Sunday Newsletter

Masses Today

6.30: Gerry, Jack & Bridget Ward, (Anniv).
11.00: Tim & Bella Murray, (Anniv).
6.30: Deceased members of the Taylor family, (Anniv).

As I Was Saying...

The Catholic bishops spoke out collectively this week on sexual matters for the first time in a decade perhaps. They were responding to the Report of the Oireachtas Committee on Child Protection which had recently recommended that the age of sexual consent be reduced from 17 to 16 years.

It was a timely intervention on the part of the bishops: "Children need to be protected not only from irresponsible adults but also from themselves, until they reach the age of maturity, now considered to be 18" their statement read. Young people are legally forbidden to purchase a Lotto ticket until they reach 18 years; yet it is proposed to reduce the age of consent for sexual intercourse to 16! I fear we have lost the plot.

Commenting on the bishops' statement later, Dr. Walsh of Killaloe referred to the general reticence of politicians and parents to involve themselves publicly in this debate: "This topic is the Elephant in the Living Room" he stated. "We are all greatly aware of its presence, but it is not politically correct to draw attention to this embarrassing intruder."

Willie Walsh is right, of course. For the last ten years at least, there has been a most peculiar dynamic at work in public debate and discussion here. It is not now 'politically correct' to discuss sexuality in terms of traditional Catholic morality. The bishops recognised this in their statement and expressed alarm at the development. They registered their "deep concern at the lack of any reference to the moral issues involved" in the committee report. Any explicit references to the immorality of premarital sexual intercourse must be filtered out for public consumption!

Ironically, at a time when every cracked nut in the land is permitted to pronounce on matters sexual, the Catholic hierarchy find themselves cowed into silence on the matter!

'Ireland has changed', we are told ad nauseam. But not all change is positive. For example, our teenagers are increasingly exposed to sustained messages from the pornography and sex industries which, amongst others, include:

These messages are packaged alongside other much more disturbing messages about rape and group sex - seeking to equally normalise these.

So, there are very dubious forces intent on having the above messages generally believed. All of this is neatly disguised as championing liberty and the rights of oppressed teenagers. (What teenager doesn't feel constrained and oppressed?!)

But, does the data on teenage sexual activity really back this up? And much more importantly, against the backdrop of the persistent messages in pornography, is it acceptable, or even ethical, to lower the age of consent? Here, at least, the bishops have got it right: "Lowering the age of consent to 16 sends out the wrong signal to a young generation who, under the influence of teenage glossy magazines, peer pressure and binge drinking, feel engaging in sexual activity is something trivial and recreational." But will cowardice or conviction win out?

-Dick Lyng

Items of Some Interest

Christmas Programme, 2006

Sunday, 10th at 11.00: Christmas Mass of Giving.
Sunday 17th at 11.00: Nativity Play & Mass.
Sunday, 17th at 3.00: Console 'Service of Light'.
Sunday, 17th at 4.30: Carol Service in St. Nicholas'.
PENITENTIAL SERVICES (AMNESTY)
Tuesday, 19th: 7.30pm.
Thursday, 21st: 7.30pm.
Saturday, 23rd: 4.30pm.
CONFESSIONS:
Tuesday, 19th: 11.30-12.30; 3.30-4.30.
Wednesday 20th: 12.00-12.45; 3.30-5.30.
Thursday 21st: 11.30-12.30; 3.30-5.30.
Friday, 22nd: 11.30-1.00; 3.30-5.30.
Saturday, 23rd: 11.30-1.00; 3.00-4.00.
Sunday, 24th: No 6.30 evening Mass
CHRISTMAS MASSES:
12.00 Midnight.
11.00am Christmas morning.
WEEKDAY PROGRAMME:
Tuesday, 26th Dec to Tuesday, Jan 2nd: 11.00am Mass only.
Sunday, December 31st: Usual Sunday Programme
PRIORY OFFICE
Office will reopen on Tuesday, January 2nd.

St. Nicholas Comes to Town

Despite the unrelenting, storm-driven rain, the Feast of St. Nicholas was celebrated on Wednesday night last with great pomp and splendour. The doughty saint arrived promptly at 7.00pm on board the Irish naval vessel, LÉ Eithne. It was the final stop of his 3,000 journey from Myra in Turkey. Some local dignitaries boarded the vessel for a drinks reception hosted by the ship's captain and three commissioned officers. Even before the drink's reception, it was apparent to all but the hopelessly naive that the long journey had taken its toll on the aging saint. Unsure of foot and slurred of speech, he showed all the characteristic symptoms associated with severe seasickness!

Accompanied by his naughty foil Grampus, he staggered down the gangway to the tumultuous cheers the assembled bannerbearing citizens of the town. He was led in procession to his own church by drummers from the Galway Music Makers Guild, pausing en route to administer the 'Hair of the Dog' at the King's Head, to bless the local 'Ladies of the Night' (of whom there are many) on Cross St, and to sample of the victuals at Colleran's Butchery. He distributed largess in the form of gold coins as he progressed.

On arrival within the curtilage of his church, he dismissed, in true biblical fashion, those who had arrived for the banquet without the wedding garment. He took possession of his church to a great fanfare of trumpets, much cheering and some tobacco spits. Having blessed all and sundry, he took his seat at the head of the Great Banquet for 310 seated guests.

Throughout the meal he was treated to a very flattering dramatic presentation of 'This is your Life', with Eamon Draper standing in for Eamon Andrews, who was inexplicably unavailable. With St. Nicholas safely ensconced in his own nest, the Christmas Feasting could begin in earnest.

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