SIR – What was not highlighted in the story of 1916 was the strong, vibrant faith of the Irish Volunteers. The rosary was recited by all in the GPO and other rebel locations. Confessions were heard every day. The spiritual needs of the leaders were well cared for by the Capuchin priests before execution.
There is a great similarity between Ireland and Poland in the fusion of faith and nationalism in the psyche of their respective peoples, which is strongly evident in the course of the history of both countries. Ireland, in its predominantly Catholic population, endured cruel oppression for centuries. Catholic Poland in more recent years suffered brutal oppression from Nazism and communism. There is relevance in the stories of Fr Murphy of Boolavogue and St Maximilian Kolbe, the Polish priest at Auschwitz. A future Archbishop of Dublin, Daniel Murray, as a young priest in Arklow in 1798 had to flee for his life when his parish priest was murdered by the Yeomen.
It is not “politically correct” in 2016 to mention faith and nationalism combined as a vibrant part of DNA in Irish people. We must not forget our forefathers’ motto, Do chum glorie De agus onoir na h-Eireann – “For the glory of God and honour of Ireland”.
Yours faithfully,
Fr Con McGillicuddy
Dublin
SIR – I have to say I found Will Heaven’s take on the “Baby on Board” badge available for expectant mothers to wear on public transport rather cynical (Notebook, April 1).
As one whose wife had to negotiate a daily commute to London during three pregnancies, I for one was glad to know that her very visible badge helped remind fellow commuters to do what should respectfully be the natural and decent thing – by giving up their seat.
I’ve also witnessed fellow passengers discreetly congratulating these pregnant women on their babies and enquiring about the due date, sparking all sorts of friendly conversations. Perhaps he will feel differently about it should his own wife become visibly pregnant and have to use public transport.
In his Message for the World Day of Peace in 2009, Benedict XVI wisely reminded us that the unborn are the “poorest of all human beings”, so if wearing a badge helps gain a tiny but significant mark of respect for our voiceless unseen poorest brothers and sisters, then may expectant mothers wear it with pride and dignity. In its own way Transport for London and the “Baby on Board” badge are probably being more pro-life than we realise. In the culture we live in, let us be grateful for it.
Yours faithfully,
Edmund Adamus
London. SW1
SIR – I refer to Dr Edward Condon’s letter (April 8), stating that the pontifical secret did not prevent reporting to the police and that it only applied to Church documents “submitted to the Holy See”. Article 25 of Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela of 2001 and Article 30 of its revised version of 2010 apply the pontifical secret to “cases” of child sexual abuse in accordance with Article 1(4) of the Instruction Secreta Continere. The pontifical secret imposes a permanent silence on child sexual abuse by clerics, and is not confined to documents sent to the Holy See. It applies to “extrajudicial denunciations”, ie the allegation itself as well as any information obtained through preliminary investigations under Canon 1717. It has only one exception – the accused cleric can be told if it is necessary for his defence. An exception was given in 2010 to require obedience to civil reporting laws.
My interpretation is confirmed by statements of the Roman Curia, particularly in the years 2001-2002, and by canon lawyers such as Beal, Cafardi, Dooley, Stenson, Delaney and Austin, and the almost universal practice of not reporting, all of which is set out in my book, Potiphar’s Wife: The Vatican’s Secret Child Sexual Abuse (ATF Press, 2014). The accuracy of my analysis has been confirmed by the canon lawyer, Fr Tom Doyle OP.
The Murphy Commission found that canon law facilitated the cover up in Dublin archdiocese, and a similar finding was made by the Massachusetts attorney general’s report into the Boston abuses.
Yours faithfully,
Kieran Tapsell
By email
SIR – Dr Deborah Jones argues that “celibate clergy, missing proximity with women, fail to see through the eyes of a gender other than their own”, with “disastrous consequences throughout history: the male view is stamped upon Church teaching in every field, just as my world is understood through solely female eyes” (Letter, April 1). But celibate priests were both brought into the world and brought up by women, and having “proximity” to a sympathetic mother might be more conducive to empathy with women than proximity to an unsympathetic wife. More significantly, they have “proximity” to the female view via the Confessional. Moreover, although women see the world through women’s eyes, they also see other women through women’s eyes, and can more easily see through them than can men.
The pioneers of modern feminism recognised that women were women’s greatest critics, and that this was a greater obstacle to their movement than male opposition. The “female view” is far from a monolith; the vast majority of Catholic women appear to approve of a celibate male priesthood – if not, they would have voted with their feet long ago. Women are certainly good at multi-tasking, but in denominations with married clergy, congregations expect clergymen’s wives to play a full part in the running of the parish, without remuneration – a kind of “buy one, get one free” approach that hardly fits with the modern view of female equality.
Yours faithfully,
Ann Farmer (Mrs)
Woodford Green, Essex
SIR – Deborah Jones describes some of the limited insights of the unmarried. Many married people describe their limitations too. We all very much need spiritual insights.
For sure, that’s why the Church has frequently made efforts to support Our Saviour’s predilection for celibacy. Classical spiritual literature well illustrates celibacy’s outstanding insights, not of course limited to, but very much the fruit of, a persevering, more exclusive loving commitment to the Saviour. We stand in need more than ever of priests dedicated to this way of life with its greater opportunity for helpful spiritual insight. Without this, there will be no real vital progress or lasting increase in vocations.
Yours faithfully,
Fr Bryan Storey
Tintagel, Cornwall
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.