The Pope can’t fix the Church all on his own
POPE Francis has come and gone, and it is interesting to note how his visit meant so many different things to so many different people in a fractionated population with regard to the Catholic Church.
To most people of all persuasions and nationalities living in Ireland it was a memorable event, especially among those who were physically close to him, who shook hands and spoke with him. But among a sizeable percentage of Catholics, amongst whom those directly hurt by clerical abuse, opinions differ.
For some, Pope Francis was sufficiently touched and apologetic for the behaviour of some of his clerical representatives, for some others his visit and what he said was disappointing and for a minority of them it was a total travesty.
Perhaps the latter expected the Pope to openly say: ‘Now I will sack all those responsible for covering-up the abuses and here is X number of millions from the Vatican to compensate the abuse victims.’ Would this have appeased them?
Yes, he could have been more proactive in his intentions to make good what he classified as a deep wound for the Church, although it is quite well known that he alone cannot radically change what seems to be an endemic modus operandi amongst those who surround him in the Vatican. Not without the full support of his curia.
It all points to the fact that for a long time, apart from the cover-up attitude about abuses amongst high-ranking members of the clergy in and outside the Vatican, there has been a tendency to hide certain facts from this Pope or popes in general.
Apparently the Pontiff, at a crucial meeting with eight abuse victims, when informed about the infamous Magdalene laundries, was taken by surprise as he apparently knew nothing or very little about them.
At any rate it is hoped by all that in due time Pope Francis will do a proper clean-up of the Vatican starting from his curia as well as outside the Vatican and will make a factual gesture towards reparation in one form or another for the damages suffered by some of his Catholic flock in Ireland at the hands of the clergy, although this may not happen soon enough.
CONCETTO LA MALFA, Dublin 4. ...WHAT a disgraceful admission by Minister Simon Coveney that he had to bribe his five-year-old daughter with the promise of a new kitten in order that she would greet the Pope.
Mr Coveney there are thousands of other children in the country who would have been delighted to have had that honour and that is what you should have told your child.
It is so typical of our politicians today. But a senior minister?! Shame on you, Mr Coveney.
TONY MOONEY, Dublin 9.
RTÉ bias?
RTÉ is dominated by Irish speakers.
TG4 and other Gaelic-speaking units are being used as vehicles for back-door entry. Irish speakers are given preferential treatment for further careers in what are in reality, mainly English language programmes.
In this publicly funded national broadcaster this is a deliberate discrimination against the 85% of non-Irish-speaking people.
Please note, a majority of patriots, poets and heroes of this State throughout its history spoke the English language.
RTÉ, throughout its history in choosing candidates for lucrative careers, have looked to the west. HARRY MULHERN,
by email.
Venezuela madhouse
THE saying ‘not worth the paper it’s printed on’ takes a new and sad low point with the Venezuelan currency, the bolivar.
The recent photos in many papers of a roll of toilet paper costing over 2.5million bolivar, a pile of paper far larger than the toilet roll, reinforces the farcical situation.
If they bought a roll of toilet paper they would end up with less paper!
The political solution of simply removing a few zeroes from the notes denomination is a zero value or actually a negative answer. It simply destroys any savings, salaries and stored values.
The UN needs to look at how to manage a number of these countries as they lead to very depressed economies and people.
These people have a right to be able to work, save and live a reasonable life.
Admittedly they have many other, probably more serious, problems to solve but the stability in the world’s economies will reduce conflicts.
Return value to people’s work and lives. DENNIS FITZGERALD,
by email.
Canny Áras arithmetic
WITH the Presidential election looming, here is something we could consider.
If we do not re-elect Michael D Higgins we will have to pay him a hefty pension while paying a full salary to his successor.
So if we elect him we will save on that pension, effectively having his services for half the price.
In addition, at the end of his 14 years’ service we will only have to pay one pension instead of two.
It’s time for the voters to inflict a financial hair shirt on Government rather than the other way round. JOHN MELIA,
by email.