Sunday Newsletter

Masses Today

6.30: (Vigil) Joan Kelly (nee O'Sullivan), (Anniv).
11.00: Agnes Margetts, (Anniv).

As I Was Saying...

Four months to go to the General Election. Between now and then, expect at least one political crisis a week, whether real or contrived. As Hamlet said to Horatio, "The time is out of joint". Reality is suspended for the time being! Democracy is a messy business. But it has its attractions!

Crumlin Hospital had an outing recently. It is to move to the Mater complex. This has a religious underbelly. Archbishop Martin was either wrong-footed, or else he shot himself in the foot. He is chair of the Crumlin Hospital Board. Yet he failed to attend the meeting at which this major decision was made.

In former communist Russia, Vladimir Putin is slowly learning to live with the 'democratic crisis'. (He must long for the days when life was more simple!) A couple of years ago, thousands of protesting pensioners stopped the St Petersburg traffic. They waved placards in the freezing January air: "Hitler stole our childhood," read one banner in English, "and now Putin is stealing our old age." The Russian eagle had his eye on Skibbereen, obviously!

Two years ago this week, Iraq held its first free elections. Democracy had a bloody birth. Dozens were killed. Shades of things to come! Democracy was no great panacea for a violent society. But theocracy is not a panacea either.

All our political regimes that have either embraced or flirted with democracy have one thing in common: they have all wrestled with what precisely we do with God. This week saw the beginnings of a major row in Britain: through forcing Catholic Adoption Agencies to consider 'same-sex couples' as adoptive parents, the Labour government has pitted itself again all the major religions: Catholic, Anglican, Jewish and Muslim.

This is one the government cannot win precisely because it is one the major churches cannot afford to lose! As Voltaire once remarked, "To believe in God is an impossibility. Not to believe in God is an absurdity." The alliance between God and democracy has always been problematic.

The first Old Testament king of Israel, Saul, was chosen, appointed and anointed by God. A pretty clear-cut deal you would have thought. But as the story unfolds, Saul is then put through the democratic process and approved by the people. Divine approbation is no substitute for public approval.

God never comes into an equation to let us off the hook, despite President Bush's protests to the contrary. Which is why I have never really understood the desire to put a wedge between God and democracy. God may not do democracy for us, but he is involved in it with us. For without his incessant voice of provocation, our conscience can become silent. Our children remain neglected in the crossfire of statistical warfare. And politicians cease to be servants.

Jesus did not have the privilege of the ballot box. His political options were very limited. But his words and work has left every democracy an enduring legacy.

When his disciples scrambled for a place of power and influence in the future kingdom, he made a statement which could just as well be engraved on every ballot box. "He who would be the greatest among you," he said, "must also be your servant." That is democracy at its very best.

-Dick Lyng

Items of Some Interest

The late Abbé Pierre

Abbé Pierre, 94, the French priest who became an internationally revered activist for the poor and homeless for more than five decades, died on Monday last in Paris. Abbé Pierre, who became known as 'the conscience of France', was born Henri-Antoine Groués into an affluent family of silkmerchants in Lyon in 1912. At the age of 19, he gave his family inheritance to charity and joined the Capuchin Order. However, after seven years, he was forced to leave because of ill-health and he proceeded to join the Diocesan clergy. He was ordained in 1938, under the shadow of the looming Second World War.

The young chaplain continued to follow his vocation throughout the war. Following the occupation of France by the Germans, he joined the Resistance movement. It was then that he was given the enduring codename of Abbé Pierre. Repeatedly risking his life, he helped Jewish families escape over the mountains into Switzerland. He was later denounced to the German Gestapo but managed to escape. He continued his work with the Free French forces in North Africa, ending the war as a senior naval chaplain.

When the war ended, he was persuaded by General De Gaulle to stand for parliament. He was elected to the Constituent Assembly as an independent candidate to represent the mining constituency of Meurthe-et-Moselle in the east of France. In parliament Abbé Pierre concentrated on the twin problems of poverty and homelessness that beset both his own constituency and Paris.

In 1949 Abbé Pierre formed the first of many Emmaus communities that took shape within his own Paris home which he opened up to shelter 18 homeless men. The community expanded as further temporary shelters were built within his gardens - Abbé Pierre providing both land and financial assistance until the communities realised that they could utilise skills that they had learned on the street to support themselves. Making an income out of recycling other people's rubbish, members of the community became known as 'the Rag Pickers of Emmaus'.

In 1951, Abbé Pierre resigned his position in parliament to to devote himself fully to sheltering the homeless. He quickly realised the power of the media, especially the growing power of television. He raised public awareness of the problem of homelessness and, through exposing the failings of current policies, he exerted strong pressure on politicians for change.

Regarded by many as a living saint, Abbé Pierre preached by example, devoting his life to social goals and enabling other people to live happier, healthier and more rewarding lives. Known for his trademark whispy white beard, he has topped popularity polls regularly since 1989, occasionally slipping into 2nd place behind football superstar Zidane -- the uncontested leader now that Abbé's name has been withdrawn by a higher authority!

Amongst other awards that he has received in recognition of his life's work was the Legion of Honour by President Jacques Chirac on 19 April 2001. A day of "national homage" was declared to mark the Abbé's funeral at Notre Dame Cathedral on Friday last.

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