Sir – For 40 years working in English Catholic secondary schools (including 15 as a principal), I was very aware of the great advantage to the Catholic community of the close co-operation between schools, parishes and homes in respect of sacramental preparation.
For almost 50 years parish catechists have played a major and ever-increasing role in First Communion and Confession preparation. In the case of those attending non-RC schools, the two years of Saturday morning classes was, and is, generally the norm.
At age 14 and 15, Confirmation preparation is then carried out in its entirety with trained catechists and it usually includes a residential retreat. Schools have no part in Confirmation, other than joining in the parish and family celebrations.
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Significant numbers of teachers volunteer as catechists and one of the greatest advantages of the English system is that it has led to significant numbers of theologically literate adults in every parish.
The question I ask myself is, why is the Irish church so far behind in involving parishioners in the teaching role of its parishes? I wonder when our rural dioceses will rise to the Dublin challenge?
Alan Whelan,
Killarney, Co Kerry
Children’s hospital is euro-gobbling beast
Sir – Irish citizens have been mugged once again by the politicians.
Given the handling of the construction of the new National Children’s Hospital, Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Independents have a great deal to answer for. The claim by the Health Minister that the cost of the hospital will rise again because of additional claims by the contractor beggars belief and demonstrates woeful incompetence by the Government in the formulation of the costing and construction contracts.
That a modern children’s hospital could not have been built for €1.4bn, or less, is also stunning – not to mention its seemingly mindless choice of location, right in the hard-to-access middle of the city centre.
This overly ambitious project has, as predicted, become a euro-gobbling monster at a time when so many sectors – health, homelessness, the caring and respite organisations – are underfunded. Fine Gael and the Independents, together with their ‘pillar party’ Fianna Fail, are displaying a level of gross negligence and incompetence akin to that shown by Fianna Fail just before the crash.
The gross national debt is now approaching €228bn with annual interest at €10.4bn and clocking up interest of €329 per second (from Government sources). Less than three years ago it was €214bn.
For all of the nation, to survive and move forward, a coalition of the best minds and hearts is vital. Party politics is dead. It is time to ‘wise up’.
Joe Brennan,
Ballinspittle, Co Cork
Poorly served by political system
Sir – When it was difficult to do so, Leo Varadkar challenged the description of the whistle-blowers as being ‘disgusting’, by instead calling them ‘distinguished’. A star was born… or so we thought.
A lot of water under the bridge since then and where are we now? Well, Leo now thinks there is absolutely nothing wrong with a TD collecting full pay-perks and expenses while doing a ‘nixer’ in Europe.
Not only does he see nothing wrong, he actively defends and even encouraged this behaviour, hiding behind the fact that it is “not illegal”.
Remember the picture of the child sitting on the street, eating his dinner off a piece of cardboard? Or the 90-year-old lady languishing on a hospital trolley? Or the homeless man dying outside the Dail just before Christmas.
All these things happened while a TD, with full support and encouragement of the Taoiseach, helped himself to over €140,000 without even having to show up for work? We are poorly served by a political system that promotes morally bankrupt people in the ethics-free zone of Dail Eireann. Who can we possibly vote for in the spring?
Gerard Barrett
Sandyford, Dublin 16
Why it’s one rule for privileged few
Sir – Fr Peter McVerry’s much-publicised letter during the past week summed up where Ireland is at present.
He describes the very different treatment that is dished out to the haves and the have-nots of this State – a homeless boy charged in court with the theft of a bottle of orange worth €1, and another homeless man charged with the theft of four bars of chocolate valued at €3.
Meanwhile, a TD can sign in at Dail Eireann on his way to another well-paid job in Brussels, so that he can collect his full expenses of €51,600 on top of his wages, and escape any sanction.
The men and women who fought and died to free this country are turning in their graves at this injustice. Do you remember how they enshrined a line in Irish hearts and minds, a line which states clearly that “all of the children of the nation should be treated equally”?
I just hope the voters remember it, too.
Tom Towey,
Cloonacool, Co Sligo
Where is fairness in our society?
Sir – we must ask ourselves the question, are we getting value for money from our politicians?
Having read Fr McVerry’s letter during the week, it certainly makes one wonder about fairness in society.
We have two huge elephants in the room with regard to our little country, housing and health. The ongoing saga with lack of social housing, plus the further increase in homelessness is disgraceful – and the problematic Health Service with the cervical smear catastrophe, more patients on trolleys in our hospitals with ongoing lip service and no sign of a fix.
Is it time to take these important issues out of political hands?
Apathy has most definitely set in, with the turnout for the four by-elections last week being less than 30pc in each of them. We must exercise our right to vote, or we will get more of the same with no right to complain!
Ken Maher,
Kilcoole, Co Wicklow
Playing by-election race card backfires
Sir – It is most gratifying that those candidates who have been associated with racist remarks, have failed to be elected in last Friday’s four by-elections.
Without doubt the electorate has rejected their xenophobic comments, in favour of candidates who supported a more inclusive society.
The results are sending out a clear message to existing and aspiring politicians, that if they use the race card, then they will not be supported by the Irish people in their bid for office.
Brendan Butler,
Malahide, Co Dublin
Murphy’s talents belong in haulage
Sir – I’m delighted that Verona Murphy will be deploying her undoubted talents steering the haulage industry through Brexit – rather than wasting her time sitting, or not, in the Dail.
Michael Foley,
Rathmines, Dublin 6
Most vulnerable, least vocal, suffer
Sir – Wayne O’Connor reported in your newspaper last week on the risk of Ireland’s largest dementia-only care facility closing (“Care home at risk of closing over shortfall”).
While our health service has to operate within a specific budget, it is not acceptable that the Government continually squanders taxpayers’ revenue.
The consequence of poor governance with the excessive overspend on the new National Children’s Hospital, the waste of the wages paid to the now departed Cork TD Dara Murphy, the disastrous national roll-out of broadband, are now coming home to roost.
As always, it’s the most vulnerable and least vocal that will suffer most.
Cynically, it seems projects that garner the most kudos and votes will always come first.
Frank Browne
Templeogue, Dublin 16
Switch off plan ‘a brilliant idea’
Sir – The letter “Stop the lights to save the planet” from Joe Hanley, of Virginia, Co Cavan (Sunday Independent, December 1) suggests a brilliant idea and it would not impact on anyone’s enjoyment of Christmas.
We would take more notice of beautifully lit businesses if we were not looking at them for so long.
December 8 is traditionally the day for getting started on Christmas preparations, and that’s early enough.
Many families must be stressed by bigger ESB bills coming on top of all the other things that are considered vital for a happy Christmas.
We worry about staying safe from outside forces when, sadly, we are our own worst enemies.
Cait Ni Chiosog,
Srath Domhain, An Chabhain
Co Cavan’s Scrooge needs to lighten up
Sir – In reply to the letter in last week’s paper “Stop the lights to save the planet”, is there any truth in the rumour that Ebenezer Scrooge has been spotted in Co Cavan?
No, no, no! Instead let’s party, with lights on from dusk till dawn.
John K Kenny,
Kilbarrack Road, Dublin 5
Missing points on direct provision
Sir – The author of an opinion piece on ‘direct provision’ in your newspaper last week neglected to mention two important points.
First, the cause of many of the long stays in direct provision is that the initial claim for asylum was rejected.
Instead of being deported, our legal system allows people to remain for years until, they hope, they get ‘leave to remain’ on compassionate grounds.
Second, many of those claiming asylum come from countries that could not be considered dangerous and in getting here, they bypassed many other safe countries, where they could have claimed asylum.
Emmet Fahy,
Rosslare Strand, Co Wexford
Ross’s dogged role in ‘outing’ FAI
Sir – Shane Ross has been one of the most caricatured politicians since Hall’s Pictorial Weekly brought us the Minister for Hardship and his colleague in Finance, Richie Ruin.
In what has been another bad week for the integrity of our politicians it is essential to commend Ross for his dogged role in ‘outing’ the staggering behaviour of the FAI, the absolutely shocking financial situation of which has just come to light.
Ross’s stance in this matter is a significant strike against the three-monkeys principle – see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil – that has also fostered utterly unacceptable behaviour in other sporting bodies.
Michael Gannon,
St Thomas’ Square, Kilkenny
Corbyn disingenuous over peace in North
Sir – I am sure your correspondent Miriam O’Callaghan (“In shallow politics of optics, a principled man looks like a joke”, Sunday Independent, December 1) is convinced of Jeremy Corbyn’s integrity and decency. I suspect she is in an ideologically influenced minority in this.
If his socialist principles are borne with such integrity, I’m curious how a man of such integrity has changed his stance on Brexit with the frequency of a chameleon?
I would also wonder why he consistently supported the most violent Irish republicans, and why he now disingenuously pretends he was “seeking peace” – and yet never met anyone on the loyalist side?
C Lynch,
Castletroy, Limerick
A serial dissenter against own party
Sir – Miriam O’Callaghan nailed her colours firmly to the Corbyn mast in her broadside against capitalism last week. She may have celebrated when she heard Corbyn, backed by the hard left, was elected leader of the British Labour Party – but many in that party didn’t.
Corbyn is a serial dissenter against the policies of his own party, going back to when he was first elected an MP in 1983. He voted against Labour 428 times. He took the side of insurgents throughout the world. He met Gerry Adams shortly after the Brighton bombing. He is a long-time critic of Nato and an EU-Leaver at heart.
Is Corbyn a suitable candidate to be UK prime minister? More than 100 of his own backbenchers don’t think so. Neither does the public.
The much maligned Tony Blair won three elections. Let’s see if Corbyn can match that.
Paddy McEvoy,
Cambridgeshire, UK
Label our meat products clearly
Sir – Those who choose a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle often do so because of animal welfare concerns. They should be commended, not ridiculed.
Most Irish farm animals have an enviable existence compared with their international counterparts. The production of grass-based meat and dairy products in Ireland not only ensures high-quality food, but also that animals are reared in a natural environment.
From my experience as a farm animal vet, I can attest to the dedication with which Irish farmers treat animals in their care. Countless times I have visited farms to treat sick or distressed animals, despite it making no economic sense for the farmer to pay for the visit.
The farmers who rear animals, and the public who consume them, are right to expect animal welfare standards to be upheld at all times.
It is therefore of concern that meat products in supermarkets do not indicate if an animal was slaughtered humanely or not, without being properly stunned.
With ritual slaughter – the term given to the specific dietary requirements of some religious faiths – stunning does not occur. While fully conscious, the animal has its throat cut and is allowed to bleed out. It can take up to three or four minutes for death to occur. In some meat processing factories in Ireland, this is the only method of slaughter carried out. Meat from these animals is packaged no differently to that of animals slaughtered in a humane fashion.
This is a huge betrayal of the public trust, who reasonably assume they are buying meat products where the animals have been treated with respect and dignity and, crucially, were not subject to unnecessary pain and suffering in their final moments.
It is the legal right of devotees of certain faiths to consume meat resulting from ritual slaughter. If these products were clearly labelled, those who consider ritual slaughter to be legitimate could continue consuming it, according to their beliefs.
While we await labelling regulation reform, I challenge non-ritual meat producers to voluntarily state this on packaging. Restaurant menus should do likewise. We could thus choose less cruelty and more humanity.
Colm de Barra,
Clongriffin, Dublin
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Home » Analysis & Comment » Letters to the Editor: 'Church teaching role flaws'
Letters to the Editor: 'Church teaching role flaws'
Sir – For 40 years working in English Catholic secondary schools (including 15 as a principal), I was very aware of the great advantage to the Catholic community of the close co-operation between schools, parishes and homes in respect of sacramental preparation.
For almost 50 years parish catechists have played a major and ever-increasing role in First Communion and Confession preparation. In the case of those attending non-RC schools, the two years of Saturday morning classes was, and is, generally the norm.
At age 14 and 15, Confirmation preparation is then carried out in its entirety with trained catechists and it usually includes a residential retreat. Schools have no part in Confirmation, other than joining in the parish and family celebrations.
Please log in or register with Independent.ie for free access to this article.
Log In
New to Independent.ie? Create an account
Significant numbers of teachers volunteer as catechists and one of the greatest advantages of the English system is that it has led to significant numbers of theologically literate adults in every parish.
The question I ask myself is, why is the Irish church so far behind in involving parishioners in the teaching role of its parishes? I wonder when our rural dioceses will rise to the Dublin challenge?
Alan Whelan,
Killarney, Co Kerry
Children’s hospital is euro-gobbling beast
Sir – Irish citizens have been mugged once again by the politicians.
Given the handling of the construction of the new National Children’s Hospital, Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Independents have a great deal to answer for. The claim by the Health Minister that the cost of the hospital will rise again because of additional claims by the contractor beggars belief and demonstrates woeful incompetence by the Government in the formulation of the costing and construction contracts.
That a modern children’s hospital could not have been built for €1.4bn, or less, is also stunning – not to mention its seemingly mindless choice of location, right in the hard-to-access middle of the city centre.
This overly ambitious project has, as predicted, become a euro-gobbling monster at a time when so many sectors – health, homelessness, the caring and respite organisations – are underfunded. Fine Gael and the Independents, together with their ‘pillar party’ Fianna Fail, are displaying a level of gross negligence and incompetence akin to that shown by Fianna Fail just before the crash.
The gross national debt is now approaching €228bn with annual interest at €10.4bn and clocking up interest of €329 per second (from Government sources). Less than three years ago it was €214bn.
For all of the nation, to survive and move forward, a coalition of the best minds and hearts is vital. Party politics is dead. It is time to ‘wise up’.
Joe Brennan,
Ballinspittle, Co Cork
Poorly served by political system
Sir – When it was difficult to do so, Leo Varadkar challenged the description of the whistle-blowers as being ‘disgusting’, by instead calling them ‘distinguished’. A star was born… or so we thought.
A lot of water under the bridge since then and where are we now? Well, Leo now thinks there is absolutely nothing wrong with a TD collecting full pay-perks and expenses while doing a ‘nixer’ in Europe.
Not only does he see nothing wrong, he actively defends and even encouraged this behaviour, hiding behind the fact that it is “not illegal”.
Remember the picture of the child sitting on the street, eating his dinner off a piece of cardboard? Or the 90-year-old lady languishing on a hospital trolley? Or the homeless man dying outside the Dail just before Christmas.
All these things happened while a TD, with full support and encouragement of the Taoiseach, helped himself to over €140,000 without even having to show up for work? We are poorly served by a political system that promotes morally bankrupt people in the ethics-free zone of Dail Eireann. Who can we possibly vote for in the spring?
Gerard Barrett
Sandyford, Dublin 16
Why it’s one rule for privileged few
Sir – Fr Peter McVerry’s much-publicised letter during the past week summed up where Ireland is at present.
He describes the very different treatment that is dished out to the haves and the have-nots of this State – a homeless boy charged in court with the theft of a bottle of orange worth €1, and another homeless man charged with the theft of four bars of chocolate valued at €3.
Meanwhile, a TD can sign in at Dail Eireann on his way to another well-paid job in Brussels, so that he can collect his full expenses of €51,600 on top of his wages, and escape any sanction.
The men and women who fought and died to free this country are turning in their graves at this injustice. Do you remember how they enshrined a line in Irish hearts and minds, a line which states clearly that “all of the children of the nation should be treated equally”?
I just hope the voters remember it, too.
Tom Towey,
Cloonacool, Co Sligo
Where is fairness in our society?
Sir – we must ask ourselves the question, are we getting value for money from our politicians?
Having read Fr McVerry’s letter during the week, it certainly makes one wonder about fairness in society.
We have two huge elephants in the room with regard to our little country, housing and health. The ongoing saga with lack of social housing, plus the further increase in homelessness is disgraceful – and the problematic Health Service with the cervical smear catastrophe, more patients on trolleys in our hospitals with ongoing lip service and no sign of a fix.
Is it time to take these important issues out of political hands?
Apathy has most definitely set in, with the turnout for the four by-elections last week being less than 30pc in each of them. We must exercise our right to vote, or we will get more of the same with no right to complain!
Ken Maher,
Kilcoole, Co Wicklow
Playing by-election race card backfires
Sir – It is most gratifying that those candidates who have been associated with racist remarks, have failed to be elected in last Friday’s four by-elections.
Without doubt the electorate has rejected their xenophobic comments, in favour of candidates who supported a more inclusive society.
The results are sending out a clear message to existing and aspiring politicians, that if they use the race card, then they will not be supported by the Irish people in their bid for office.
Brendan Butler,
Malahide, Co Dublin
Murphy’s talents belong in haulage
Sir – I’m delighted that Verona Murphy will be deploying her undoubted talents steering the haulage industry through Brexit – rather than wasting her time sitting, or not, in the Dail.
Michael Foley,
Rathmines, Dublin 6
Most vulnerable, least vocal, suffer
Sir – Wayne O’Connor reported in your newspaper last week on the risk of Ireland’s largest dementia-only care facility closing (“Care home at risk of closing over shortfall”).
While our health service has to operate within a specific budget, it is not acceptable that the Government continually squanders taxpayers’ revenue.
The consequence of poor governance with the excessive overspend on the new National Children’s Hospital, the waste of the wages paid to the now departed Cork TD Dara Murphy, the disastrous national roll-out of broadband, are now coming home to roost.
As always, it’s the most vulnerable and least vocal that will suffer most.
Cynically, it seems projects that garner the most kudos and votes will always come first.
Frank Browne
Templeogue, Dublin 16
Switch off plan ‘a brilliant idea’
Sir – The letter “Stop the lights to save the planet” from Joe Hanley, of Virginia, Co Cavan (Sunday Independent, December 1) suggests a brilliant idea and it would not impact on anyone’s enjoyment of Christmas.
We would take more notice of beautifully lit businesses if we were not looking at them for so long.
December 8 is traditionally the day for getting started on Christmas preparations, and that’s early enough.
Many families must be stressed by bigger ESB bills coming on top of all the other things that are considered vital for a happy Christmas.
We worry about staying safe from outside forces when, sadly, we are our own worst enemies.
Cait Ni Chiosog,
Srath Domhain, An Chabhain
Co Cavan’s Scrooge needs to lighten up
Sir – In reply to the letter in last week’s paper “Stop the lights to save the planet”, is there any truth in the rumour that Ebenezer Scrooge has been spotted in Co Cavan?
No, no, no! Instead let’s party, with lights on from dusk till dawn.
John K Kenny,
Kilbarrack Road, Dublin 5
Missing points on direct provision
Sir – The author of an opinion piece on ‘direct provision’ in your newspaper last week neglected to mention two important points.
First, the cause of many of the long stays in direct provision is that the initial claim for asylum was rejected.
Instead of being deported, our legal system allows people to remain for years until, they hope, they get ‘leave to remain’ on compassionate grounds.
Second, many of those claiming asylum come from countries that could not be considered dangerous and in getting here, they bypassed many other safe countries, where they could have claimed asylum.
Emmet Fahy,
Rosslare Strand, Co Wexford
Ross’s dogged role in ‘outing’ FAI
Sir – Shane Ross has been one of the most caricatured politicians since Hall’s Pictorial Weekly brought us the Minister for Hardship and his colleague in Finance, Richie Ruin.
In what has been another bad week for the integrity of our politicians it is essential to commend Ross for his dogged role in ‘outing’ the staggering behaviour of the FAI, the absolutely shocking financial situation of which has just come to light.
Ross’s stance in this matter is a significant strike against the three-monkeys principle – see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil – that has also fostered utterly unacceptable behaviour in other sporting bodies.
Michael Gannon,
St Thomas’ Square, Kilkenny
Corbyn disingenuous over peace in North
Sir – I am sure your correspondent Miriam O’Callaghan (“In shallow politics of optics, a principled man looks like a joke”, Sunday Independent, December 1) is convinced of Jeremy Corbyn’s integrity and decency. I suspect she is in an ideologically influenced minority in this.
If his socialist principles are borne with such integrity, I’m curious how a man of such integrity has changed his stance on Brexit with the frequency of a chameleon?
I would also wonder why he consistently supported the most violent Irish republicans, and why he now disingenuously pretends he was “seeking peace” – and yet never met anyone on the loyalist side?
C Lynch,
Castletroy, Limerick
A serial dissenter against own party
Sir – Miriam O’Callaghan nailed her colours firmly to the Corbyn mast in her broadside against capitalism last week. She may have celebrated when she heard Corbyn, backed by the hard left, was elected leader of the British Labour Party – but many in that party didn’t.
Corbyn is a serial dissenter against the policies of his own party, going back to when he was first elected an MP in 1983. He voted against Labour 428 times. He took the side of insurgents throughout the world. He met Gerry Adams shortly after the Brighton bombing. He is a long-time critic of Nato and an EU-Leaver at heart.
Is Corbyn a suitable candidate to be UK prime minister? More than 100 of his own backbenchers don’t think so. Neither does the public.
The much maligned Tony Blair won three elections. Let’s see if Corbyn can match that.
Paddy McEvoy,
Cambridgeshire, UK
Label our meat products clearly
Sir – Those who choose a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle often do so because of animal welfare concerns. They should be commended, not ridiculed.
Most Irish farm animals have an enviable existence compared with their international counterparts. The production of grass-based meat and dairy products in Ireland not only ensures high-quality food, but also that animals are reared in a natural environment.
From my experience as a farm animal vet, I can attest to the dedication with which Irish farmers treat animals in their care. Countless times I have visited farms to treat sick or distressed animals, despite it making no economic sense for the farmer to pay for the visit.
The farmers who rear animals, and the public who consume them, are right to expect animal welfare standards to be upheld at all times.
It is therefore of concern that meat products in supermarkets do not indicate if an animal was slaughtered humanely or not, without being properly stunned.
With ritual slaughter – the term given to the specific dietary requirements of some religious faiths – stunning does not occur. While fully conscious, the animal has its throat cut and is allowed to bleed out. It can take up to three or four minutes for death to occur. In some meat processing factories in Ireland, this is the only method of slaughter carried out. Meat from these animals is packaged no differently to that of animals slaughtered in a humane fashion.
This is a huge betrayal of the public trust, who reasonably assume they are buying meat products where the animals have been treated with respect and dignity and, crucially, were not subject to unnecessary pain and suffering in their final moments.
It is the legal right of devotees of certain faiths to consume meat resulting from ritual slaughter. If these products were clearly labelled, those who consider ritual slaughter to be legitimate could continue consuming it, according to their beliefs.
While we await labelling regulation reform, I challenge non-ritual meat producers to voluntarily state this on packaging. Restaurant menus should do likewise. We could thus choose less cruelty and more humanity.
Colm de Barra,
Clongriffin, Dublin
Source: Read Full Article