PRESS RELEASE
15 July 2010
Archbishop leads Dublin Young people in Taizé Pilgrimage The Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, will today join a group of young pilgrims taking part in a Diocesan pilgrimage to Taizé in France.

Two thousand people from around the world travel to the ecumenical monastery in Burgundy every week during the summer to experience the prayer and fellowship of the community.

The pilgrimage is the first from the Diocese in over 15 years and has 50 representatives from several different Dublin parishes taking part as well as a number of Dublin priests.

The Taizé Community is made up of over a hundred brothers, Catholics and from various Protestant backgrounds, coming from around thirty nations.

Over the years, young adults have been going to Taizé in ever greater numbers; they come from every continent to take part in weekly meetings.

Several Church leaders have visited Taizé, including Pope John Paul II, the community has also welcomed four Archbishops of Canterbury, Orthodox metropolitans, the fourteen Lutheran bishops of Sweden, and countless pastors from all over the world.

Brother Roger died on 16 August 2005, at the age of 90, killed during the evening prayer. Since then, Brother Alois, whom Brother Roger chose as his successor, has been the prior of the Community. Brother Alois visited Dublin’s Pro Cathedral just over two years ago and led hundreds in evening prayer in the city centre cathedral.
ENDS

Further information:

• www.taizeireland.com, www.evangilsation.dublindiocese.ie, www.taize.fr
• Communications Office 01 -8360723 email communications@dublindiocese.ie  web www.dublindiocese.ie
• Photos of the Dublin Pilgrims leaving earlier this week available on request from the communications office

PRESS RELEASE
14 July 2010 Emigrants urged to seek advice before leaving: Archbishop cautions against looking at migrants as “disposable” Crosscare has urged anyone considering emigration in the coming weeks and months to avail of their on line and city centre advice centres.

Crosscare, the social care agency of the Dublin Diocese, has seen a significant demand on the emigrant advice outreach programme in Dublin.

Co-ordinator Richard King said today that the figures released by the ESRI that 120,000 people were planning to leave this country by the end of next year were no surprise to them.

Speaking during a visit by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin to the Crosscare Centre in Dublin this afternoon, Richard King said “We have seen a steady increase in the numbers of people leaving; many people who came here to find work during the boom years have been those worst affected by the downturn; and we have also young Irish people leaving.”

Richard King said that unlike the emigration of the 1980’s the same support networks in places like London, New York and Boston were often not available to those leaving today. “Our extensive experience of working with intending Irish emigrants has shown us the importance of pre-departure information. Many people who choose to leave Ireland often feel overwhelmed with the amount of issues they have to consider. Our aim is to try and make the information as accessible as possible. Planning before you leave is absolutely vital for emigrants.”

Archbishop Martin, who worked with Irish Prisoners in London in the 1960’s urged young Irish people to inform themselves as much as possible before leaving – and he cautioned against looking at people who had migrated to Ireland in the recent past as disposable in the downturn; “In times of economic downturn there is danger that we would think of immigrants as disposable, as so many commodities and factors in our consumer culture are used or disposed of according to necessity or whim.  While controls of immigration are legitimate and necessary, people – together with their families - who in Irish society contribute to our common good have rights to security by the fact of their human dignity”, said Dr. Martin.  

Crosscare have made available “Going To” booklets” with important information on working and living abroad – they have specific information on working visa requirements, social supports and accommodation for  the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. The information is available to download at www.migrantproject.ie

Crosscare also provides extensive support and resources for people who are still coming to Ireland to live and work and Irish people who are returning here having lived and worked abroad.

ENDS

Further information:

• Communications Office, Archdiocese of Dublin,  01 -8360723, email communications@dublindiocese.ie,  web www.dublindiocese.ie
• Michael Mc Donagh Crosscare, 087 6710442, www.crosscare.ie

 

PRESS RELEASE
9 July 2010
Statement by Bishop Noel Treanor on the parade through the Ardoyne area, Belfast on Monday 12 July 2010 The following statement from Most Rev. Noel Treanor, Bishop of Down and Connor, will be read in the Parish of Holy Cross, Ardoyne at the evening Vigil Mass on Saturday 10 July and at all Masses on Sunday 11 July, 2010.  It reads:

"As many of you will know, over the next five days I will travel with some seven hundred pilgrims from our Diocese on the annual Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes. During that time my prayers will be united with those of the Christian communities of Ardoyne and the surrounding area for a peaceful resolution of tensions over parades on the twelfth of July. That the recent ‘Tour of the North’, and other parades, passed off peacefully gives us grounds for hope. This is testimony to what can be achieved when individuals and communities approach each other with dignity, respect and a determination to reject the violent approaches of the past.

"I know that in recent years many of you have worked with fellow Christians from other Churches and traditions, community leaders, politicians, statutory organisations and the police, to bring about a better community, social and economic environment for everyone in the area. This has involved the sometimes slow and challenging work of promoting mutual understanding, good neighbourliness and patient mediation of conflict.

"I appeal to you all to continue on this path. Together with you I ask that only words and actions be used that advance the immense progress in community relations and quality of life from which all have benefited in recent years. With other Christian communities in the area I ask you to do all in your power to ensure that the coming days are marked by good neighbourliness, an emphatic rejection of violence and a commitment to the common good.

"To you who are young and have your life before you, I say use your energy and youthful potential to promote, as Christ would have it, peace through non-violence, justice through tolerance and mutual respect for all. I plead with all young people not to be drawn in to the misery, futility and inhumanity of violence. I ask you to choose a better way by working for a brighter future for yourselves and for all the people of this island.

"I assure you of my prayers for the people of Holy Cross, for Fr Gary and the Passionist Community and for all the people of Ardoyne and the surrounding area over the coming days."

+Noel Treanor
Bishop of Down & Connor

Further information:
Martin Long, Catholic Communications Office,
Maynooth 00 353 861727678

PRESS RELEASE
4 July 2010 Homily of Bishop Donal McKeown at Mass to celebrate the Festival Day of St Oliver Plunkett
in St Peter’s Church, Drogheda, Sunday 4th July 2010

• "...the real tragedy of the current situation regarding historical child abuse in Ireland would be to let the idea go out that if Ireland kicked the Church hard enough, it would have kicked child abuse in the country.  With many of those who work with young people, I’d dare to suggest that Ireland is globally now a more dangerous place for young people than it was in the terrible old days that we all wish to leave behind”  - Bishop McKeown
  

• “I suggest that this is a time of crisis, not just for Catholicism but for all of Western society. At some stage we will come to the point where we will have to stop asking how we deal with increasing numbers of dysfunctional citizens – and start asking what is dysfunctional about our new gods, that is producing such a violent and dangerous world, one that is apparently unable or unwilling to acknowledge its fault lines.” - Bishop McKeown
  

There are some people who will wonder what on earth we are doing here today, gathering around the blackened head of a man who was executed by the state as a traitor some 429 year ago. Are we just trapped in a useful commemoration of the past.? Others will wonder whether such a commemoration has anything to say to the Irish Church as leaders and people seek to cope with the revelations about the past and develop a way of living and proclaiming Jesus in the 21st century. Some will question whether, in what we hope is a post conflict Northern Ireland, we need to keep talking about someone who was killed because he was a Catholic leader in a bitterly divided country.  Why commemorate a divided past if we want to create a shared future? And some will genuinely wonder what all of this has to do with young people, iPods, iPads and the building of a young church.

Oliver Plunkett, like all of us, was a man of his time. He wrestled with the questions that his times threw at him. We, too, are supported and limited by the period and culture we live in. We have to live and make decisions in the imperfect circumstances in which we find ourselves. But among the core qualities that the Gospel ask us to bring to all those decisions are truth, love, hope and generosity. And those virtues of Oliver Plunkett from Oldcastle in Co Meath apply in every age.

So what about our times? The modern Irish Church has to work in painful circumstances. We live with the fact that glorious story which we told about ourselves – missionaries in every country, full churches, semper fidelis, always faithful to God and his teaching – was at least partly a myth. We fooled ourselves that sin didn’t really have much of a foothold in the country. Like the Pharisees in the Gospel, we often succumbed to the temptation to locate whatever sin there was in people on the fringes of society. Too often we adopted that perennial mentality which thought that sin could be beaten out of them and that that they should be punished for being marked by contagion with sinners – while we basked in our pretence of perfection.

We have to accept that reality, however painful that may be for many of us. But the pain of embarrassment and shame that we may feel is nothing compared to the reality that so many lives have been permanently scarred because of pain and suffering inflicted on them. Many who were abused have lived lives marked by depression, substance abuse, huge problems in establishing healthy relationships and emotional turmoil, both when they are awake and when they sleep. We can never underestimate the effect on trauma on young lives.  

However, the real tragedy of the current situation regarding historical child abuse in Ireland would be to let the idea go out that if Ireland kicked the Church hard enough, it would have kicked child abuse in the country.  With many of those who work with young people, I’d dare to suggest that Ireland is globally now a more dangerous place for young people than it was in the terrible old days that we all wish to leave behind. I have worked in education for most of my years and I know that there is nothing glorious or liberated about the world we adults have created for many young people. Frank McCourt and others have given us a gloomy picture of a impoverished priest ridden Ireland decades ago. But new stories will eventually be written about today’s Ireland and about the over 10% of Irish children who currently live in consistent poverty, despite the huge and sometimes obscenely vulgar levels of wealth that the Celtic Tiger produced and concentrated in relatively few hands. Those stories will ask how we allowed 188 young people in the Republic to die while in the care of the state in the last ten years without so much as a complaint. They will ask why we didn’t take seriously the fact that, in 2008, there were 11,700 hospital admissions in the Republic because of serious self harm, and why beautiful, carefree Ireland has one of the highest suicide rates in Europe among young people. Because of drink, drugs, suicide, violence, mental disorders, fast cars etc in many – if not most -  parts of this wealthy country it is now dangerous to be young and male. It is doubly dangerous to be young, male - and poor. The story tellers of the future may portray the new ideology in modern Ireland as culpably blind, so concerned about their status and power, so concerned about protecting their good name and their finances that they could not see the price that the underprivileged continue to pay for the success of some. And they will condemn the high priests of the new orthodoxy for their perceived arrogance and their assumed infallibility. And they will ask why civic society learned little from the Murphy or Ryan reports.

Do we just complain, like so many others do? Do we just ask the nice questions about how to get more young people into Church? No, the Gospel asks where we locate the sources of the problem that afflict many people today – and what the solutions might be. And we ask those questions even if some will find them uncomfortable. In one of my Confirmation ceremonies this year, I asked 78 bright chirpy 11 year olds in Belfast what their dreams were, now that they were leaving primary school. I was taken aback when, between them, all they could come up with was ‘playing football’ and ‘winning the lottery’. There was an adult community that expects so little from life and offers so few dreams to it young people. Many gifted young people have great hopes for their lives and are blessed with great dreams and role models. But too many of the next generation of adults have been told to expect little – and then they will not be disappointed. It is no surprise, in a world of fickle role models, many will live down to the expectations that they are told they should have. It is ironic that many people of faith are now asking whether new secular culture is actually the real opium of the masses! It may numb the pain but in the long term it kills the soul and the body.

And these problems are not confined to Ireland. I suggest that this is a time of crisis, not just for Catholicism but for all of Western society. At some stage we will come to the point where we will have to stop asking how we deal with increasing numbers of dysfunctional citizens – and start asking what is dysfunctional about our new gods, that is producing such a violent and dangerous world, one that is apparently unable or unwilling to acknowledge its fault lines. I think Jesus would not seek the problem in the 17 year old, who is out of control. He would be concerned about the young person on the fringe of society but would also ask what irresponsible adult behaviour and structures suit some but are feeding this widespread nihilism and lack of hope. Whose is benefiting from, and who is paying the price for, the way we have organised ourselves and the values that we promote?

For many families – though not necessarily families who have much clout in our society - the experience may be akin to that of St Paul in today’s second reading. These adults too can feel crucified because they have had to live in difficult personal and social circumstances, their children are more prone to illness, substance abuse and criminality - and ‘nice’ society then blames the ills of society on them. ‘Lock them up and throw away the key’ may be the new Pharisaic catchword. In the past, many powerless people cried out but no-one heard of their pain or their abuse. Especially in these financially difficult times, hundreds of thousands still cry in Irish society – or bite their lips in silence - and their uncomfortable voices are not heard because their story would clash with the new non-religious orthodoxy. When they complain, they are seen by too many as the new heretics whose voice criticises the system and its priorities - should not be heard. We all know what happened when hurting voices were not heard or believed in the past. Have we learned to see only the faults of the past but not the sins of the present?

So how might we approach this reality with the eyes of faith? Not with pious self righteousness! Our first reading today from Isaiah refers to a God who still has a dream of healing for the world. Isaiah, at a time of crisis speaks of peace flowing a like a river in flood. He speaks of a God who wishes to comfort those who hurt. The Gospel tells of Jesus sending out people in pairs to offer peace and to help people believe that the power of evil can be broken. Despite all that has happened in church and in wider society, God still says that he has a dream for each one of us and for our world. And this is not a dream for what we can do in life – but who we can become, individually and communally. For each person God knows that, whatever your past may be, you can still have a future. That is where Christian conversion and healing offer a way to believe in that future. Jesus keeps telling every generation that the upside-down Kingdom of God is very near to us – but it still remains hard to welcome the messengers of that news.

Our saint today, Oliver Plunkett, had lived a comparatively comfortable life in Rome – and was then sent back to Ireland to preach a message that was unwelcome in some quarters. He will have got a hard time from those Irish who sought to exploit their downtrodden religionists or who espoused violence as the only useful way forward. He was particularly unwelcome to those in civil power who were happy to exploit religious differences to consolidate their power base. He had nine years in which he was able to build up the structures and morale of a shattered church and cultural community. At the time of his trial in 1681 - and for more than a century afterwards - his life and death must have seemed one more futile waste of a learned man’s life. Things just got worse into the 18th century. But God has a strange way of wasting nothing that is done in love and generosity, whether on the cross or across the world. We now honour a man who, in his own imperfect way, sought to be faithful to the truth. He sought to promote reconciliation and forgiveness. When he was sentenced to death after a sham trial, his response was not an angry cry but the simple phrase, Deo Gratias, thanks be to God.

So what might Oliver Plunkett say to us today as we seek to let young people hear the hope of the Gospel over the din of evil, pain, disillusionment and frail role models? He certainly wouldn’t suggest that we do anything that he didn’t do himself.

I think that he’d say that God still has faith in people. Despite all the wrong and stupidity that he saw then and that are seen in every generation, people are capable of great things. With grace and the vision of the Gospel, it is possible to build community, to promote healing and to build supportive relationships. It is important to work for those – even if they are slow in coming. Secondly, St Oliver had to overcome the temptation to stay in comparatively comfortable Rome and go back to Ireland. He’d ask that you consider accepting his call to go out to the rich harvest where the labourers are few. That would mean dedicating your life to that work, being ready to go out like lambs among wolves to tell people that we are not just prisoners of our past but can be architects of our common future. He’d suggest that the creation of a better future means speaking the truth, both about God and about people. Tha might be one new form of martyrdom. Despite what some political figures might say, the Church is not about staying in the sacristy and mouthing pious platitudes. It means being ready to engage with messy human realities and getting our hands dirty so that the face of the earth might be renewed. The uncomfortable truth about what we are capable of as human beings – love, faithfulness, generosity, service and forgiveness – is not welcome in some circles which would rather have us believe the inhuman myth that only money, power and consumerism can bring us salvation.

So my fear for the Ireland is not so much that it just stops believing in God - but that it then stops believing in good and in love, in relationships and forgiveness, in the possibility of faithfulness and fresh starts, in idealism and generosity. The God of Jesus tells me that I am lovable because of who I am and despite who I am. It is a wonderful discovery. It would be terrible, boring and destructive culture if we came to believe that I am lovable only because of what I achieve and what I possess. That would be a real tragedy of shocking proportions, depressing beyond imagination. We see too many people already who have been oppressed by that lie.

This year we celebrate 90 years since Oliver Plunkett was beatified and 35 years since he was made a saint. Ireland still needs saints, people who will hear the call to generosity and sacrifice. Martyrdom for them may come in various forms because it will man speaking uncomfortable truths. But Jesus still invites people - as the theme of the Madrid World Youth Day 2011 says - to be Planted and built up in Jesus Christ. So we gather round this strange relic, not to focus on it but to focus on where good news still needs to be heard in modern Ireland. Salvation will not come from Celebrity Come Dancing or the X Factor. Simon Cowell is not God. God’s future for us will come through those who believe in love, generosity, service, community, and forgiveness. God’s dream will be realised in and through those who make space for grace in their lives – and who are ready to pay the price when they are seduced by that grace of God. Maybe if we look carefully, Oliver Plunkett will give us a wink from heaven – and say I was foolish enough to believe in God’s dream and to pay the price for it. And that was the wisest decision that I ever took.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

Background to the Festival Day of St Oliver Plunkett:

• Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and Bishop Donal McKeown, Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor led the 2010 Festival Day of St Oliver Plunkett in Drogheda, Co Louth today, Sunday 4 July. This year the procession and the celebration of Mass commemorated the 90th anniversary of the beatification of St Oliver Plunkett.  The theme for this year's festival was 'The Young Church'.

• At 3.00pm a procession of the relics of St Oliver Plunkett left Our Lady of Lourdes Church, to arrive at St Peter’s Church, West Street, for Mass at 4.00pm. This procession commemorated the 90th anniversary of the beatification of St Oliver Plunkett, and was led by a colour party drawn from the local scouting troop and representative of local Catholic organisations as well as visiting pilgrim groups.  The Knights of Columbanus and members of other Orders traditionally carry the relics of St Oliver Plunkett over the mile-long route between the two churches.

• At 4.00pm Mass was celebrated at St Peter's Church.  Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland was the Chief Celebrant. Concelebrants included: Bishop DonalMcKeown, who preached the above homily; Bishop Gerard Clifford, Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh; and Canon James Carroll, Parish Priest of St Peter’s Parish, Drogheda.  Music at the Mass was led by St Peter’s Male Voice Choir, directed by Mr Edward Holly.

• St Oliver Plunkett was a former Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland who was martyred in Tyburn, England, in 1681. He was canonised as a martyr by Pope Paul VI in 1975.

• Each year thousands of pilgrims visit St Oliver Plunkett’s shrine in St Peter’s Church, Drogheda, in the Archdiocese of Armagh, to venerate his relics and to learn about his life story.  Pilgrims pray for the sick and troubled, for family and friends.  They fittingly turn to St Oliver, who was martyred for his faith in a time of political, religious and social turmoil, to pray for his intercession concerning conflict areas at home and abroad.

• The Patron saints of the Archdiocese of Armagh are: St Patrick, St Malachy and St Oliver Plunkett.

• Each year, on the first Sunday of July, celebrations of the life of St Oliver also take place at his birthplace in the Diocese of Meath. This celebration is held on the same day each year in front of the old ruined Church at Loughcrew, Oldcastle, Co Meath, the birth place of St Oliver Plunkett.  Mass was celebrated at 3.00 pm this Sunday - a tradition now going back 60 years.

• A special web feature on the Festival Day is available at www.catholicbishops.ie

Further information:
Brenda Drumm, Communications Officer 087 310 4444

PRESS RELEASE
2 July 2010
Cardinal Brady and Bishop McKeown to lead Festival Day of St Oliver Plunkett - The theme for this year's festival is 'The Young Church' - New website dedicated to the life and times of St Oliver Plunkett  www.saintoliverplunkett.com
Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and Bishop Donal McKeown, Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor will lead the 2010 Festival Day of St Oliver Plunkett in Drogheda, Co Louth this Sunday 4 July. This year the procession and the celebration of Mass will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the beatification of St Oliver Plunkett.  The theme for this year's festival is 'The Young Church'.  The event details are as follows:

• At 3.00pm a procession of the relics of St Oliver Plunkett will leave Our Lady of Lourdes Church, to arrive at St Peter’s Church, West Street, for Mass at 4.00pm. The procession commemorates the 90th anniversary of the beatification of St Oliver Plunkett, and will be led by a colour party drawn from the local scouting troop and representative of local Catholic organisations as well as visiting pilgrim groups.  The Knights of Columbanus and members of other Orders traditionally carry the relics of St Oliver Plunkett over the mile-long route between the two churches.

• At 4.00pm Mass will be celebrated at St Peter's Church.  Cardinal Brady will be the Chief Celebrant. Concelebrants include: Bishop McKeown, who will preach the homily; Bishop Gerard Clifford, Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh; and Canon James Carroll, Parish Priest of St Peter’s Parish, Drogheda.  Music at the Mass will be led by St Peter’s Male Voice Choir, directed by Mr Edward Holly.

Speaking ahead of the Festival Day, Cardinal Brady said "At the age of 22 years Oliver Plunkett left his native Meath to sail from Waterford for Flanders in February 1647 en route to Rome to study for the priesthood.  It was a hazardous journey for many reasons and it was May 1647 when Oliver Plunkett reached the Eternal City.  He spent the next 22 years in Rome studying and teaching until in 1669 he was appointed Archbishop of Armagh.  As he left Rome a Polish friend said prophetically: “You are now going to shed your blood for the Catholic faith."

"On Sunday next many pilgrims will gather at the National Shrine of St Oliver Plunkett in St Peter’s, Drogheda, to recall and celebrate the fulfilment of that prophecy at Tiburn on 1 July 1681.  Many of those pilgrims will be young people seeking inspiration for their own lives in the life of Oliver Plunkett.  I think we can all find inspiration in his words at the gallows, minutes before his death, specifically about the false witnesses who testified against him, “I do heartily forgive them and also the judges, who by denying me sufficient time to bring my records and witnesses from Ireland, did expose my life to evident danger.”

"I am pleased that so many young people are coming to Drogheda next Sunday.  I believe the story of Oliver’s faith, forgiveness and fortitude has much to offer to all of us, both young and old, in Ireland today."

A new website dedicated to the life and times of St Oliver Plunkett has been launched to coincide with this year’s Festival Day by St Peter’s Parish in conjunction with Drogheda Borough Council.  The new website www.saintoliverplunkett.com includes:

• information about the town of Drogheda and St Peter's Church, home to the Shrine of St Oliver
• a map of the various countries where St Oliver has connections
• details of the five shrines to St Oliver
• videos about St Oliver's journey from youth to martyrdom
• in-depth readings about St Oliver
• details of events to celebrate the life and work of St Oliver

Commenting on the new web resource Canon Carroll, Custodian of the Shrine of St Oliver Plunkett, said "St Oliver Plunkett’s story has an international dimension which brings us from Ireland to Italy, across Europe and back to Armagh before his execution in London.  Even after death the journey continues!  His witness to decision-making based on conscience, truth and service, provides a real challenge for this and every age.  Our new website provides a welcome opportunity to explore the life and times of Oliver Plunkett, Saint and hero."

A special feature on the Festival Day is also now available on www.catholicbishops.ie.  The web feature includes details of this year’s event as well as video highlights from last year festival.

Notes to Editors
Background to the Festival Day of St Oliver Plunkett:

• St Oliver Plunkett was a former Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland who was martyred in Tyburn, England, in 1681. He was canonised as a martyr by Pope Paul VI in 1975.

• Each year thousands of pilgrims visit St Oliver Plunkett’s shrine in St Peter’s Church, Drogheda, in the Archdiocese of Armagh, to venerate his relics and to learn about his life story.  Pilgrims pray for the sick and troubled, for family and friends.  They fittingly turn to St Oliver, who was martyred for his faith in a time of political, religious and social turmoil, to pray for his intercession concerning conflict areas at home and abroad.

• The Patron saints of the Archdiocese of Armagh are: St Patrick, St Malachy and St Oliver Plunkett.

• Each year, on the first Sunday of July, celebrations of the life of St Oliver also take place at his birthplace in the Diocese of Meath. This celebration is held on the same day each year in front of the old ruined Church at Loughcrew, Oldcastle, Co Meath, the birth place of St Oliver Plunkett.  Mass will be celebrated at 3.00 pm this Sunday - a tradition now going back 60 years.

ENDS

Further information: Brenda Drumm, Communications Officer 087 310 4444 Marie Purcell, Communictions Office 01 505 3017

PRESS RELEASE 28 June 2010 Catholic Communications Office clarification concerning references to Pope Benedict XVI in today’s Irish Examiner interview with Mr Eamon Gilmore TD, Leader of the Labour Party

In an interview with Mr Eamon Gilmore TD, Leader of the Labour Party, published today by the Irish Examiner, the paper’s political correspondent Shaun Connolly writes that Eamon Gilmore urges:
“… Pope Benedict XVI to ‘temper’ statements such as claiming that ‘saving’ humanity from homosexuality was as important as protecting the rain forests. ‘We have many examples of where there is not only discrimination against gay people, but there has been nasty homophobic bullying and assaults on gay people and I think opinions like that give comfort to that.’”

Mr Gilmore seems to be referring to an address by Pope Benedict to cardinals, bishops and priests delivered on 22 December 2008, which was subsequently interpreted incorrectly by some media outlets.  The fact is that homosexuality was not referred to anywhere in this text.  

For a leader of a political party to misrepresent remarks made by the Holy Father on such a profound subject as human sexuality, is regrettable.  Mr Gilmore’s comments are also highly offensive to Catholics and anyone with an interest in the truth.  The truth is that the Catholic Church teaches and Pope Benedict XVI has consistently affirmed that ‘men and women with homosexual tendencies must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.’ (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions between Homosexual Persons, 3 June 2003).

In the text referred to by Mr Gilmore, Pope Benedict XVI in fact said that the Church: “has a responsibility towards creation, and must also publicly assert this responsibility.  In so doing, she must not only defend earth, water and air as gifts of creation belonging to all.  She must also protect man from self destruction…. If the Church speaks of the nature of the human being as man and woman, and demands that this order of creation be respected, this is not some antiquated metaphysics.  What is involved here is faith in the Creator and a readiness to listen to the ‘language’ of creation.  To disregard this would be the self-destruction of man himself, and hence the destruction of God’s own work.” A reading of the aforementioned text will confirm this.   

The prominence given to the interview by the Irish Examiner, with its page one article headline ‘Gilmore: Pope’s words comfort anti-gay thugs’, completely misrepresents the Church’s teaching on human sexuality and the message of the Bible on this matter. It also implies a completely unsubstantiated connection between this teaching and behaviour of ‘anti-gay thugs’ which is condemned and abhorred by the Church.

It is a serious, unacceptable and unfounded distortion of the truth for anyone to suggest that support for Christian marriage is contributing to “homophobic bullying and assaults on gay people.”  Catholics and other Christians who uphold the Christian tradition of the Scriptures on this matter deserve truth and accuracy from elected representatives and from the media.

ENDS

Further information:
Martin Long, Catholic Communications Office, Maynooth, 086 172 7678

PRESS RELEASE 28 June 2010 Catholic Communications Office clarification concerning references to Pope Benedict XVI in today’s Irish Examiner interview with Mr Eamon Gilmore TD, Leader of the Labour Party

In an interview with Mr Eamon Gilmore TD, Leader of the Labour Party, published today by the Irish Examiner, the paper’s political correspondent Shaun Connolly writes that Eamon Gilmore urges:
“… Pope Benedict XVI to ‘temper’ statements such as claiming that ‘saving’ humanity from homosexuality was as important as protecting the rain forests. ‘We have many examples of where there is not only discrimination against gay people, but there has been nasty homophobic bullying and assaults on gay people and I think opinions like that give comfort to that.’”

Mr Gilmore seems to be referring to an address by Pope Benedict to cardinals, bishops and priests delivered on 22 December 2008, which was subsequently interpreted incorrectly by some media outlets.  The fact is that homosexuality was not referred to anywhere in this text.  

For a leader of a political party to misrepresent remarks made by the Holy Father on such a profound subject as human sexuality, is regrettable.  Mr Gilmore’s comments are also highly offensive to Catholics and anyone with an interest in the truth.  The truth is that the Catholic Church teaches and Pope Benedict XVI has consistently affirmed that ‘men and women with homosexual tendencies must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.’ (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions between Homosexual Persons, 3 June 2003).

In the text referred to by Mr Gilmore, Pope Benedict XVI in fact said that the Church: “has a responsibility towards creation, and must also publicly assert this responsibility.  In so doing, she must not only defend earth, water and air as gifts of creation belonging to all.  She must also protect man from self destruction…. If the Church speaks of the nature of the human being as man and woman, and demands that this order of creation be respected, this is not some antiquated metaphysics.  What is involved here is faith in the Creator and a readiness to listen to the ‘language’ of creation.  To disregard this would be the self-destruction of man himself, and hence the destruction of God’s own work.” A reading of the aforementioned text will confirm this.   

The prominence given to the interview by the Irish Examiner, with its page one article headline ‘Gilmore: Pope’s words comfort anti-gay thugs’, completely misrepresents the Church’s teaching on human sexuality and the message of the Bible on this matter. It also implies a completely unsubstantiated connection between this teaching and behaviour of ‘anti-gay thugs’ which is condemned and abhorred by the Church.

It is a serious, unacceptable and unfounded distortion of the truth for anyone to suggest that support for Christian marriage is contributing to “homophobic bullying and assaults on gay people.”  Catholics and other Christians who uphold the Christian tradition of the Scriptures on this matter deserve truth and accuracy from elected representatives and by the media.

ENDS

Further information:
Martin Long, Catholic Communications Office, Maynooth, 086 172 7678

PRESS RELEASE 28 June 2010 Archbishop Michael Neary launches new vocations initiative in the Archdiocese of Tuam ‘One Life, One Call, One Response’

Background
Archbishop Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam, will launch this evening a new online initiative and accompanying literature to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life in the Archdiocese of Tuam.  The theme of this initiative is ‘One Life, One Call, One Response’ and it will take place in Knock House Hotel at 8.00pm, the eve of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.  

It is now ten years since the previous campaign ‘Towards the Goal’ was launched by the Archdiocese of Tuam in 2000.  This evening’s launch will include the promotion of posters, leaflets, prayer cards and a new website so as to encourage vocations throughout the Archdiocese.

As part of this vocations initiative, Archbishop Neary, in a brief video recording in Irish and English, reflects on the reality of his own vocation and encourages others to give positive consideration when they hear God’s calling to the priesthood.  Archbishop Neary’s video is now available on a new website www.onelifeonecalloneresponse.com which will be officially launched this evening and is dedicated to promoting and hosting information on vocations in the Archdiocese of Tuam.  Archbishop Neary’s video is also available on www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZmK9igD-2U

The Vocations Committee of the Archdiocese of Tuam will promote this new vocations initiative and literature at the annual vocations promotion on Reek Sunday, which takes place this year in four weeks time on 25 July 2010.

Address by Archbishop Michael Neary at the launch of a new vocations initiative by the Archdiocese of Tuam, Knock House Hotel, Knock, Co Mayo 28 June 2010:

• “Because we are a people formed, nurtured and sent on mission by the Eucharist, Vocation must be at the heart and core of who we are and what we are”  –    Archbishop Neary

• “In an age of anger and anxiety people look for and are entitled to find certain characteristics in their priest…..their priest be a man of joy, to be a man for others…and for their priests to be men of prayer.   –  Archbishop Neary

Words of Welcome
Welcome to everybody here today to the launch of the new online campaign and special literature for the promotion of vocations, One Life, One Call, One Response.  

Welcome to the lay-faithful, religious and priests.  A special welcome to the Carmelite Sisters who have a special link with our vocations committee and are continually praying for priests.  Welcome to parish representatives and members of the Diocesan Youth Council, the Council for the Laity, Saint Joseph’s Young Priests Society, Diocesan Pastoral Council and various representatives from the media.  

Theme – One Life, One Call, One Response
The theme of the launch is One Life, One Call, One Response.  An African proverb states that when a tree falls it makes a great noise, but when a forest grows, it grows silently.  All of us are deeply conscious of the failures, infidelities and crimes of which some priests are guilty.  That, and the sometimes inadequate handling of these serious matters has been rightly exposed and has received considerable coverage.

Yet in-spite of all of that priests will be found standing shoulder to shoulder with families and individuals who carry their crosses on life’s journey, whether it be death, tragedy, illness or separation.  The priest accompanying them remains with them in the gardens of their Gethsemane.  He is there at many key moments of profound sadness and joy in people’s lives.  Here in our own Archdiocese of Tuam our priests have been doing just that, providing a generous and supportive service which, in many ways, is heroic.  The relationship between a people and their priest may be experienced in a very striking way on the occasion of the death of the priest, the celebration of a Silver or Golden Jubilee or the transfer of a priest to another area.

Eucharist / Priesthood / Vocation at the heart of Catholic Identity
Because we are a people formed, nurtured and sent on mission by the Eucharist, Vocation must be at the heart and core of who we are and what we are.  The Eucharist which is central to our Catholic identity requires the priest.  The priest is never a man on his own.  As priests we emerge from, are supported, challenged and corrected by the people with whom we work and whom we endeavour to serve.  The need for good committed prayerful priests is becoming more urgent.  

Praying for and Encouraging Vocations
Despite the negative reports of recent times, in launching the Vocations material on priesthood, as a people of God we are declaring that we are very much open for business.  We encourage, pray for and welcome vocations to priesthood.

Facing the future and vocation promotion with courage
Here in the Archdiocese of Tuam we have so many dedicated, outstanding and hardworking priests, who have given so generously of their lives in service of Jesus Christ.  In launching this material we are committing ourselves to a form of evangelisation, preparing the soil for the sowing of the vocations seed.  One of the great obstacles facing us in this respect is discouragement but we must remember that discouragement never comes from the Lord.

God with us – working in and through our efforts
In the parable of the sowing of the seed in the gospels Jesus teaches us that all truly fruitful things begin in this world with what is small and hidden.  Now is a particularly appropriate time to launch out into the deep, realising that we cannot do this on our own, the Lord is with us and will provide the catch in terms of vocations.

Characteristics of the Priest
In an age of anger and anxiety people look for and are entitled to find certain characteristics in their priest.  Firstly they readily expect that their priest be a man of joy, a joy emanating from the fact that he is in contact with the God who created him to life, called him and to whom he endeavours to respond generously.  Secondly, people expect the priest to be a man for others.  This inevitably involves us along the road to Calvary and crucifixion.  The words which we use at consecration: “This is my body, given for you”.  Thirdly, people expect us to be men of prayer.  If those three dimensions of priesthood are inter-related in our lives then others characteristics will emerge like courage, perseverance and passion.

Design and Preparation
As we launch the material I would like to welcome Quantum Universal who designed the material and initially launched “Towards the Goal” ten years ago.  I thank Marion Mulhall for her dedicated work, advice on design, ideas and promotion.  Marion works tirelessly in promoting priesthood through so many initiatives with worldpriest.com

Contributors
To all who contributed to the material. Canon Colm Kilcoyne for his help and advice with the text, Fathers Stephen Farragher, Ray Flaherty, Seán Cunningham and Shane Sullivan for their availability for the photographs and for the literature. The many people, baptised faithful, religious and clergy who contributed testimonials on the priesthood both in the brochure and on the website.

Vocations Committee Work and Seminarians
A special word of thanks to the Vocations Committee, chaired by the Diocesan Secretary, Fr Fintan Monahan, to Fr Stephen Farragher, Tod Nolan, Krzysztof Sikora, Patrick Burke and Francis Mitchell who are involved in the schools promotion programme and the Reek Sunday promotion, to the Carmelite Sisters with whom the Vocations Committee have a special prayer link.  To our seminarians, Eugene O’ Boyle and Shane Sullivan who please God will be ordained for our diocese in two years time, to Seán Flynn who has just finished Second Philosophy and Dominic Allen First Philosophy, and Aidan Gallagher who has completed is pre-seminary year in Valladolid.

Appreciation, Greeting, blessing.
Thanks to Mary Connolly, our Diocesan Liturgical Resource Officer for taking charge of the prayer and liturgy tonight, to Liam Horan of Slí Nua Communications who designed the new Diocesan Website and acted as MC for the evening.  To the media people for coming and for their kindness in supporting various events in season and out of season and to Knock House Hotel, a very suitable location for this launch.  I hope that you all have a pleasant evening, a safe journey home and thanks again for your encouragement and support in joining us this evening.

I now formally launch this new literature, One Life, One Call, One Response and pray God’s blessing on it that it will bear a rich harvest of fruit in abundance and plenty.

ENDS

Further information
Fr Fintan Monaghan, Chair of the Vocations Committee and Diocesan Secretary of the Archdiocese of Tuam 093 24166 or 087 418 8012
Martin Long, Catholic Communications Office, Maynooth, 086 172 7678

PRESS RELEASE
26 June 2010
Statement by Archbishop Dermot Clifford, Apostolic Administrator in the Diocese of Cloyne Today Father Bill Bermingham offered his resignation to me as Designated Person for the Safeguarding of Children in the Diocese of Cloyne.  I have accepted Father Bermingham's resignation.

I wish to thank Father Bermingham for the unstinting and selfless commitment which he has given to this role on behalf of the diocese during a very painful period.

I have been witness to the integrity of Father Bermingham's motivation in seeking to rebuild trust with people who have been harmed by priests of the diocese and, to help in their healing.  The safeguarding of children in Church ministry has been his consistent priority and concern.
I have requested Father John McCarthy to act on a temporary basis in the role of Designated Person on behalf of the diocese.
ENDS

Further information:
Martin Long, Catholic Communications Office, Maynooth, 086 172 7678

PRESS RELEASE
26 June 2010
Statement by Father Bill Bermingham, Diocese of Cloyne From the recent media coverage of a case involving an allegation of child sexual abuse made against a priest of the Diocese of Cloyne, it is clear that my handling of the particular case has caused further distress to the complainant.  It is vital that any person occupying the role of designated officer/delegate within the Church should have the complete confidence of victims of child sexual abuse and of persons wishing to report abuse.  This is an absolute value.  My handling of this particular case has, despite my best intentions, served to undermine that confidence.  For this reason and in the interests of those who have been offended against - and in the interests of the Church’s policy for the safeguarding of children - I have asked Archbishop Dermot Clifford to relieve me of the role of Designated Officer/Delegate in the Diocese of Cloyne.  I very much regret the distress occasioned by my handling of this case.
I encourage any person who has suffered abuse to report it to the relevant Church authorities, to An Garda Síochána or to the Health Service Executive.
Bill Bermingham, PP

ENDS

Further information:
Martin Long, Catholic Communications Office, Maynooth, 086 172 7678

PRESS RELEASE 26 June 2010 Homily notes of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin for the Annual Pilgrimage to Knock of St Joseph's Young Priests Society

The Church in Ireland has to face many challenges, yet the Church in Ireland has in its history, distant and recent, addressed many challenges and is today a much stronger Church than many would realise.  

The culture of Ireland has changed.   The Church has to live within the reality of that change.  The Church has to look to the future, but cannot address the future until it has addressed its past.  Mistakes were made in the past, peoples’ lives have been wrecked by the manner in which the Church was governed, yet the Church has and will continue to have a vital role to play in Irish society as in any society through speaking about and witnessing to the message of Jesus Christ.  

The message of Jesus Christ brings with it, if lived authentically, an enriching ability which Christians then bring to society.  The message of Jesus Christ brings with it also demands of integrity in life which bear on each of us, as individual Christians, as parents, as leaders within the Christian community and indeed as Christians in society.

The Church has its role in society and the message of Jesus Christ can and must be proclaimed in an appropriate way to any society.  Christians and the Christian Church have a right and an obligation to express concerns about the manner in which those who are called to exercise responsibility in politics, in the economy and in society respond to the fundamental mandate of care for citizens and the common good that is entrusted to them.   This is a non-negotiable for the Church, even when that message might not meet with agreement and acceptance.   The Church’s mandate is however not simply a mandate to take pot shots from the sidelines, but must always be perceivable as an expression of genuine concern for people and as a willingness to work in solidarity.

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” is much more than a sound byte.  It affirms a distinction between Church and political life.  The Church has no role or desire to replace Caesar or in substituting itself for the political forum.   Pope Benedict addressed this distinction in a very clear way in his first Encyclical Deus Caritas Est which contains a strong emphasis on the role, responsibility and nobility of politics as a vocation and a service.

“Rendering to Caesar” also however reminds us of the limitations of politics.  Caesar is not God.  Politics is not just real politik.  In a democratic system politicians are answerable to those who elect them, but not just that.   Politicians are answerable to the challenges which affect the lives of citizens and of society and not just as potential voters, but as human beings who live and who are influenced by the concrete culture which grows up around them.

Caesar is not God, and God is not irrelevant to the world of Caesar.  Listening recently to some comments which seemed to express unease at the fact the Irish Bishops would address the political community on a fundamental question affecting society, I was struck to find in my diary just one year earlier, politicians complaining that the bishops had not been speaking publicly in support of a Yes vote at  the Lisbon treaty.   True pluralism respects constructive voices whether they are welcome or not.

Caesar is not God.  Neither are the bishops God, just as the bishops on their own are not the Church.  In recent years one of the most important signs of change in the Church has been the emergence of a strong laity willing to commit themselves to renewal of the Church even in areas where they have inherited a painful past which was not of their making.    It is hardly surprising that lay people today would consider a critical role as being essential to their contribution in the Church today.  Criticism is vital and welcome; indeed even if criticism comes from those who do not like the Church it must be listened to.  Criticism is vital and welcome: long term reform of the Church however will come above all from people who love the Church.  

There are many examples of the commitment of lay people in today’s Church and that involvement will be greater in the years to come as the appreciation of the role of lay people in the Church is sharpened and as institutions and structures are refocused to recognise and facilitate that lay commitment.  This is an urgent necessity.

Lay involvement is not something due to a shortage of priests, but to a different and more correct understanding of the nature of Church.  It comes from an understanding of the meaning of our baptism.   The changing role of lay people will, however, have an effect on the day to day life of the priest.  In addition to re-establishing a more correct understanding of the Church community, greater involvement of lay people will also free the priest from many tasks which were never really his.

What does freeing-up the priest mean?  In some cases it means giving the priest a little more space for himself as an individual.  Priests are often really overburdened and so many priests, even young priests, live under pressure on their health and spirituality.   Look after your priests.  They need the support and the affection of their people.  No two priests are alike; each has different talents and limitations.  Welcome all of them.  Through the integrity of your Christian life encourage your priests to be truly faithful to their calling.

But “freeing up the priest” means above all freeing the priest up to carry out the specific mission that has been given to the priest.  Priests need to remember that doing fewer things can actually mean enhancing rather than diminishing the role of the priest.  The role of the priest is not about activities, much less about power, but about witness.  Pope Benedict addressed the question in a meeting with priests only two weeks ago.  He stressed that we should realise "that the priest does not just do a job, with so many hours of work after which he is free and lives for himself, but that he is a man impassioned by Christ… To be filled with the joy of the Gospel with all our being is the main condition” of our priestly ministry.

A first fundamental dimension of that passion about the joy of the Gospel is that the priest be a man of prayer, especially at a moment when many people have difficulty in really understanding what prayer involves and where there is so much pressure on us not to find time to pray.  The hustle and bustle and the hectic rhythms of our lives have often left us afraid to be on our own and afraid of the silence which we need to enter into communion with God.  Priesthood is not about doing things, but about witness to the God of Jesus Christ.  Without prayer that witness will loose its fundamental anchor.

The second fundamental dimension of that passion for Jesus which must mark the priest is the Eucharist.  Faith in Jesus Christ is never just individualistic.  When we read the Acts of the Apostles, we see that the early Christians were known by the fact that “they gathered”: they gathered to share the prayers, the word and in the breaking of bread and their gathering developed a particular style of life, that of sharing, that of communion.   For many of my generation, coming to Church was more about fulfilling an obligation and “getting communion” than about gathering as a communion, as the body of Christ.   It was fulfilling an obligation which each one of us could do in our own time and in our own form, without any interaction with others.  

Today we must discover the various senses of communion: Communion with Jesus, but also a life-style of communion with others at a moment when solidarity and communion were never so much needed.    The Eucharist challenges individualism and self- centeredness.  Through the Eucharist the priest must become a man for others, captured into the self-giving sacrifice of Jesus and thus into the love of God which is kept present throughout time through the Eucharist.  

It is through a Eucharistic spirituality that the priest finds a way which will lead him beyond individualism and indeed beyond clericalism and any sense of caste.  The priest who lives the Eucharist is one who is truly open to the world and its needs and who sees that the answers to the needs of humanity will never be attained just by providing material needs, but through creating a reality of communion, which will ensure that needs are met and that others can flourish though our self giving.

The third pillar of a priestly spirituality is love of the scriptures.  I have had a quarter of a million copies of the Gospel of Saint Luke printed and distributed with the Archdiocese of Dublin this year.  A certain type of catechesis can easily trap us in a faith of formulae and rules and norms.  We need a faith which through daily reading the Scriptures will capture us into the mystery of his Jesus’ teaching but above all into the mystery of his life.

We pray here today for priests.  We pray that priests will grow in the understanding that a Church of communion will enrich the ministry of the priest and free him so that he can be one who speaks to his people about God.  The priest must be the one who speaks about God with words and without words, through the witness of a life which reflects that of Jesus.  

The priest whose ministry is understood in this way will also be able to speak without any complex about the priestly calling itself and not be either timid much less ashamed to speak to others about the joy his ministry.  Saint Joseph’s Young Priests Society has for generations dedicated its mission to providing new priests for our Church.  That work of prayer and generosity is more necessary than ever.   We owe all of you a debt of gratitude.

The Church’s mission began on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came on the Apostles and freed them from their own anxiousness to go out to all nations.  The Apostles were gathered on that day with Mary, the Mother of Jesus.  At this shrine of Mary we turn to her intercession to support all priests, especially those who feel insecure and tired in their mission, that the Holy Spirit will help them recover that fundamental priestly sense of joy at being able to speak about the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ.

ENDS

 

PRESS RELEASE
25 June 2010
Statement by Fr Bill Bermingham, Designated Person for Safeguarding Children for the Diocese of Cloyne I wish to clarify a serious issue which has been the subject of various national media reports; these reports suggest that I acted improperly in processing a specific complaint of child sexual abuse against a priest of the Diocese of Cloyne.

As designated person for the Diocese of Cloyne, I am subject to Safeguarding Children: Standards and Guidance Document for the Catholic Church in Ireland, which is published by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church and is available on its website.  Safeguarding Children is fully compliant with child protection legislation and incorporates and complements the best practice and guidance provided in Children First, the National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children, published by the Department of Health and Children.

Safeguarding Children sets out how I must go about my role as designated person.  It requires me, on receiving information about an allegation, to carry out a number of steps, including:

• the immediate informing of the Health Service Executive and An Garda Síochána; and,
• the conducting of interviews with the accused person.  I am specifically required to inform him of the identity of the complainant and the nature and detail of the allegation.  Safeguarding Children also states that the accused person must be given enough detail about the allegation, to be able to offer a response.

I am most reluctant to speak publicly about an individual allegation.  However, as my actions and motivations have been sharply criticised in the public domain, I feel I must clarify the situation within the bounds of what is legally permissible during the on-going criminal investigation.

This allegation was notified to me by Faoiseamh in May 2009.  On the same day, I reported it to the Gardaí and the to HSE.  On the following day, in accordance with current policy, the accused priest was stood aside from ministry to allow the allegation to be investigated.

In June, 2009, I met with the complainant for the purpose of receiving the complaint and enabling the necessary next steps to be taken.  I created a record of the meeting and forwarded it to the complainant for the purpose of having the complainant verify its accuracy. I did not receive a reply.

I again met with the accused priest to inform him of the substance of the allegation against him. In order to ensure that the complaint was accurately and clearly conveyed, I read to him my notes of my meeting with the complainant.  The accused priest subsequently requested a copy of these notes, as was his entitlement, and these were furnished to him through his Priest Adviser.  When I furnished this record this was not in any way connected to the Garda investigation or to a pending Garda interview with the accused priest. Indeed, I did not know at that time when the Gardaí intended to interview the accused priest in connection with this complaint.

Whilst I believe that my actions were consistent with both State and Church guidelines in this area, I am deeply upset that the complainant feels distressed by my actions. This was never my intention.

ENDS

Further information:
Martin Long, Catholic Communications Office, Maynooth, 086 172 7678

PRESS RELEASE 25 June 2010 Statement by Cardinal Seán Brady on his Meeting with the Justice For Magdalenes Advocacy Group

Responding to their request for a meeting, Cardinal Brady yesterday (Thursday 24 June, 2010) met with the advocacy group ‘Justice for Magdalenes’ (JFM). The two hour meeting consisted largely of a presentation by JFM of their detailed research into the history of the Magdalene laundries and of their advocacy on behalf of many former residents.

Commenting on the meeting, Cardinal Brady said:  “this was a welcome opportunity to listen to the perspective of JFM on the story of the involvement of Church, State and society in the former Magdalene laundries. By today’s standards much of what happened at that time is difficult to comprehend.”

Cardinal Brady expressed the hope “that the perspective of those involved in the operation of the ‘laundries’ would also be respectfully heard and listened to.” Pointing to the autonomy of Religious Congregations in this area he encouraged JFM “to continue its efforts to establish dialogue and a process of justice and healing for all concerned.”

ENDS

Further information:
Martin Long, Director of Communications 086 172 7678

PRESS RELEASE 24 June 2010 2010 Knock Youth Festival opens tomorrow on the theme Walk by Faith

Archbishop Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam and Bishop Christy Jones, Bishop of Elphin will take part in the annual Knock Youth Festival from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 June 2010 at Knock Shrine, Co Mayo. The three day festival will be opened by Bishop Jones tomorrow [Friday] afternoon. Over the weekend there will be talks, workshops, prayer, reflection and music. The theme of this year's festival is Walk by Faith. The festival will run until Sunday 27 June when Archbishop Neary will preside at the closing Mass.

Commenting ahead of the festival Archbishop Neary said "The Knock Youth Faith Festival is a most welcome development of recent years. It is an ideal opportunity for so many young people to come together in a faith context, to meet, to have a positive experience of Church, to pray, to celebrate and to have fun. Young people are the future of the Church and they deserve the best in presenting to them the wonderful treasures of our faith. I look forward to the event every year and am delighted and privileged to have the opportunity to celebrate Mass for the close of the festival of faith."

One of the speakers at this year's festival is Sr Helen Prejean, the author of the book Dead Man Walking, who is travelling from the USA to address this year's festival. Sr Helen has campaigned tirelessly against the death penalty and she will speak at the festival about human rights and the human dignity of all life. Sr Helen will also speak on the issue of environmental ethics. Other speakers at the festival will include: Fr Conall O Cuinn SJ, Dr Andrew O'Connell, Br Shawn O'Connor and Mr Brian McKee.

Looking forward to opening the festival Bishop Jones said "The festival presents young people with the exciting opportunity of gathering with others to reflect on their Christian faith and the significance it has in our life journey. Special liturgies, speakers, music, song and dance will enhance the experience of those present at what promises to be a truly spirit-filled event. We pray that it will help many young people to discover in their lives a lively, loving relationship with Jesus Christ and His church."

A special web feature on the Knock Youth Festival, including a promotional video, is now available on www.catholicbishops.ie

Notes to Editors

1. The theme of this year's festival is Walk by Faith.  In addition, the daily themes of the festival are: Friday 25 June - Walk by Faith; Saturday 26 June - Trusting in God; Sunday 27 June - Hope for the Journey
2. The full agenda of the Knock Youth Festival is available at www.knock-shrine.ie/youthfestival/

Further information:
Martin Long, Director of Communications 086 172 7678
Brenda Drumm, Communications Officer 087 310 4444

PRESS RELEASE 22 June 2010 Linacre Centre for Healthcare Ethics conference on ‘Fertility, Infertility and Gender’

An international group of around 100 delegates met in St Patrick College, Maynooth, on 16 to 18 June, for a conference run by the Linacre Centre for Healthcare Ethics.  The conference addressed the theme of ‘Fertility, Infertility and Gender’.    The Linacre Centre is a Catholic academic institute that engages with the moral questions arising in clinical practice and biomedical research.  The Linacre Centre has recently moved from London to Oxford, and will be changing its name to the ‘Anscombe Bioethics Centre’ after the renowned Catholic philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe.  Dr Mary Geach, daughter of Elizabeth Anscombe, presented and attended the Maynooth conference.

Delegates attended from as far afield as Australia, Nigeria, Malta and Sweden.  A series of well-researched interdisciplinary papers were presented on a range of bioethical topics of contemporary importance such as reproductive and sexual health and ethics, including 'The effect on children of the reproductive revolution'.  The conference proceedings will be published in due course; in the meantime the Centre remains available for advice at www.linacre.org.

The three Catholic bishops’ conferences of the islands (Ireland, Scotland and England & Wales) nominate members to the board of the Linacre Centre.  Further information on this conference can be obtained from Dr Helen Watt, Director of the Linacre Centre for Healthcare Ethics, on h.watt@linacre.org.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

• The Linacre Centre is a Catholic academic institute that engages with the moral questions arising in clinical practice and biomedical research. It brings to bear on those questions principles of natural law, virtue ethics, and the teaching of the Catholic Church, and seeks to develop the implications of that teaching for emerging fields of practice.  The Centre engages in scholarly dialogue with academics and practitioners of other traditions.  It contributes to public policy debates as well as to debates and consultations within the Church. It runs educational programmes for, and gives advice to, Catholics and other interested healthcare professionals and biomedical scientists.

• Topics discussed at the conference included: marriage, fertility and celibacy: Biblical perspectives; psychological issues in gender identity; marriage, singleness and homosexuality; Love, unity and contraception; Population growth and control; STDs, teenage pregnancy and abstinence strategies; Assisted conception: ethical approaches; IVF and sexual ethics; the effects on children of the reproductive revolution.

• Speakers included: Fr Paul Mankowski, Professor Luke Gormally, Dr Philip Sutton, Professor Alexander Pruss, Dr Dermot Grenham, Dr Kevin O’Reilly, Professor David Paton, Dr Phil Boyle, Dr Mary Geach, Fr Kevin Flannery and Elizabeth Marquadt.

• Photographs from the conference are available on request from Brenda Drumm

Further information:
Brenda Drumm, Communications Officer 087 310 4444

PRESS RELEASE
20 June 2010 Homily of Bishop Leo O'Reilly to mark the closing of the Year for Priests On the occasion of the Kilmore Diocesan Pilgrimage to Our Lady's Shrine at Knock
I suggested to our priests some time back that this pilgrimage would be a good occasion for us as a diocese to mark the end of the Year for Priests. I asked them to come here today on pilgrimage, if their Mass schedules permitted, and to ask as many of their parishioners as possible to come also to share this day with us and to pray for us. I am delighted to see so many here today, whether in response to that invitation or not.  We need your support and your prayers now as never before.

It was exactly a year ago yesterday that Pope Benedict opened the Year for Priests. The Pope said in his letter launching the Year: “This Year [is] meant to deepen the commitment of all priests to interior renewal for the sake of a stronger and more incisive witness to the Gospel in today’s world.” Interior renewal - that is where all renewal must begin. And it is renewal for the sake of mission, the mission of witnessing to the gospel in the world.

Renewal does not begin in external structures or elaborate plans or projects. It is something that each one of us has to embrace personally and prayerfully. It means conversion, turning back to God, acknowledging our failures and our sinfulness and asking forgiveness. It means rediscovering Christ, rededicating ourselves to his service and putting him once more at the centre of our lives and of all our endeavours.
It was a terrible irony that the Year for Priests coincided with the revelations of the horrendous abuse by priests and religious contained in the Ryan and Murphy reports here in Ireland and the further revelations that these sparked in several other countries. Pope Benedict noted this coincidence in his homily at the closing of the Year for Priests in Rome on the 150th anniversary of the death of St John Vianney some days ago. He had this to say about it:
Had the Year for Priests been a glorification of our individual human performance, it would have been ruined by these events. But for us what happened was precisely the opposite: we grew in gratitude for God’s gift, a gift concealed in “earthen vessels” which ever anew, even amid human weakness, makes his love concretely present in this world. So let us look upon all that happened as a summons to purification, as a task which we bring to the future and which makes us acknowledge and love all the more the great gift we have received from God. In this way, his gift becomes a commitment to respond to God’s courage and humility [in choosing us] by our own courage and our own humility.

We priests are earthen vessels that carry a treasure. We are fragile, vulnerable and prone to failure. But we have been entrusted by God with this priceless gift of priesthood. We are bewildered and angry at the crimes of some of our brother priests against children and at the failures of bishops to put a stop to them. We feel our priesthood has been tainted and that we have all been “tarred with the same brush”. We feel shamed and humiliated by all that has happened.
But we need to reflect and to make sure that our anger is not just at the humiliation and loss of credibility that we have suffered – justified and all as that might be. The harm done to children should be the main focus of our anger – harm that often had dire consequences for the rest of their lives and tragically led some of them to early graves. Children were damaged not only by sexual abuse, but also by serious physical abuse. And this happened in some of our parishes, our schools and institutions.

St John Vianney, the Curé of Ars, who is the patron saint of parish priests and has been our model and example during this Year for Priests, said: “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus.” Abuse of children is a terrible betrayal of that love of Jesus we as priests and bishops are called in a special way to bear witness to.  Can I take this opportunity of once again apologizing to all who suffered abuse at the hands of priests and religious, and particularly those in our own diocese who suffered in this way. Can I apologize too for the failures of bishops and superiors to stop that abuse continuing.

Pope Benedict proposes that we look on this coincidence of the Year for Priests and the appalling revelations of abuse by priests not as mere coincidence. He invites us to see it as a call to purification, a call to value and love all the more the great gift of priesthood that God has given us. The Pope speaks about God’s courage and humility in giving us this gift of being other Christs, and he says these sad events are a call to us to respond to God’s courage and humility by our own courage and humility at this difficult time.
The Pope’s call echoes the call of Jesus in today’s gospel: If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself, take up his cross every day and follow me. These words of Jesus come just after Peter had spoken up and acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah. Up to now the disciples followed Jesus enthusiastically as he healed the sick, cast out demons, fed the crowds and calmed the seas. Now they had to learn to follow the suffering Messiah. They had to face the scandal of the suffering and death of their Messiah. Jesus was reminding them again of the Beatitude: “Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account…” As Christians and as priests we cannot avoid carrying the cross.

Can I conclude with a final quotation from Pope Benedict’s words about the Curé of Ars which are very relevant to our theme of renewing the priesthood:
It was his fervent prayer life and his impassioned love of Christ Crucified that enabled John Mary Vianney to grow daily in his total self-oblation to God and the Church. May his example lead all priests to offer that witness of unity with their Bishop, with one another and with the lay faithful, which today, as ever, is so necessary. Despite all the evil present in our world, the words which Christ spoke to his Apostles in the Upper Room continue to inspire us: “In the world you have tribulation; but take courage, I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33). Our faith in the Divine Master gives us the strength to look to the future with confidence.

The Pope concludes:
Dear priests, Christ is counting on you. In the footsteps of the Curé of Ars, let yourselves be enthralled by him. In this way you too will be, for the world in our time, heralds of hope, reconciliation and peace!

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• Year for Priests

The Year for Priests from 19 June 2009 until 11 June 2010 was declared by Pope Benedict to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the death of the Curé of Ars, St John Mary Vianney, patron of parish priests worldwide. The purpose of the Year for Priests is to deepen the commitment of all priests to interior renewal for the sake of a stronger and more incisive witness to the Gospel in today’s world.

Further details about the Year for Priests ...

Further information:
Martin Long, Director of Communications 086 172 7678
Brenda Drumm, Communications Officer, 087 310 4444



PRESS RELEASE 17 June 2010 Churches say jobs and businesses at risk because of behaviour of banks Leaders of the four main churches in Northern Ireland have come together to call on local banks to adopt a more understanding and positive approach when dealing with businesses. The Churches have written to the banks asking for a meeting, and will also meet with senior politicians in order to highlight policies and behaviour which, the Church leaders say, are ‘holding back recovery, and putting businesses and their employees at risk’.

The initiative is supported by business representative organisations Northern Ireland Manufacturing, the Quarry Products Association and the Trade Union ‘Unite’.

The initiative has been spearheaded by Church of Ireland of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh the Most Reverend Alan Harper, supported by Cardinal Seán Brady, Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, President of the Methodist Church, the Reverend Paul Kingston and the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, Dr Norman Hamilton.

The Church leaders say that they are not in any way advocating a return to the high risk lending practices which led to the economic downturn. However, they have come together to highlight the impact of bank policies on people working in business. They are seeking meetings with the banks to press for a balance between measures to restore strength to the banking sector and to ensure the survival of businesses essential to the development of the local economy.

The initiative comes after a number of prominent businesses across Northern Ireland approached the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, The Most Reverend Alan Harper for his help. Speaking at the launch of the initiative, Archbishop Harper said that the group would be seeking meetings with the banks and local political leaders:

“I and my colleagues have been collecting examples of the way in which the banks have failed, in our opinion, to live up to their obligations or to operate according to the norms of best practice. These are matters which we hope to discuss with Ministers of the Northern Ireland Executive, the banks themselves and representatives of the Treasury. While no-one is advocating a return to the irresponsible lending practises which precipitated the world wide downturn, there must also be a way of supporting businesses more positively. We appreciate that the banks have a duty to restore strength to themselves and their sector overall. However, some of the experiences of businesses which have approached me are quite shocking, leading to instances of decent businesses, and decent business people being placed under immense pressure with the ultimate danger of closure and job losses which affect the whole community. I am concerned for people in business, for their employees and for the long term economic growth of our economy and I believe that it is time for a more positive approach from the banks.  It is becoming clear that there is a tangible risk to the economy through banks seeking too rapid a restoration of their own balance sheets. That risk translates into a threat to jobs and family income for the rest of us inflicting additional misery on businesses and their employees.”

The group is concerned about a number of issues:

•    Significant inflation in facility renewal charges, transaction charges or interest rates from previous levels.
•    Immediate withdrawal of existing overdraft and project loan facilities.
•    Prolonged deliberation for facility renewal or project approval, at worst the “slow no” scenario.
•    Insistence upon costly third party reports to facilitate appraisal.  
•    Inaccessibility to decision makers with deferral to line managers without adequate authority.
•    Micro management of the client business affairs.
•    Business sectoral discrimination e.g. construction.
•    Pressure to renew loans from previous lower rate deals into higher rate ones.   
•     A culture of aggression and threat, where the only priorities are the banks’ priorities.

Cardinal Sean Brady said that both church and business leaders understood that the banks cannot lend money to businesses or individuals in the speculative manner of a few years ago. However, he added that the current situation where solid businesses are being denied the capital required to remain competitive is unsustainable:

“We are deeply concerned at the level of stress which businessmen and women across Northern Ireland are being placed under, both through the impact of the economic downturn and, it must be said, by the behaviour of many banks towards them. Many of those who have come to us for support have been placed under needless financial pressure when they are running solid businesses which have provided much needed employment across Northern Ireland. Many of our Banks are businesses that have received support from the tax-payer to get them through these turbulent times. I think most tax-payers want to see the banks taking a similar approach to the businesses and indeed the homeowners who depend on them. Banks have a duty to society, to the social economy of persons as well as for the legitimate pursuit of their own profitability. We will be seeking to meet with and challenge the banks to change many of what we see as unreasonable practices and to join in developing a new, more humane, social and collaborative approach to the economic growth we all want to see.’

The recently installed President of the Methodist Church, the Reverend Paul Kingston said that fairness should be the baseline for how banks need to deal with business,

“We recognise that the banks themselves are facing some complex issues at the behest of the regulator. We also realise that different banks have somewhat differing approaches. But, as we have listened to those who are seeking, through business, to make a positive contribution to the economy and to the community, we have learned that very often the essential relationship between local business and local bank branch manager seems to have broken down. Unless this sense of local partnership is restored we will all suffer.  We are not asking for a return to the irresponsible lending practices of the past, but for a fair and just deal for viable businesses which are vital to our economic growth and the wellbeing of our community.”

Dr Norman Hamilton, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland says that its time for Banks to make decisions which have a positive impact on the lives of local people,

“At a time when Northern Ireland, through the efforts of its own politicians, local business people and entrepreneurs is trying to strengthen and build the economy, it is ironic that many of the financial decisions needed to support it are being taken by people from elsewhere. We want to encourage more local decision making in a banking sector which properly supports the needs of local people running and working in small and medium size businesses both in the tough times as well as the better times.  Whilst the issues are complex in the current climate, the banks, like every other sector, must seek the welfare of the whole community and must see themselves as the stewards of the savings and investments of ordinary people whose jobs are often dependent on the small and medium enterprise sector.”

The business representative organisation, Northern Ireland Manufacturing has played a leading role in bringing the campaign together. Chief Executive Bryan Gray said that his members are reporting very serious difficulties in ‘normal’ dealings with their banks.

“Everyone understands that the days of banks throwing money at businesses are in the past. But there must be a balance between risky lending practises and the new atmosphere where businesses are constantly battling to have a reasonable approach from their banks. The fact is banks currently are driving a highly aggressive pace to rebuild capital strength. Average banking profit over the past three years has been strong, it has been the exceptional costs of bad debt write offs that has given rise to reported losses. The fact is most banks have now moved back to reporting profit, and with the level of charge and margin uplift, aligned with the underlying low cost of capital from investors, there is ever stronger profit potential for banks going forward.“

He concluded

“The pace of restoration of banking capital value is the primary focus of this initiative. The contention of many in the business community, particularly manufacturing and construction in Northern Ireland is this pace is ruthlessly aggressive and will prove fatal to many sound businesses which may fail if policy cannot be changed through agreement between the banking policy setters, the regulators and Government. Northern Ireland Manufacturing commends the Churches for this initiative and will supporting their efforts to take this initiative forward”.

Gordon Best, Regional Director of the Quarry Products Association NI, stated

“While we understand the difficult position that the current economic difficulties has placed everyone in, including the Banks, it is totally unacceptable how some financial institutions which have been saved by public money are now treating long standing, sound businesses. In Northern Ireland we are now faced with a situation of a public sector that is being sliced and much of the private sector being strangled by unethical banking practices. We need central Government to act and to act now. We would ask that all those in a position of influence listen to the Church Leaders and heed their warnings and advice”.

Jimmy Kelly, Regional Secretary of the trade union Unite said that the issue of the economy and the role of the Banks transcend the usual boundaries between management, business and staff.

“Unite warmly welcomes this initiative by the churches and business organisations and gives it our complete support. The role of the banks in providing capital to businesses across Northern Ireland is absolutely essential, and it is clear from talking to people in local businesses that there is a severe disparity between what the banks say they are doing in public, and the experience of dealing with them in private. It is time that the banks were straight with their customers and began to offer the level of support required to lift our economy and provide jobs and stability for the future.”

ENDS


Note to editors In his first major Ministerial speech at the Cass Business School in London earlier this month, Vince Cable has outlined how the Government will support business:
Perhaps most important for early economic recovery, I will redouble our efforts to ensure that bank lending agreements from banks that have benefited from taxpayer subsidy are being honoured – especially for SMEs. We do not expect to see viable businesses deprived of credit or working capital by banks that are largely owned by the taxpayer, or the general beneficiaries of wider public support.
The banks claim that there is no demand. That is not right. If the bar is set too high, of course no one is willing to jump. The current risk aversion by banks in the SME sector will stifle recovery and, if it does, will actually rebound on the banks through bad debt.

PRESS RELEASE
16 June 2010
Press Release for the Summer General Meeting of the Irish Bishops' Conference At the conclusion of the Summer 2010 General Meeting of the Irish Bishops’ Conference this evening, the following statement details:

• Protection and support for marriage and family
• Pope Benedict XVI’s Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland (i) Spiritual guidance and initiatives (ii) Safeguarding of Children (iii) Apostolic Visitation in Ireland
• Year for Priests
• Approval of the Third Edition of The Roman Missal
• Eucharistic Congress in Ireland in 2012
• Day for Life to be celebrated on 3 October 2010

• Protection and support for marriage and family

Bishops discussed the statement Why Marriage Matters which was published by the Bishops’ Conference in March in the context of the Civil Partnership Bill which has just completed its Committee Stage in Dáil Éireann.  Why Marriage Matters is available in print format and has been distributed in parishes.  It is also available to download from the Bishops’ website www.catholicbishops.ie.  

Bishops appealed to Oireachtas members to consider Why Marriage Matters as they discuss this Bill and in particular to consider in conscience the following excerpt from it before voting on the Bill:
“Oireachtas Eireann is about to pass legislation that seeks to give same-sex relationships a standing which will be as similar as possible to marriage. The Civil Partnership Bill will not permit adoption by same-sex couples. In most other respects, including tax and social welfare purposes, same-sex civil partnerships will be regarded as being equal to marriage.

“This is not compatible with seeing the family based on marriage as the necessary basis of the social order and as indispensable to the welfare of the Nation and State. Nor does it ‘guard with special care the institution of Marriage, on which the Family is founded.’” (Art. 41.3.1, Bunreacht na hÉireann)

Bishops called on Oireachtas members to allow for greater recognition of the proper autonomy of Churches and the right to social and civil freedom in religious matters.  This includes the right of individuals to the free exercise of conscience in accordance with the objective moral order and the teaching of the Gospel.  The current Bill, by exposing Civil Registrars to a fine and/or imprisonment should they act in accordance with their conscience on the matter of same-sex unions, undermines this cherished principle of a free and diverse society and imposes unjust limits on the ‘freedom of conscience and free expression and practice of religion’ guaranteed to every citizen in Article 44.2.1 of Bunreacht Na hÉireann.  Bishops therefore appeal to Government to introduce amendments to the Bill to accommodate freedom of religious conscience on this vital matter.  Bishops also ask Government to support a free vote for all members of Dáil Éireann and the Seanad on this Bill as it passes through the Houses of the Oireachtas.

• Response to Pope Benedict XVI’s Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland

(i) Spiritual guidance and initiatives
Bishops discussed Pope Benedict XVI’s Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland which was published on 20 March paying particular attention to the spiritual guidance and initiatives which were outlined in it.  Bishops acknowledged the ongoing reflection and dialogue which is taking place in parishes around the country with people coming together to pray, take part in Eucharistic Adoration and to discuss this important Pastoral Letter and the issues arising from it.  

The discussion on Pope Benedict's Pastoral Letter included emphasis on renewal of faith and of the Church.  This requires placing special emphasis on the role of lay faithful, who are encouraged to offer an articulate and convincing account of the Gospel in the midst of modern society and to cooperate in the Church’s life and mission.  It was agreed that particular attention ought to be given to establishing and developing parish pastoral councils, finance committees, and other bodies which enable greater participation of the lay faithful in the service and mission of the Church.

Bishops decided to establish a preliminary task group to explore the potential for a multi-disciplinary analysis of the Irish context to bring new or additional insight to research already conducted or underway.  

Bishops also agreed to produce materials and develop initiatives around renewing prayers and fasting specifically for the intentions set out in the Pastoral Letter and for a set period of time to be determined by the Episcopal Conference e.g. from Advent 2010 to Advent 2011.  Bishops are grateful for the many ideas and responses received from around the country and will return to this issue at their Autumn General Meeting in October.  

(ii) Safeguarding of Children - review of the management of current cases
The Chairman, Mr John Morgan and Chief Executive, Mr Ian Elliott, National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church, addressed the Bishops’ Conference regarding the preparations for the review of the management of current cases of abuse in dioceses.  

The prime task of the Child Safeguarding Diocesan Reviews is to look at current risks and their management with a view to informing current and future practice.

The review process will include the dioceses in four phases and thereafter it will cover religious congregations.  The National Board has been in contact with the statutory authorities, North and South, concerning its preparations and the Board is satisfied that the authorities accept the validity of its approach to the Child Safeguarding Diocesan Reviews.  

The National Board has established a Reference Group to oversee this review.  The Reference Group will be chaired by Dr Helen Buckley, Trinity College, Dublin.  The review process will involve a number of experienced professionals whose skills include comprehensive knowledge of child safeguarding legislation and administration.

(iii) Apostolic Visitation in Ireland
Bishops’ welcomed the announcement on 31 May that the Holy See intends to offer assistance to bishops, clergy, religious and lay faithful in our response to the situation caused by the appalling and criminal cases of abuse perpetrated by some priests and religious upon minors.  

Bishops look forward to finding out details regarding the Apostolic Visitation in Ireland.  An important objective of Apostolic Visitation will be to contribute to spiritual renewal of the Church in Ireland.

• Year for Priests

Bishops reviewed the Year for Priests which was inaugurated by Pope Benedict XVI in June 2009 and which concluded last weekend in Rome with the celebration of Mass in St Peter’s Square.

Bishops welcomed developments in dioceses during the Year for Priests such as working groups to look at ongoing formation, penitential pilgrimages for priests and various other meetings held on the theme of priesthood.

Bishops reflected on the supportive words of Pope Benedict during his homily at the closing Mass for the Year for Priests on Friday: “The priest is not a mere office-holder. ... Rather, he does something which no human being can do of his own power: in Christ's name he speaks the words which absolve us of our sins and in this way he changes, starting with God, our entire life.  Over the offerings of bread and wine he speaks Christ's words of thanksgiving, ... which open the world to God and unite it to Him.  The priesthood, then, is not simply 'office' but Sacrament.”

A special feature is still available on the Year for Priests on the Bishops’ Conference website www.catholicbishops which includes video and text highlights of the year and some recent video footage of the closing events in Rome.

• Approval of the Third Edition of The Roman Missal

Bishops welcomed the recent completion of the translation of the Third Edition of The Roman Missal and its approval by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.  Bishops look forward to its final editing and its use at Masses in Ireland towards the end of 2011.

Bishops will engage in diocesan and parish programmes to help our congregations to understand and appreciate the new translation of the Mass so that the changes will serve, in the words of the Holy Father, “as a spring board for a renewal and deepening of Eucharistic devotion all over the English speaking world”.

Background
A new edition of the Latin Missal was issued in 2002 and this new translation will replace the current Missal we have used since 1975.  Since 1975 there have been many additions to the Missal.  New feasts have been added to the Liturgical Calendar, new Eucharistic Prayers were issued and a new Calendar with many new prayers has been approved for Ireland.  All of these will be included in the new edition under preparation.  

Over the past six years the bishops have been receiving the new translation in segments from the International Commission on English in the Liturgy, a commission representing eleven Bishops’ Conferences in the English-speaking world.  The most obvious difference will be the changes in translation since this has been done according to norms for translation issued in 2001.  These norms call for a fuller faithful translation of the Latin, capturing the biblical resonances of our prayers more clearly and the rich words and phrases of the prayers, many more than 1200 years old.

• Eucharistic Congress in Ireland in 2012

The Feast of Corpus Christi saw the launch of a pastoral programme to assist people in the journey of preparation ahead of the next Eucharistic Congress which takes place in Ireland in June 2012.  The second national collection to support the preparation and hosting of the Congress took place at Masses throughout Ireland's 26 dioceses on 6 June.

In September volunteers will be invited to support the preparation of the Congress.  Suitable candidates will be invited to participate in a programme of spiritual and practical preparation.  A competition is being held to compose a hymn for the Congress.  Leading Irish composers of sacred music in various traditions have been invited to submit entries by early September.

Bishops expressed their gratitude to all who contributed generously to the collection on 6 June and to those who have already given so much time and energy to the preparatory work for the Congress. See www.iec2012.ie/E-Congress/index.html to download pastoral resources in the Irish and English languages.

• ‘Day for Life’ to be celebrated on 3 October 2010 in Ireland

The Catholic Church in Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales celebrates our ‘Day for Life’ this year with the common theme of “The meaning of Christian death and care for those who are dying”.

Life is a gift we hold from God, who not only gives life but redeems it.  Death does not break the bonds of love.  No matter how short it may be, or whatever its condition, every life has a purpose and contains a grace.   The Christian life is not specifically protected from illness, pain or death, yet we know that even in these experiences we can find God and be a witness to Him, our Lord in life and in death (Phil 1:21).

The full text of the pastoral letter for this year’s ‘Day for Life’, which addresses the meaning of Christian death and care for the dying, will be published on 3 October next.

ENDS

Further information:
Martin Long, Director of Communications 086 172 7678
Brenda Drumm, Communications Officer, 087 310 4444

PRESS RELEASE 16 June 2010 Bishops welcome the Report of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry On the third day of the Summer General Meeting of the Irish Episcopal Conference in Maynooth, the Bishops of Ireland prayed for those who lost their lives and were injured in Derry on Bloody Sunday, 30 January 1972, and in a joint statement today said:

“We welcome the findings of the Report of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry and we share the joy and relief of the families of those killed and injured on Bloody Sunday.  We acknowledge the hurt and pain of the many people who lost loved ones on these islands during the course of the Troubles.  We continue to carry them all in our thoughts and prayers.  

“We acknowledge the witness of Bishop Edward Daly, and the many clergy, whose part in Bloody Sunday and its aftermath is deservedly recognised.  We salute also all the politicians who have contributed in leadership roles and to the building of a solid peace.

“We acknowledge the pastoral leadership shown by the representatives of the other Christian Churches as demonstrated by their visit to Derry today.  Finally, we call on all those who are still committed to violence to recognise the futility of this approach and we plead with them to turn to a constructive political path to achieve their goals.”
ENDS

Further information:
Martin Long, Director of Communications 00 353 86 172 7678

PRESS RELEASE
15 June 2010
Statement by Bishop Seamus Hegarty, Bishop of Derry, on the publication of the Report of The Bloody Sunday Inquiry:
I welcome the publication today of the Report of The Bloody Sunday Inquiry and the unequivocal and strong language used in it to confirm the innocence of the victims who were shot, both killed and injured, by the British army in Derry on 30 January 1972.

It was immensely moving to watch the relatives of the Bloody Sunday victims respond to the Report today.  I was struck by their sheer dignity and their palpable relief that the long wait was now over.  Two key words came across again and again: ‘innocence and justice.’  May God bless the relatives and friends of the victims.  Today is their day and it is a very significant day for the people of Derry.

I pay tribute to the many people who were on the ground caring for the victims on that dark day and who did so at considerable risk to their own safety.  I include Bishop Edward Daly and the many clergy who ministered to the victims and who assisted their loved ones in the turmoil and in the aftermath of the shootings.

I warmly welcome the supportive comments today by Bishop Ken Good, Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, who described his ‘hope is that in these pivotal days we will listen carefully to one another as well as paying careful attention to the findings of the Saville Report.’

Above all I hope and pray that those who suffered due to the taking and damaging of human life on Bloody Sunday may now begin to find some peace.

ENDS

Further information:
Martin Long, Director of Communications 086 172 7678