Templemore the stone church is visible. And the Devil's Bit must stay in the window frame for the best part of 20 minutes and that's travelling at 140km/h. It puts things in perspective.
Kildare with its middle track allows our fast train to pass out any commuter train that might be stopped at the station. With the opening of the new double track between Hazelhatch and Heuston this summer trains of the old Great Southern and Western can show off their superior speed to all local commuter traffic.
Kildare and Newbridge stations have managed to retain their old stone look.
It was bright all the way to Dublin and then just somewhere near Sallins the blazing whitened sun was beginning to set in the west.
Down to zero speed at platform five at Heuston Station. That train is done for the day. It was the 07.00 to Cork this morning. Back through incredible countryside on another glorious spring day in Ireland.
It was bright all the way to Dublin and then just somewhere near Sallins the blazing whitened sun was beginning to set in the west.
Down to zero speed at platform five at Heuston Station. That train is done for the day. It was the 07.00 to Cork this morning. Back through incredible countryside on another glorious spring day in Ireland.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Declan Ganley and 'gentlemen'
Libertas founder Declan Ganley when asked if Lech Walesa was paid a fee for addressing the party's meeting in Rome commented, "Gentlemen do not talk about money to other gentlemen".
Anyone who has seen Mr Ganley's palatial home in Ireland must be inclined to ask the 'gentleman' how can one amass such wealth in such a short time.
Are 'non-gentlemen' allowed talk about money to 'gentlemen'?
Mr Ganley seems to have made much of his fortune in Russia in scrap metal immediately after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Do scrap metal men talk to gentlemen about money?
His comments re 'honour' and 'gentlemen' must remind one of all the guff we hear from those who attempt to patronise and lord it over working people.
Anyone who has seen Mr Ganley's palatial home in Ireland must be inclined to ask the 'gentleman' how can one amass such wealth in such a short time.
Are 'non-gentlemen' allowed talk about money to 'gentlemen'?
Mr Ganley seems to have made much of his fortune in Russia in scrap metal immediately after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Do scrap metal men talk to gentlemen about money?
His comments re 'honour' and 'gentlemen' must remind one of all the guff we hear from those who attempt to patronise and lord it over working people.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Preaching
Journalists like priests get stale and it is inevitable that just as the quality of writing can vary so too can the quality of preaching. But maybe with a journalist the editor is looking over the shoulder and can hint, whatever, whereas with the priest how often do superiors 'hint'.
At Mass in Churchtown on Sunday the priest in his sermon began by attacking the media, made snide comments about the film 'Brokeback Mountain' and then went on to say that when candidates for the upcoming elections call to our doors we should ask them if they believe in the immortality of the soul.
Do we not live in a republic?
It was the Gospel of the Good Shepherd in the Church of the Good Shepherd. A great occasion to be uplifted and inspired, instead people praying in the church had to listen to the pet hates of a man who was theologically ill informed.
At Mass in Churchtown on Sunday the priest in his sermon began by attacking the media, made snide comments about the film 'Brokeback Mountain' and then went on to say that when candidates for the upcoming elections call to our doors we should ask them if they believe in the immortality of the soul.
Do we not live in a republic?
It was the Gospel of the Good Shepherd in the Church of the Good Shepherd. A great occasion to be uplifted and inspired, instead people praying in the church had to listen to the pet hates of a man who was theologically ill informed.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
CORI challenges Government to reveal privatisation plans
CORI Justice challenges Government in social partnership talks on privatisation of services.
Government's proposed reduction in tax revenue suggests that resources will not be available to provide core services.
CORI Justice has challenged Government to reveal whether or not it plans to privatise large swathes of public services. Speaking after social partnership talks between the Government and the Community and Voluntary Pillar of Social Partners today Dr Seán Healy, S.M.A., Director of CORI Justice, stated that "A close examination of the Budget documentation shows that Government plans to balance its books while reducing tax revenue far below the EU average. If Government follows through on this then the only way that circle can be squared is by privatising large parts of the services currently provided in areas such as education or health. CORI Justice believes that such a move would have huge negative implications for fairness and for the vulnerable in Irish society."
Fr Healy went on to state that "Before the current crisis the Government's annual Budget raised about 27% of GDP in tax. Government's latest projections on tax revenue show it intends to raise 22.3% of GDP through the Budget in 2011. A fairer tax system is required which sees the tax-base broadened and tax-breaks removed. This would see total tax revenue remaining below the EU average level but rising to a level required to fund key services. However, the level of reduction envisaged in the Budget projections for the coming years is such that large parts of services currently provided by the Exchequer could not be funded and, consequently, would! have to be privatised. Is this what Government is planning?"
CORI Justice called on Government to clarify its vision for where it sees Ireland in five years time and whether or not privatisation of substantial parts of the social services funded by the Exchequer form part of that vision. If privatisation of major services is not planned then CORI Justice calls on Government to state how it will secure the revenue needed to fund these services in the years ahead.
"Government has constantly stated that it will protect the vulnerable while addressing the series of crises Ireland is currently facing. However, its own Budget documentation calls this commitment into serious question" according to Fr Healy.
Fr Seán Healy, Director of CORI Justice went on to state that, “As we approach the 10th anniversary of Minister Mary Harney's contrasting of Boston and Berlin, and the social models they epitomised, we find ourselves in a situation where the US is moving away from the Boston model while Ireland is moving towards it.”
Government's proposed reduction in tax revenue suggests that resources will not be available to provide core services.
CORI Justice has challenged Government to reveal whether or not it plans to privatise large swathes of public services. Speaking after social partnership talks between the Government and the Community and Voluntary Pillar of Social Partners today Dr Seán Healy, S.M.A., Director of CORI Justice, stated that "A close examination of the Budget documentation shows that Government plans to balance its books while reducing tax revenue far below the EU average. If Government follows through on this then the only way that circle can be squared is by privatising large parts of the services currently provided in areas such as education or health. CORI Justice believes that such a move would have huge negative implications for fairness and for the vulnerable in Irish society."
Fr Healy went on to state that "Before the current crisis the Government's annual Budget raised about 27% of GDP in tax. Government's latest projections on tax revenue show it intends to raise 22.3% of GDP through the Budget in 2011. A fairer tax system is required which sees the tax-base broadened and tax-breaks removed. This would see total tax revenue remaining below the EU average level but rising to a level required to fund key services. However, the level of reduction envisaged in the Budget projections for the coming years is such that large parts of services currently provided by the Exchequer could not be funded and, consequently, would! have to be privatised. Is this what Government is planning?"
CORI Justice called on Government to clarify its vision for where it sees Ireland in five years time and whether or not privatisation of substantial parts of the social services funded by the Exchequer form part of that vision. If privatisation of major services is not planned then CORI Justice calls on Government to state how it will secure the revenue needed to fund these services in the years ahead.
"Government has constantly stated that it will protect the vulnerable while addressing the series of crises Ireland is currently facing. However, its own Budget documentation calls this commitment into serious question" according to Fr Healy.
Fr Seán Healy, Director of CORI Justice went on to state that, “As we approach the 10th anniversary of Minister Mary Harney's contrasting of Boston and Berlin, and the social models they epitomised, we find ourselves in a situation where the US is moving away from the Boston model while Ireland is moving towards it.”
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Cycling in Ireland
It's difficult to understand how the minds of politicians work.
The report below about cycling has elements of madness about it.
Right now Irish Rail is trying hard to remove all bicycles from its trains.
I have been cycling in Ireland for 54 years. I wonder how long the author/authors of this policy document have been on two wheels.
May I invite Mr Dempsey to come on a 10 km cycle trip anywhere in Ireland with me and I'll explain the real rules of the road to him.
Cyclists must look much safer and greener when viewed from behind the windows of a plush State car.
HARRY McGEE, Political Staff
A NEW Government policy on cycling proposes to make Ireland one of the most cycle-friendly countries in the world by 2020.
The National Cycle Policy Framework was launched yesterday by the Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey who said he wanted to increase the number of people who cycle each day from 35,000 to 160,000 in a little over a decade – an increase of over 400 per cent.
The new policy contains 109 separate actions to make the transformation. Included are ambitious plans to retrofit all urban roads with cycle lanes and promises to introduce widespread traffic calming and bike-friendly road designs.
It also provides for the integration of public transport and cycling, allowing bikes to be carried on buses and trains; the provision of shared bicycles in major towns, like the French Vélib scheme; safe bike-parking facilities; and the retrofit of major road junctions which can currently pose dangers for cyclists.
Mr Dempsey acknowledged there had been a marked decrease in the numbers cycling to school and work in the past 20 years but said that this new policy would fully address it. He said he had sought the advice of the best cycle planners in Europe when drawing up the policy.
“I am determined that we will have a world-class cycling infrastructure in place in this country by 2020 so that biking becomes a safe and enjoyable option for commuters and school-kids alike,” said Mr Dempsey.
He accepted that the total plan has yet to be costed, though he said a total of €14 million would be provided during 2009 for various schemes, some of which are engineering and others promotional.
However, there is no specific commitments in relation to funding the actions.
“Over the lifetime of the scheme what we intend to do within the road-work programme is to provide specific funds for engineering to make existing roads much safer particularly in . . . urban areas,” he said.
The cycling campaign group, cyclist.ie, gave a broad endorsement to the new policy.
Dr Darren McAdam-O’Connell of the group said that recognition of cycling by policy makers was long overdue. “We strongly welcome a document that contains many of the measures that cyclists have been demanding for a long time, such as stronger measures against urban speeding, on-road cycle training in schools, improved driver training curriculum, dismantling of dangerous multi-lane one-way systems and permitting of bike carriages on trains and buses.”
However, Dr Mike McKillen, also of cyclist.ie, said it would never become a reality without a “fundamental change in attitudes in official circles”.
Fine Gael’s transport spokesman Fergus O’Dowd said that Mr Dempsey launched his cycling wish-list just as the roads programme was coming to an end. He claimed the policy would “gather dust” in the Department of Transport.
Likewise, Labour’s spokesman Tommy Broughan described the policy as being full of vague aspirations, without full commitments to implement them. “The policy is also vague on how and when funding will be provided and merely states that we will provide appropriate levels of, and timely, funding towards implementing the plan,” said Mr Broughan.
Main measures
- 160,000 people cycling to work each day by 2020 – up from 35,000
now;
- Safe cycling routes to all schools in the State;
- A speed limit of 30km/h near schools;
- New secure bike parks in bus and train stations and other public
spaces;
- Adapting trains and buses to carry bicycles;
- Shared-bicycle schemes in all cities
with populations over 100,000;
- Better training for cyclists and drivers in relation to cyclists;
- Traffic-calming in urban areas;
- Redesign of major road junctions to make them cycle-friendly;
- Retrofitting of roads, quality bus corridors and bus-lanes to accommodate proper cycling lanes;
- Two-way cycling lanes on streets that are one-way for traffic;
- A proposed scheme where workers who use bikes instead of cars will be entitled to receive travel/mileage expenses.
The report below about cycling has elements of madness about it.
Right now Irish Rail is trying hard to remove all bicycles from its trains.
I have been cycling in Ireland for 54 years. I wonder how long the author/authors of this policy document have been on two wheels.
May I invite Mr Dempsey to come on a 10 km cycle trip anywhere in Ireland with me and I'll explain the real rules of the road to him.
Cyclists must look much safer and greener when viewed from behind the windows of a plush State car.
HARRY McGEE, Political Staff
A NEW Government policy on cycling proposes to make Ireland one of the most cycle-friendly countries in the world by 2020.
The National Cycle Policy Framework was launched yesterday by the Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey who said he wanted to increase the number of people who cycle each day from 35,000 to 160,000 in a little over a decade – an increase of over 400 per cent.
The new policy contains 109 separate actions to make the transformation. Included are ambitious plans to retrofit all urban roads with cycle lanes and promises to introduce widespread traffic calming and bike-friendly road designs.
It also provides for the integration of public transport and cycling, allowing bikes to be carried on buses and trains; the provision of shared bicycles in major towns, like the French Vélib scheme; safe bike-parking facilities; and the retrofit of major road junctions which can currently pose dangers for cyclists.
Mr Dempsey acknowledged there had been a marked decrease in the numbers cycling to school and work in the past 20 years but said that this new policy would fully address it. He said he had sought the advice of the best cycle planners in Europe when drawing up the policy.
“I am determined that we will have a world-class cycling infrastructure in place in this country by 2020 so that biking becomes a safe and enjoyable option for commuters and school-kids alike,” said Mr Dempsey.
He accepted that the total plan has yet to be costed, though he said a total of €14 million would be provided during 2009 for various schemes, some of which are engineering and others promotional.
However, there is no specific commitments in relation to funding the actions.
“Over the lifetime of the scheme what we intend to do within the road-work programme is to provide specific funds for engineering to make existing roads much safer particularly in . . . urban areas,” he said.
The cycling campaign group, cyclist.ie, gave a broad endorsement to the new policy.
Dr Darren McAdam-O’Connell of the group said that recognition of cycling by policy makers was long overdue. “We strongly welcome a document that contains many of the measures that cyclists have been demanding for a long time, such as stronger measures against urban speeding, on-road cycle training in schools, improved driver training curriculum, dismantling of dangerous multi-lane one-way systems and permitting of bike carriages on trains and buses.”
However, Dr Mike McKillen, also of cyclist.ie, said it would never become a reality without a “fundamental change in attitudes in official circles”.
Fine Gael’s transport spokesman Fergus O’Dowd said that Mr Dempsey launched his cycling wish-list just as the roads programme was coming to an end. He claimed the policy would “gather dust” in the Department of Transport.
Likewise, Labour’s spokesman Tommy Broughan described the policy as being full of vague aspirations, without full commitments to implement them. “The policy is also vague on how and when funding will be provided and merely states that we will provide appropriate levels of, and timely, funding towards implementing the plan,” said Mr Broughan.
Main measures
- 160,000 people cycling to work each day by 2020 – up from 35,000
now;
- Safe cycling routes to all schools in the State;
- A speed limit of 30km/h near schools;
- New secure bike parks in bus and train stations and other public
spaces;
- Adapting trains and buses to carry bicycles;
- Shared-bicycle schemes in all cities
with populations over 100,000;
- Better training for cyclists and drivers in relation to cyclists;
- Traffic-calming in urban areas;
- Redesign of major road junctions to make them cycle-friendly;
- Retrofitting of roads, quality bus corridors and bus-lanes to accommodate proper cycling lanes;
- Two-way cycling lanes on streets that are one-way for traffic;
- A proposed scheme where workers who use bikes instead of cars will be entitled to receive travel/mileage expenses.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The Guardian done it
How the mighty have fallen.
The lead story on page 29 of yesterday's Guardian runs 'America sunk these pirates, but the Age of Might is over'.
There is obviously a campaign afoot to interchange the imperfect tense of certain verbs with the participle form of the perfect tense.
It all seems to point in the direction that the Irish are ahead of the posse. After all many of us say 'I done' and 'I have went'.
Is this the relativism that Pope Benedict opposes?
The lead story on page 29 of yesterday's Guardian runs 'America sunk these pirates, but the Age of Might is over'.
There is obviously a campaign afoot to interchange the imperfect tense of certain verbs with the participle form of the perfect tense.
It all seems to point in the direction that the Irish are ahead of the posse. After all many of us say 'I done' and 'I have went'.
Is this the relativism that Pope Benedict opposes?
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Dublin Bus
On Thursday Dublin Bus ran a large size advertisement in the daily press informing passengers of new timetable schedules. The new services were to come into operation on Easter Sunday.
It is now Easter Tuesday, the new timetable is not in operation and the company is back in the Labour Court with its employees.
Reading the ad it is clear that the PR department is not that well up on spelling/grammar as they mix up the possessive adjective with the abbreviation of 'it is'! Hopefully the company is run more efficiently than its - a word they cannot spell - ad writers.
What does it say for Dublin Bus and its management team that it can tell the public on Thursday of new operating times, then cancel it and without too much notice to the public.
Who pays for such crass inefficiency and poor grammar?
It is now Easter Tuesday, the new timetable is not in operation and the company is back in the Labour Court with its employees.
Reading the ad it is clear that the PR department is not that well up on spelling/grammar as they mix up the possessive adjective with the abbreviation of 'it is'! Hopefully the company is run more efficiently than its - a word they cannot spell - ad writers.
What does it say for Dublin Bus and its management team that it can tell the public on Thursday of new operating times, then cancel it and without too much notice to the public.
Who pays for such crass inefficiency and poor grammar?
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Not all have been 'shocked'
Two distinct items in today's newspaper which deserve comment, one concerning paedophilia and the other homosexuality.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin in a homily delivered in the Pro-Cathedral on this Holy Thursday said that the imminent report of the Dublin Archdiocese Commission of Investigation into clerical sex abuse 'will shock us all'.
He said, "It is likely that thousands of children or young people across Ireland were abused by priests in the period under investigation and the horror of that abuse was not recognised for what it is. The report will make each of us and the entire church in Dublin a humbler church."
Not everyone is going to be shocked. There are and were people who recognised the horror for what it was. They were dismissed and told they did not know 'the full story'.
As for the church becoming 'a humbler church' is questionable.
In a report in today's Irish Times Tony Blair calls for 'rethinking on the 'entrenched' attitudes on homosexuality within the Catholic Church. He challenges Pope Benedict XVI's 'entrenched' attitudes on homosexuality and suggests it is time he and other church leaders started 'rethinking' the issue.
Mr Blair converted to Catholicism after leaving Downing Street in 2007.
He told gay magazine Attitude, "I think what is interesting is that if you went into any Catholic church, particularly a well-attended one, on any Sunday evening here (in Britain) and did a poll of the congregation, you'd be surprised at how liberal-minded people were."
But Mr Blair, like so many 'high profile' people seems not to understand what has and is going on within the hierarchical Catholic church.
It is generally held that being 'liberal' means one 'accepts' homosexuality. It might be accurate to say that being 'liberal' means a person is open and honest about orientation.
The issue is far more complicated and anything but transparent within the Catholic hierarchy.
Many priests who are homosexual and closet about their orientation are also extremely 'orthodox' and 'right-wing' And that is at the core or heart of the serious problem within the church. Gay closet priests who speak words in public agreeing with the 'official' Vatican stand create a serious and worrying problem for the church. And the church is aware of this but never dares speak about it.
There is a serious problem here about honesty, openness and transparency. And when it comes to being open honest and transparent with homosexuality within priesthood, the church does not seem 'to do it'.
Good Friday is an appropriate day to ask forgiveness for all forms of deception and fear.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin in a homily delivered in the Pro-Cathedral on this Holy Thursday said that the imminent report of the Dublin Archdiocese Commission of Investigation into clerical sex abuse 'will shock us all'.
He said, "It is likely that thousands of children or young people across Ireland were abused by priests in the period under investigation and the horror of that abuse was not recognised for what it is. The report will make each of us and the entire church in Dublin a humbler church."
Not everyone is going to be shocked. There are and were people who recognised the horror for what it was. They were dismissed and told they did not know 'the full story'.
As for the church becoming 'a humbler church' is questionable.
In a report in today's Irish Times Tony Blair calls for 'rethinking on the 'entrenched' attitudes on homosexuality within the Catholic Church. He challenges Pope Benedict XVI's 'entrenched' attitudes on homosexuality and suggests it is time he and other church leaders started 'rethinking' the issue.
Mr Blair converted to Catholicism after leaving Downing Street in 2007.
He told gay magazine Attitude, "I think what is interesting is that if you went into any Catholic church, particularly a well-attended one, on any Sunday evening here (in Britain) and did a poll of the congregation, you'd be surprised at how liberal-minded people were."
But Mr Blair, like so many 'high profile' people seems not to understand what has and is going on within the hierarchical Catholic church.
It is generally held that being 'liberal' means one 'accepts' homosexuality. It might be accurate to say that being 'liberal' means a person is open and honest about orientation.
The issue is far more complicated and anything but transparent within the Catholic hierarchy.
Many priests who are homosexual and closet about their orientation are also extremely 'orthodox' and 'right-wing' And that is at the core or heart of the serious problem within the church. Gay closet priests who speak words in public agreeing with the 'official' Vatican stand create a serious and worrying problem for the church. And the church is aware of this but never dares speak about it.
There is a serious problem here about honesty, openness and transparency. And when it comes to being open honest and transparent with homosexuality within priesthood, the church does not seem 'to do it'.
Good Friday is an appropriate day to ask forgiveness for all forms of deception and fear.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
A broken promise
On Sunday morning in Prague in front of the statue of the Czech hero Tomas Masaryk, President Barak Obama gave a sensational speech where he outlined US policy on the future of nuclear weapons in the 21st century.
Close to the end of his speech, referring to the Korean test rocket the previous day, he said, "Rules must be binding. Words must mean something."
The Irish Government made a commitment to the developing world and has now broken its promise. Do words mean nothing for the Irish Government?
Close to the end of his speech, referring to the Korean test rocket the previous day, he said, "Rules must be binding. Words must mean something."
The Irish Government made a commitment to the developing world and has now broken its promise. Do words mean nothing for the Irish Government?
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
No resurrection without a cross
This article appears in today's Irish Times.
Why there can be no resurrection without a cross
PÁDRAIC CONWAY
RITE AND REASON: HOLY WEEK is a time for essentials, for getting back to basics. For many, it is a sacred time; a time to gather with fellow believers to contemplate the distinct and defining elements of a shared Christian identity and community.
Even for many of those who have long since discarded any visible trappings of their church affiliation, it is a special time; a time to spend with family and friends, to live what the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins called “the dearest freshness deep down things”.
Having said this, some readers might wonder why we now turn our thoughts to a theologian, the 25th anniversary of whose death occurred on March 30th last.
To read, however, even a small selection of the writing of Hopkins’s fellow Jesuit Karl Rahner on the Easter mysteries of life, death and resurrection is to be reminded of just how appropriate it is that we should remember him at this time.
Just six weeks before he died, Rahner delivered his last public lecture, entitled Experiences of a Catholic Theologian, at a conference in Freiburg held in honour of his 80th birthday. In the last section of this lecture, What Is To Come, Rahner offered a personal reflection on death and eternal life.
He is critical, in kindly terms, of talk of eternal life which makes it seem more like a continuation of what we are used to in this life. Such talk is “clothed too much with realities with which we are familiar”. It does not do justice to what he calls the “radical incomprehensibility” of it all.
We cannot, he insists, downgrade the direct vision of God in eternal life “to one pleasant activity alongside others”. If we have the courage to accept, in a spirit of faith and hope, “the immense terror that is death”, we can experience it as filled with “God’s all-absorbing and all-giving love”.
It is, as always for Rahner, a case of “both-and”; there is no escaping the terror for any of us. There is no resurrection without a cross.
In an earlier essay called Experiencing Easter , written in the mid-1960s, Rahner speaks of the need for each of us to reflect on our own Way of the Cross: “Today the Way of the Cross means calamity, cancer, divorce, war, being thrown on the scrapheap” – but it is still the same Way of the Cross “which leads by way of tribulation and much pain to final death”.
The Easter experience is more than the sum of its parts. For Rahner, it is an encounter with the person of Jesus, with his love and fidelity as manifest finally and decisively in his total acceptance of the darkness of his death, even to the point of feeling abandoned by God.
Rahner describes Jesus as “an effective prototype for us all”: our life has a final and definitive meaning. It is capable of redemption, and this meaning has actually been realised in the first Easter experience of Jesus.
Rahner acknowledges the difficulty for many in believing explicitly and publicly in the resurrection of Jesus. He believes those who persist along their own Via Dolorosa , living in good conscience “as if” everything had meaning, are expressing their own resurrection faith.
The Way of the Cross has a 15th station, where all such take leave of the march of time and are gathered into God’s love, whether they have made a prior explicit act of faith or not.
Dr Pádraic Conway is a vice-president of UCD and director of the UCD International Centre for Newman Studies
Why there can be no resurrection without a cross
PÁDRAIC CONWAY
RITE AND REASON: HOLY WEEK is a time for essentials, for getting back to basics. For many, it is a sacred time; a time to gather with fellow believers to contemplate the distinct and defining elements of a shared Christian identity and community.
Even for many of those who have long since discarded any visible trappings of their church affiliation, it is a special time; a time to spend with family and friends, to live what the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins called “the dearest freshness deep down things”.
Having said this, some readers might wonder why we now turn our thoughts to a theologian, the 25th anniversary of whose death occurred on March 30th last.
To read, however, even a small selection of the writing of Hopkins’s fellow Jesuit Karl Rahner on the Easter mysteries of life, death and resurrection is to be reminded of just how appropriate it is that we should remember him at this time.
Just six weeks before he died, Rahner delivered his last public lecture, entitled Experiences of a Catholic Theologian, at a conference in Freiburg held in honour of his 80th birthday. In the last section of this lecture, What Is To Come, Rahner offered a personal reflection on death and eternal life.
He is critical, in kindly terms, of talk of eternal life which makes it seem more like a continuation of what we are used to in this life. Such talk is “clothed too much with realities with which we are familiar”. It does not do justice to what he calls the “radical incomprehensibility” of it all.
We cannot, he insists, downgrade the direct vision of God in eternal life “to one pleasant activity alongside others”. If we have the courage to accept, in a spirit of faith and hope, “the immense terror that is death”, we can experience it as filled with “God’s all-absorbing and all-giving love”.
It is, as always for Rahner, a case of “both-and”; there is no escaping the terror for any of us. There is no resurrection without a cross.
In an earlier essay called Experiencing Easter , written in the mid-1960s, Rahner speaks of the need for each of us to reflect on our own Way of the Cross: “Today the Way of the Cross means calamity, cancer, divorce, war, being thrown on the scrapheap” – but it is still the same Way of the Cross “which leads by way of tribulation and much pain to final death”.
The Easter experience is more than the sum of its parts. For Rahner, it is an encounter with the person of Jesus, with his love and fidelity as manifest finally and decisively in his total acceptance of the darkness of his death, even to the point of feeling abandoned by God.
Rahner describes Jesus as “an effective prototype for us all”: our life has a final and definitive meaning. It is capable of redemption, and this meaning has actually been realised in the first Easter experience of Jesus.
Rahner acknowledges the difficulty for many in believing explicitly and publicly in the resurrection of Jesus. He believes those who persist along their own Via Dolorosa , living in good conscience “as if” everything had meaning, are expressing their own resurrection faith.
The Way of the Cross has a 15th station, where all such take leave of the march of time and are gathered into God’s love, whether they have made a prior explicit act of faith or not.
Dr Pádraic Conway is a vice-president of UCD and director of the UCD International Centre for Newman Studies
Monday, April 6, 2009
Obama in Prague
The icing on the cake!
President Obama gave a sensational speech in Prague on Sunday morning. Yes, words are never actions but the speech has to be recorded as a remarkable piece of oratory.
During his European trip he said, "I am alays jealous about European trains. And I said to myself, why can't we have high-speed rail [in the United States].
Of course it is not possible to compare a presidential speech in Prague with a TV sermon. But the previous evening on ETWN a priest used his sermon to spend time talking all sorts of gibberish.
It was a wonderful piece of nonsense. Instead of preaching on the Gospel he was giving out about modern liturgical practices. Indeed, he was even breaking his own 'rules'.
President Obama gave a sensational speech in Prague on Sunday morning. Yes, words are never actions but the speech has to be recorded as a remarkable piece of oratory.
During his European trip he said, "I am alays jealous about European trains. And I said to myself, why can't we have high-speed rail [in the United States].
Of course it is not possible to compare a presidential speech in Prague with a TV sermon. But the previous evening on ETWN a priest used his sermon to spend time talking all sorts of gibberish.
It was a wonderful piece of nonsense. Instead of preaching on the Gospel he was giving out about modern liturgical practices. Indeed, he was even breaking his own 'rules'.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Views in the media
On my desk is the April issue of Hotpress. Alongside it is the April edition of Alive.
In his editorial Niall Stokes writes about the pope and his recent comments on condoms on his flight to Africa. He says Pope Benedict is wrong about condoms.
The editor of Alive writes that divorce is simply a legal fiction that does not end a marriage. He says that re-marrying is, in fact, adultery.
The media is a broad church.
In his editorial Niall Stokes writes about the pope and his recent comments on condoms on his flight to Africa. He says Pope Benedict is wrong about condoms.
The editor of Alive writes that divorce is simply a legal fiction that does not end a marriage. He says that re-marrying is, in fact, adultery.
The media is a broad church.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Eschatology on April Fool's Day
A Dominican student writes on the Dominican Oxford blog on April 1 that the Dominican habit is an eschatological sign.Is the Dominican habit not more a sign for those wearing it of not having to be worried about the current economic recession and turmoil?
No doubt there is an element of 'cheekiness' in making this point. But really to refer to the habit as an eschatological sign is taking it all a little too far.
I for one, have seen some right 'signs' prancing about in long white robes.
And getting up at 07.43 is regarded a 'great challenge'!
As to the Fr Ted reference - it certainly is a matter of life imitating art.
If the high sounding theology is as daft as this then it sure has to be gobbledegook.
Of course it is an April Fool's joke! Well done.
April Fool's Day
Nice one.
Today's Irish Times has a clever April Fool's gag on its front page.
Could anyone imagine Dr AJF O'Reilly or Dr Smurfit wearing the device?
Was RTE 1 caught by the trick? It did cover the item in its 'What it says in the newspapers' this morning?
Today's Irish Times has a clever April Fool's gag on its front page.
Could anyone imagine Dr AJF O'Reilly or Dr Smurfit wearing the device?
Was RTE 1 caught by the trick? It did cover the item in its 'What it says in the newspapers' this morning?
The curtains are gone
The curtains have disappeared.
When Irish Rail introduced its new InterCity fleet on the Dublin Cork service, the Spanish built trains came with curtains on every window.
It seemed at the time to this blogger a terrible waste of money. Irish Rail PR personnel adamantly disagreed and pointed out the importance and value in the curtains.
The curtains are now gone and not a word from Irish Rail.
How much did it cost to fit out eight trains with curtains on every window?
When Irish Rail introduced its new InterCity fleet on the Dublin Cork service, the Spanish built trains came with curtains on every window.
It seemed at the time to this blogger a terrible waste of money. Irish Rail PR personnel adamantly disagreed and pointed out the importance and value in the curtains.
The curtains are now gone and not a word from Irish Rail.
How much did it cost to fit out eight trains with curtains on every window?
An expensive bed time
We are living in unprecedented times. The economic situation is so bleak and unpredictable that what was said yesterday becomes irrelevant today. It’s as bad as that.`
There is little security in the world of labour and while there might be some divisions and differences between public and private sector, there are very few PAYE workers who are not greatly worried about the weeks, months and years ahead.
Employees have lost the security of their pensions and naturally scared about what lies ahead for them.
It was good to hear both the US Secretary of the Treasury, Timothy Geithner, and Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke talk in the last few days about a ‘glimmer of hope’ on the horizon.
And we in Ireland seem to be at the bottom of the economic barrel. I find it difficult to listen to any sort of economic experts these days. It’s not that long ago since the present taoiseach reprimanded people for talking us into a recession. It’s far from a recession we are in right now.
Of course it is easy to scapegoat people. It’s easy to have hindsight. And maybe we are at present focusing all our anger on the bankers. Maybe the bankers were simply expressing the wishes and moods of the people. Those we pay to lead seem to have led us on a merry dance and certainly up the garden path. We’re the mutts.
Did you ever notice that if people ask cheeky or awkward questions they are considered ‘troublesome’, ‘people with chips on their shoulders’ or simply ‘angry’?
Anyone whoever stands up to authority gets a rough ride and authority always tries to win the day. Organisations and corporate entities are always stronger and have far more economic clout than the individual.
People who get to the top of corporations, organisations and institutions feel it incumbent on them to support and defend their outfit. In ways it is a comfortable massaging of egos. The organisation/institution makes its top people feel important and in turn the managers want to please their organisation.
I spent one night in hospital in January. It was a semi-private room. That meant two beds in the room. The food was mediocre and certainly not the healthiest. My time in the room was from approximately 15.00 on a Monday until 10.00 on Tuesday.
How much did the overnight accommodation cost? It cost €1,249.33. At least that is what it said on the charge and description details I received from mu health insurer. I happen to be fortunate enough to have a private health insurance, so I did not have to pay the bill.
There were other medical fees on top of that, which seemed high to my unskilled medical knowledge. But the price for the bed seemed so daft that I telephoned my health insurer. I was told it was part of the overall ‘package’. It was then a matter of telephoning the hospital.
The hospital tells me that €1,249.33 is a ‘package’ price agreed between them and the insurance company. They are unable to give me a breakdown of the sum paid and tell me to contact my medical insurance company. They do tell me that that price includes theatre time, equipment, etc.
I did find out that a one night’s accommodation in semi-private room in the hospital costs €305. And that includes breakfast! I still want to know what cost €944.33. That sum does not include doctors’ fees as they are separately detailed.
When I tried to ascertain from my medical insurer a breakdown of the ‘package’ I was told that was an ‘agreed package’ with the hospital.
That does not seem terribly transparent.
Another instance of how the individual person has little or no chance when it comes to the organisation or institution.
The way of the world.
There is little security in the world of labour and while there might be some divisions and differences between public and private sector, there are very few PAYE workers who are not greatly worried about the weeks, months and years ahead.
Employees have lost the security of their pensions and naturally scared about what lies ahead for them.
It was good to hear both the US Secretary of the Treasury, Timothy Geithner, and Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke talk in the last few days about a ‘glimmer of hope’ on the horizon.
And we in Ireland seem to be at the bottom of the economic barrel. I find it difficult to listen to any sort of economic experts these days. It’s not that long ago since the present taoiseach reprimanded people for talking us into a recession. It’s far from a recession we are in right now.
Of course it is easy to scapegoat people. It’s easy to have hindsight. And maybe we are at present focusing all our anger on the bankers. Maybe the bankers were simply expressing the wishes and moods of the people. Those we pay to lead seem to have led us on a merry dance and certainly up the garden path. We’re the mutts.
Did you ever notice that if people ask cheeky or awkward questions they are considered ‘troublesome’, ‘people with chips on their shoulders’ or simply ‘angry’?
Anyone whoever stands up to authority gets a rough ride and authority always tries to win the day. Organisations and corporate entities are always stronger and have far more economic clout than the individual.
People who get to the top of corporations, organisations and institutions feel it incumbent on them to support and defend their outfit. In ways it is a comfortable massaging of egos. The organisation/institution makes its top people feel important and in turn the managers want to please their organisation.
I spent one night in hospital in January. It was a semi-private room. That meant two beds in the room. The food was mediocre and certainly not the healthiest. My time in the room was from approximately 15.00 on a Monday until 10.00 on Tuesday.
How much did the overnight accommodation cost? It cost €1,249.33. At least that is what it said on the charge and description details I received from mu health insurer. I happen to be fortunate enough to have a private health insurance, so I did not have to pay the bill.
There were other medical fees on top of that, which seemed high to my unskilled medical knowledge. But the price for the bed seemed so daft that I telephoned my health insurer. I was told it was part of the overall ‘package’. It was then a matter of telephoning the hospital.
The hospital tells me that €1,249.33 is a ‘package’ price agreed between them and the insurance company. They are unable to give me a breakdown of the sum paid and tell me to contact my medical insurance company. They do tell me that that price includes theatre time, equipment, etc.
I did find out that a one night’s accommodation in semi-private room in the hospital costs €305. And that includes breakfast! I still want to know what cost €944.33. That sum does not include doctors’ fees as they are separately detailed.
When I tried to ascertain from my medical insurer a breakdown of the ‘package’ I was told that was an ‘agreed package’ with the hospital.
That does not seem terribly transparent.
Another instance of how the individual person has little or no chance when it comes to the organisation or institution.
The way of the world.
Death of the past participle
Anne Marie Houriihane wrote in Monday's Irish Times,
‘He has showed us up – quivering, self-conscious girlies that we are. Casby got us all, with one satiric touch.’
Noel Whelan in Saturday's Irish Times wrote, ‘ … it should not have went out…..’
RTE’s Paul Reynolds is constantly using the wrong form of the past participle.
Is the past participle dying a death?
‘He has showed us up – quivering, self-conscious girlies that we are. Casby got us all, with one satiric touch.’
Noel Whelan in Saturday's Irish Times wrote, ‘ … it should not have went out…..’
RTE’s Paul Reynolds is constantly using the wrong form of the past participle.
Is the past participle dying a death?
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Whether or not upper case letter
When does a noun have an upper case first letter? Is there a rule on the issue? There was a time when school children learned that all proper nouns began with an upper case letter and that was the end of the story. On this issue German is clear - all nouns begin with an upper case letter.
In English it's clear, 'Dublin', 'Mary', 'Ryanair' begin with an upper case letter. And of course the first letter at the beginning of a sentence and the pronoun 'I' are always upper case.
So why do people spell 'century' or 'anniversary' with an upper case? If people spell 'plumber' with a lower case then why spell 'doctor' with an upper case?
It seems in English some sort of ideological influence plays a role in what we do. If 'teacher' is lower case, surely then 'priest', 'pope' and 'cardinal' should also be lower case. Should 'Gospel' be upper case? It would seem so as it is a proper noun. So what should 'church' be? There is a school that says 'church' referring to the physical building is lower case but the institution is upper case. But again that has an ideological bias.
What does it say about the mind-set that spells 'church', 'pope' and 'council' with upper case and 'gospel' with lower case? Or those who spell 'laity' lower case and 'priesthood' upper case?
When is 'state' upper-cased and lower-cased?
See the large Green Party ad around Dublin these days with 'thousands' incorrectly spelt?
Language can be great fun.
In English it's clear, 'Dublin', 'Mary', 'Ryanair' begin with an upper case letter. And of course the first letter at the beginning of a sentence and the pronoun 'I' are always upper case.
So why do people spell 'century' or 'anniversary' with an upper case? If people spell 'plumber' with a lower case then why spell 'doctor' with an upper case?
It seems in English some sort of ideological influence plays a role in what we do. If 'teacher' is lower case, surely then 'priest', 'pope' and 'cardinal' should also be lower case. Should 'Gospel' be upper case? It would seem so as it is a proper noun. So what should 'church' be? There is a school that says 'church' referring to the physical building is lower case but the institution is upper case. But again that has an ideological bias.
What does it say about the mind-set that spells 'church', 'pope' and 'council' with upper case and 'gospel' with lower case? Or those who spell 'laity' lower case and 'priesthood' upper case?
When is 'state' upper-cased and lower-cased?
See the large Green Party ad around Dublin these days with 'thousands' incorrectly spelt?
Language can be great fun.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The Krupp dynasty
German television ZDF are currently showing a programme on the Krupp family.
The final part of the trilogy is on Wednesday evening.
It is a truly fascinating story of a family empire that almost lasted 400 years.
Alfred Krupp was tried at Nuremberg and sentenced to prison. His only son, Arndt, had no interest in the business and died at a young age.
Today the company is part of the Krupp Thyssen group and the family is no longer involved in the company.
The family home in Essen, Villa Hugel, is now under public ownership
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