Sunday Newsletter

Masses Today

6.30: (Vigil) Pattie & Catherina Flaherty, (Anniv).
11.00: Tom Tierney, (Anniv).
6.30: Michael, Bridget & Padraic Hanley, (Anniv).

As I Was Saying...

A woman asked me this week, 'Will the bishop resign?' 'Why should he', I asked. 'Oh, is he not guilty then?' 'Guilty of what?' I asked. 'Guilty of whatever they say' she replied.

Mud sticks, unfortunately, and unfairly. The 'they' in question is of course the media. The following sentence, or a variant, was again repeated after the Rome summit: The bishop has been under mounting pressure since he was mentioned in the Murphy report on how allegations of child sex abuse were handled in the Dublin archdiocese.

Firstly, the 'story' here is about media pressure. This pressure which the media applies is one which doesn't come under sufficient scrutiny. What is the motivation behind this pressure and who supervises its responsible application? Secondly, the only accusation leveled against Bishop Drennan is that he is 'mentioned in the Murphy Report'. This phrase seems to have taken on all the power of a witches's curse. It suggests all kinds of wrong-doing and portends imminent disaster for the one 'mentioned'.

However, it is quite clear from the report itself that Bishop Drennan was not so much exonerated as commended. He dealt with one case only, and he handled it well. Murphy's conclusion about that particular case is unambiguous: The Archdiocese acted correctly in immediately addressing the concerns and suspicions in this case. It did everything possible to assist Fr Guido to address the issues of concern and, when it was clear that a limited ministry was not possible, it helped him to get started on another career.

He's not criticised in the Murphy Report. His behaviour wasn't found to be inadequate or harmful in the Murphy Report.

No, he was 'mentioned' in the Murphy Report, and therefore there is 'Media Pressure' for him to resign. What is this? Some form of McCarthyism? What if one were to point out that Archbishop Martin is also 'mentioned' in the Murphy Report? Will there be media pressure for his resignation?

The targeting of Martin Drennan shows that the line has been crossed between the media acting in the public interest and the media stoking up a witch hunt. Bishop Drennan has been accused of no crime or negligence. He was made Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin in 1997 - at a time when all allegations were referred automatically to the Gardai. Anyone who has taken the time to actually read and digest the Murphy Report will find nothing even mildly critical of him.

So what is the motivation behind the concerted campaign to unseat the bishop? Sensationalism sells papers, I know. There may be a mixture of journalistic vanity and internal competition at work here as well. Perhaps an Episcopal scalp would be regarded in journalistic circles as the equivalent of an Oscar? It wouldn't surprise me at all if John Cooney went to Rome with that speech in his pocket! What's happening is wrong and unjust, and it will do no good to victims or bishops! But I suppose it may sell a few extra newspapers.

-Dick Lyng

Items of Great Interest

Lent: A Walk in the Desert

Lent pursues the goal of authenticity. The issue is not one of being sinless or perfect - but of being self-aware and integrated. Jesus had no trouble with life's failures, those lost on the margins, or locked in their bad habits. Because it was for them he came. It was with the hypocrites that he lost his temper.

The question that Lent, the season of truth, asks is: "How much reality about yourself can you bear?" Are you aware of your ambiguous motives, your rampant ego, your inner envy, your urge to power?

Most of us try to live the Christian life without ever entering those raw and searing cellars of our own unbearable darkness. This avoidance is easy, but costly. Beyond the surface habits of a passionless piety there is a fierce intensity about Lent that relentlessly examines the integrity of our innermost heart.

It is a Lenten grace when we are able to hold within us, as Jesus did, the tension of the paradoxes of our lives. The greater the soul, the greater the shadow. Lent teaches us that we must befriend that shadow, even at great personal cost. Otherwise our soul disintegrates, loses connection. When the small gods go, God arrives. Heaven, in the end, is where we belong.

-Fr. Daniel O'Leary.

The Art of Politics

"A politician should have three hats. One for throwing into the ring, one for talking through, and one for pulling rabbits out of if elected." -Carl Sandburg.

"Thinking about profound social change, conservatives always expect disaster, while revolutionaries confidentially expect utopia. Both are wrong." -Carolyn Heilbrun:

"Too bad that all the people who really know how to run the country are busy driving taxi cabs and cutting hair." -G. Burns.

Lenten Programme, 2010

Our Lenten Scripture programme on St. Luke's gospel begins next Wednesday. Each session begins at 8.00 and ends at 9.30.

  1. Wednesday next, February 24th: First Session: "Luke, the Story teller."
  2. Wednesday March 3rd: Second session: "Luke's Portrait of Jesus".
  3. Wednesday, March 10th: Third session: 'Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road?' Revisiting the Road to Emmaus.
  4. Monday, March 29th, first day of Holy Week: Seder Meal in the Augustinian Priory. This is a shared effort between ourselves and the parishioners of St. Nicholas'. We will have to limit places to 40 at most, so tickets allocated on a 'first come, first served' basis. Numbers will be regulated by individual ticket. While tickets are not yet ready for this, we are taking names as an from today. Give your name to the Parish Priest.

PARTICIPATION IN THE LITURGY

It was a Month's Mind Mass and the parish priest expected the farmer in the sacristy to hand him an envelope with the usual stipend and thank him before departing. However, the man appeared a little uncertain. Instead of an envelope he held Euro notes rolled up in his fist and he looked quizzically at the priest. "How much do we owe you for the Mass, Father?" he asked; then, after a slight pause, he added, "We did the readings ourselves."

Samaritans

The Samaritans are in search of new volunteers to help out with their services. Samaritan volunteers are available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair including those which may lead to suicide.

The Samaritans vision is for a society in which:
* fewer people die by suicide;
* people are able to explore their feelings;
* people are able to acknowledge and respect the feelings of others.

To do this they rely on members of the public to volunteer their time. They would welcome any assistance you may give in promoting their two Information Meetings taking place on: Tuesday, 23rd February at 8.00 p.m. in the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill and on Wednesday, 3rd March at 8.00 p.m. in the Maldron Hotel, Oranmore.

'FINDING HOPE IN LENTEN TIMES'

FIRST LECTURE Fr. Michael Drumm February 24th at 8.00p.m.

SECOND LECTURE Dr. Enda McDonagh March 3rd, at 8.00p.m

THIRD LECTURE Deirdre Ni Chinneide March 10th, at 8.00p.m.

FAITH READING GROUP

NEXT MEETING: Saturday 27th, February 2.00p.m.-4.00p.m. (Not 20th, as has been misprinted in the flyer)

Venue: Croi Nua, Rosary Lane, Taylor's Hill, GALWAY (Opposite Scoil Rois) (091) 520960 or 087 6833195

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