RELIGION CORRESPONDENT

In our continuing new series, we talk to leading figures about their faith In conversation with

Fr Brian D’Arcy was born in Co Fermanagh in June 1945 into a working-class family of four — two boys and two girls. He went to a small, rural primary school in Arney, near Enniskillen, which was demolished years ago and is now part of a graveyard. His parents sent him to school in Omagh aged nine to have an opportunity to sit the 11-plus. He lived with an aunt and, after passing the exam, he returned home and attended St Michael’s College in Enniskillen. At 17, in 1962, he joined the novitiate of the Passionists, at the Graan Monastery in Fermanagh, and was ordained in December 1969. Next year, he will mark 50 years as a priest. He has also been a journalist and broadcaster since the mid-1960s.

Q AHow and when did you come to faith? Faith was the gift my parents handed down to me by the way they lived. Faith was caught more than taught. The older I become, the more grateful I am for this gift of living faith. I should not take it for granted. However, I cannot condemn others for not having God’s precious gift.

Q AHave you ever had a crisis of faith, or a gnawing doubt about your faith? Thank God, I most certainly have — and often, too. It is by crises that faith grows. Doubt is not the opposite of faith; certainty is. If I’m “certain” about everything, why would I need faith to make that blind leap of trust? If I have all the answers, then I don’t need God. “Never waste a good crisis” is an axiom of spiritual direction. Thank God for all those crises; without them, I would be insufferable.

Q AHave you ever been angry with God? And, if so, why? Yes, of course, I feel anger when I don’t understand why terrible things happen — especially to the innocent. Having to bury little children makes no sense and when I do it, I’m angry and broken-hearted. I hope I never stop being angry when terrible things happen. Enniskillen, Omagh and countless atrocities left me in a furious muddle. Starving people and wasted food should make us all angry. Why does God allow it? Or, more accurately, why did God have to give us free will which causes so much suffering? Anyway, the Bible, particularly the Psalms, shows us that expressing anger to God is an acceptable way to pray.

Q ADo you ever get criticised for your faith? And are you able to live with that criticism? Being in the public eye for around half a century means I get criticised at all times, but I also get praised excessively. The most public criticism came from the Vatican, who disliked my expression of faith so much that they wanted to silence me altogether. The whole thing was ridiculous.

I had to choose between being angry or putting it behind me, so I chose to put it behind me. Sir Terry Wogan used to tell me that, one year, he was voted the most popular man on TV and also voted the most detested man on the box. He explained that this is the absolute pinnacle of fame. “After that, it’s all downhill,” he joked.

It’s not whether people agree or not that matters, but do I help them to think deeply enough to agree or disagree? That’s the whole point of journalism — to facilitate people in their search for truth.

Q AAre you afraid to die? Or can you look beyond death? The older I get, the less afraid I become. My constant prayer is “Into your hands O Lord I commend my spirit”. I’ll put my future in God’s hands.

Q AAre you ever ashamed of your own Church, or denomination? I try to speak the truth, but I make many mistakes. I’ve learned that, when my Church covers up scandals, I should be ashamed. So, I name it, say it and get on with it. If I wanted to join a perfect Church, it would become imperfect as soon as I joined it. There is no such thing as a perfect Church.

QAre you worried about the prospect of Hell?

Hell, for me, is to condemn myself to an eternity of utter selfishness and to be eternally aware that I personally and freely chose this eternity without the possibility of love.

AQDo you believe in a resurrection and, if so, what will it be like?

Yes, I do. It’s what sustains me. I have no idea what heaven will be like, nor do I need to know. I’m content to let God be God. The God of Surprises will make it all worthwhile at precisely the most opportune moment.

AQ AWould you be comfortable in stepping out from your own faith and trying to learn something from other people? I do that day and daily. God speaks his love in a myriad of ways. Do y o u think that the Churches here are fulfilling their mission?

We, in our various Churches, are failing, because we are becoming irrelevant in peoples’ lives. When will we become humble enough to ask this generation how to communicate God’s saving word with them? Fr Darcy’s favourites: Wise words from Sir Terry Wogan,

film A Star is Born and singer Kris Kristofferson

What do you think about people of other denominations and other faiths?

From my earliest days, I was taught to respect every person of goodwill. God was saving people aeons before any Church — and still does. Just let God be God. Don’t blaspheme by trying to limit God’s love. Be grateful for what God is doing for me and others. Leave it at that.

QQAQAWhy are many people turning their back on organised religion?

AIf I knew the answer to that, I would do something about it. My daily prayer is to ask God to forgive me for failing his people.

Q AHas religion helped or hindered the people of Northern Ireland? Religion has both helped and hindered. Awful crimes are committed in the name of supposed religion.

However, wonderful, loving, heroic people continue to rescue the poorest of the poor through the power and support of their religion. Brave religious leaders worked tirelessly for peace and still do. Good and bad co-exist side-by-side.

Q AWhat is your favourite music, book and film? My favourite book is Cannery Row by John Steinbeck. He is such a beautiful writer. I tend to love the last film I have seen — in this case, A Star is Born.

Musically, two of my favourites are Daniel O’Donnell and Nathan Carter, but my favourite singer of all time is Kris Kristofferson.

His song Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends is the story of life itself.

Aregrets? Veteran

cleric: priest and journalist Fr Brian

D’Arcy

I regret that I did not speak out sooner about the social injustices and suffering that I have witnessed.

I also regret not being married and having a family, but that was not possible for me as a priest. However, I have never regretted being a priest.