Sunday Newsletter

Masses Today

6.30 (Vigil) Martin Kelly, (Anniv).
11.00: Ned Forhan, (Anniv).
6.30: Delia Keane, (Anniv)

As I Was Saying...

Jenni Murray in BBC's answer to our own Miriam O'Callaghan. She has had a distinguished history in both radio and TV broadcasting, acting as anchor presenter on BBC's two flagship News programmes, in both radio and TV respectively: Radio 4's 'Today' programme and BBC 2's television 'Newsnight' programme.In her leisure time, she acts as patron of the Family Planning Association (British) and vice president of the Parkinson Disease Society.

Unlike their RTE counterparts, BBC personalities often 'double' as very public campaigners on moral issues. Authority acquired in one sphere is 'smuggled' into quite a different field. Jenni Murray appeared on television this week making the case for euthanasia, or 'mercy killing'. Speaking personally and passionately she says "When my time comes I want to be able to decide about my destiny." Apparently she's entering into a suicide pact with two friends so that they'll help each other to die if one of them is diagnosed with an incurable illness.

As the elderly cohort in society grows disproportionately, euthanasia will take its place beside abortion as a divisive ethical issue. For all practical purposes, Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands (as well as Oregon in the US) have already endorsed euthanasia. And assisted-suicide advocates will continue to push their agenda throughout the world to make death-on-demand acceptable and legal.

Often such advocates hold positions of great influence. Many are known as experts in medical ethics. Few, however, are as outspoken as England's Baroness Mary Warnock who is universally referred to as 'Britain's leading medical ethics expert'. Warnock holds that is better for elderly people to kill themselves than to be a burden on their families and society. "I don't see what is so horrible about the motive of not wanting to be an increasing nuisance," she said.

In Warnock's view, only productive, independent people have value. All others are a "nuisance."

The prospect of death is never a purely theoretical exercise for any of us. We contemplate it all the time. And even now as people go on holidays, there's no real break from thinking about those loved ones left behind who are sick and dying. It's the relationships that make us as human beings. Should Assisted Dying become law one day it will change all manner of relationships.

The relationship between the patient and the doctor will change; they will no longer be seen solely as ministers of healing. The relationship between the patient and the family will change; relatives could become beneficiaries of a hastened death. Now the dying might feel the burden of being a burden, knowing that they alone can relieve the community of its duty to care and so spare society the economic cost and their family the emotional cost of caring for them. And the relationship between the patient and their inner-self will change as they're thrown back on themselves wondering who it is they can trust in this world of re-ordered relationships.

It is relationships that make us, and break us as human beings. And any decisions about those relationships should be scrutinised very closely indeed. 'Mercy killing' should be exposed for the lethal contradiction it is. The Nazis were the last to try it on a grand scale. Does the 'liberal' establishment of Europe now want to go there?

-Dick Lyng

Items of Some Interest

In His Own Words

Next month, the Pope returns to his native Bavaria. To mark the visit, Benedict was interviewed by four German broadcast journalists. This is an edited version of their conversation. The translation is by the Vatican press office.

Q: Holy Father, let's talk about your travels. You live in the Vatican which must be a very lonely place. You'll be turning 80 soon. Will you be able to make many more trips? Do you have any idea of where you'd like to go? To the Holy Land, or Brazil? Do you know already?

Benedict: To tell the truth I'm not that lonely. There's a "pontifical family," lots of visitors every day, especially when I'm in Rome. The bishops come and other people; there are state visits. There are also personalities who want to talk to me personally, and not just about political issues. In this sense there are all kinds of meetings that, thank God, I have continually. From the time of John XXIII onward the pendulum began to swing in the other direction too: The Popes started going out to visit others. I've never felt strong enough to plan many long trips. But some are already planned: Next year there's the meeting in Brazil. I'd love to visit the Holy Land, and I hope to visit it in a time of peace. For the rest, I'll see what Providence has in store.

Q: Austrians also speak German and they are waiting for you at Mariazell.

Benedict: Yes, it's been agreed. Quite simply I promised them, a little imprudently. I really liked that place and I said: Yes, I'll come back to the Magna Mater Austriae. Of course, this became a promise that I will keep, that I will keep happily.

Q: You meet over 50,000 every Wednesday when you hold your general audience. It must be very tiring. How do you manage to hold out?

Benedict: Yes, the good Lord gives me the necessary strength. When you see the warm welcome, it obviously helps.

Q: Holy Father, you've just said you made a rather imprudent promise. Does that mean that, despite your ministry, despite the many protocols and limitations, you haven't lost your spontaneity?

Benedict: I try, in any case. I'd like to keep doing some things that are purely personal.

Q: Holy Father, you'll be coming to Germany for the second time following your election. After the World Youth Day and, for different reasons, after the World Cup championships, the atmosphere seems to have changed. The impression is that Germans have become more open to the world, more tolerant and more joyful. What would you still like from us Germans?

Benedict: Perhaps we were always depicted too much as always very disciplined and reserved, which has some basis in truth. But if we now see better that which everyone is seeing, I think it's lovely: Germans aren't just reserved, punctual and disciplined, they are also spontaneous, happy and hospitable. This is very lovely. This is my hope: that these virtues may continue to grow and that they may last and may receive added impetus from the Christian faith.

Q: What role does humor play in the life of a Pope?

Benedict: I'm not a man who constantly thinks up jokes. But I think it's very important to be able to see the funny side of life and its joyful dimension and not to take everything too tragically. I'd also say it's necessary for my ministry. A writer once said that angels can fly because they don't take themselves too seriously. Maybe we could also fly a bit if we didn't think we were so important.

Q: When you have an important job like yours, Holy Father, you are much observed. Other people talk about you. I was reading and I was struck by what many observers say: that Pope Benedict is different from Cardinal Ratzinger. What do you think yourself?

Benedict: I've been taken apart various times: in my first phase as professor and in the intermediate phase, during my first phase as cardinal and in the successive phase. Now comes a new division. Of course circumstances and situations and even people influence you because you take on different responsibilities. Let's say that my basic personality and even my basic vision have grown, but in everything that is essential I have remained identical. I'm happy that certain aspects that weren't noticed at first are now coming into the open.

Q: Would you say that you like what you do, that it isn't a burden for you?

Benedict: That would be saying a bit too much, because it really is tiring. But in any case, I try to find joy here too.

SHEFFLIN POISED TO TOP SCORING LISTS

Kilkenny's Henry Shefflin will head the 2006 SHC scoring lists. His 1-13 against Clare brought his total to 2-38. Eoin Kelly's championship is over. Joe Deane is Cork's highest scorer.

  1. Eoin Kelly (Tipperary).............3-38 (47pts)......4 Games
  2. Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny).........2-38 (44pts)......4 Games
  3. James Young (Laois)..............1-33 (36pts)......4 Games
  4. Niall Gilligan (Clare)................3-26 (35pts)......6 Games
  5. David Curtin (Dublin)..............0-33 (33pts)......5 Games
  6. Andrew Mitchell (Westmeath)..0-30 (30pts)......6 Games
  7. Dave Bennett (Waterford).......0-27 (27pts)......5 Games
  8. Joe Deane (Cork)...................0-26 (26pts)......4 Games
  9. Ger Farragher (Galway)...........1-22 (25pts)......4 Games
  10. Brian Carroll (Offaly)...............0-24 (24pts)......5 Games

(Useful summary of the above: Tickets VERY scarce indeed!)

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