Why should we be so afraid to say yes, I believe in God?
Madam Editor, The vast majority of Catholics in Ireland and all over the world are only realizing now that we have been systematically bullied and robbed of our freedom to discuss or practice our religion. We are afraid to say I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, including you and me. Half the adults in Ireland have come through Catholic homes and schools where we learned about God, The Ten Commandments, Prayers and the Saints. We came through the Churches with Mass, the Sacraments and the Gospels. We were proud to walk through the Streets in the Corpus Christi Processions carrying the Blessed Sacrament and singing Faith of our Fathers , We Will Be True to Thee ‘ Till Death; a time when there were Sodalities and Confraternities for men and women; 3 Day Ceremonies at Easter. We had May Altars in Schools and homes, and we wore the Sacred Heart Badge in June. We made the Sign of the Cross passing Churches and Cemeteries, we knew right from wrong and we had respect for elders, parents, Garda and Teachers. The Famine had passed, Priests and Nuns were spreading the Gospel, building Hospitals and schools, but even with all that education and training we were not able to withstand the TV , the Radio and the Media in general when they told us that our Re- ligion was old fashioned, and backward.. Subconsciously we lapped up their advice, stopped talking about God and Religion because it was TABOO and only led to arguments, SPORT became the new religion and the only time for practice and games was Sunday morning. We stopped going to Mass and the Sacraments. It didn’t happen overnight and now in 2017 we have elected Representatives in our Government who are Renouncing Christ; objecting to opening prayers at meetings, referring to Catholic Teachings as codswallop and poppycock; the same people who Renounced Satan and all his Works and all his Evil Prompts only a few years ago. As a Nation we are brainwashed, sitting ducks to be robbed of our freedom to practice our Religion, in our Schools, our homes, forget our Catholic up- bringing because it might OFFEND people with other forms of Religion who by the way may practice as they wish. The people who are definitely OFFENDED by this sustained war against God, Good Friday, Prayers before work or meetings, are the Catholics acknowledging their belief in and total dependence on God, the Father Almighty, who created us and everything we have. Why should we be so afraid to say YES, I BELIEVE IN GOD. Yours sincerely Mary Kelly- White