We will remember them
100th anniversary of the end of World War One
A PRIEST has upset some of his audience by criticising Britain’s arms trade during Hinckley’s Remembrance Day service.
Many people complained about Father Frank Daly’s speech which he delivered to a large audience in Argents Mead on Sunday.
The minister from St Peter’s Catholic Church spoke of the contribution to the economy of the arms industry
He said: “How can we pray for peace when we are producing the very means of destroying it? “This is the greatest hypocrisy.” Paul Crankshaw from Hinckley was at the service and said that people around him were grumbling as Fr Frank spoke.
He said: “There is a time and place for preaching one’s opinions about political issues of the day.
“The remembrance service at the war memorial on November 11 is most definitely not one of them.
“I hope that he acknowledges that it was inappropriate for him to air those views at what was otherwise a respectful and well supported service that the people of Hinckley should be proud of.”
Many people reacted online with some saying it spoiled their day while others appreciated the clergyman’s boldness in raising current issues.
Mick Kirkham said on the Leicestershire Live Facebook page: “Did he tell any lies?
“War leaves devastation in its wake. I think this man is full of decency.
“He is not only respectful of those who have suffered in conflict but mindful of the profiteering made on the back of human sacrifice.
“Bravo Father Frank, Well said sir.”
Responding to the reaction, Father Frank said he was just telling the truth and that the angry responses proved his point that “every angry word, every selfish thought or action” shames the memory of those who served.
He said: “I’m sorry people are offended but I thought about what I said very carefully.
“It’s based on the word of God and the letter of Saint James.
“A lot of people came up to me afterwards and said they were very happy with it.”
Fr Frank also condemned in his address the hostile environment towards migrants preventing them from finding asylum here “because we feel they are just ‘migrants’ and a drain an our economy”.
He asked listeners if any of them had actually met a refugee.
On Sunday he said: “How can we turn them away when they have escaped the very thing we are commemorating today?”
Explaining further on Monday, Father Frank said: “These are important issues. These are things we should be ashamed of.
“I was quoting scripture, not my own opinion.
“People will make of it what they will.”
However, Ian Gallagher from Hinckley said: “It completely spoiled what should have been a respectful occasion.
“Remembrance Day should never be about any individuals, it should only ever be about collectively paying your respects.
“But Fr Frank clearly didn’t get the memo.
“Fr Frank totally abused his platform, using it as an opportunity to air his political beliefs.”
He said: “Plenty of people were talking openly about how offensive and inappropriate it was, and plenty of others were leaving.”