Latest news with #Catholics
Spectator
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Spectator
Letters: Let the King choose the Archbishop of Canterbury
Supreme idea Sir: My colleague Fergus Butler-Gallie is right about the deficiencies of the Church of England's system for filling the See of Canterbury ('Canterbury fail', 12 July). May I make a modest proposal? Place untrammelled power of appointment in the hands of the sovereign. If there be no providence in Anglican polity we should become Catholics or dissenters. But if we think God is still working his purpose out through the Church by law established, we should have the courage of that conviction. Qualms about monarchs shaping the Church? It was Cyrus who brought the people of Israel back to Judea. We probably would not have the Nicene Creed without Constantine's muscular intervention. And it cuts both ways: remember who puts the crown on the King's head. God can use less benign institutions than the monarchy for good purposes. At any rate surely nobody thinks His Majesty, the Church's Supreme Governor, could do a worse job than the Crown Nominations Commission. And it would be quick. The Revd Joshua Rey, Vicar of Roehampton London SW15 Cross purposes Sir: Father Butler-Gallie should not be too distressed by the omnishambles surrounding the long-winded selection of the next Archbishop. The Church of England survives despite its prelates, not because of them. That witty Anglican monk and liturgical scholar, Dom Gregory Dix, said he was never sure when attending an episcopal consecration whether the huddle of clergy around the candidate was conferring the gift of the Holy Ghost or pulling out his backbone. And he suggested it might be significant that the sign of a bishop is a crook, and that the symbol of an archbishop is a double-cross. Francis Bown London E3 Slowly but surely Sir: Roger Lewis's account of an OAP coach trip ('Life in bottom gear', 12 July) reads like a gently mocking obituary for energy and ambition: all flasks, bus passes and slow progress eastward. But behind the tartan rugs and scheduled toilet stops lies something far more vital. After 60 years organising Sunday tea parties for older people, I've seen how such outings offer companionship, purpose and laughter to those who live alone. They are not retreats from life, but brief returns to it. Smile at their slowness if you will – but it's often the only thing moving in their lonely lives. Trevor Lyttleton MBE Founder and Chair 1965-2015 Contact the Elderly (Now 'Re-engage') London NW11 Towering example Sir: Your two pages of reflections (12 July) upon Norman Tebbit do him justice. After news of his death I stood outside his final home in the historic quarter of Bury St Edmunds. Yards away stands the eponymous Norman Tower, straddling the view at the end of his street. It radiates strength, purpose, solidity, resistance, all characteristics of Lord Tebbit. Where today in parliament is a person of such qualities? Brian Emsley Kennett, Cambridgeshire Peer into the future Sir: I was glad to see Lord Moore recognise that removing the hereditary peers is an oblique attack on the monarchy ('End of the peer show', 12 July). If we are serious about retaining a king we must argue to keep, or reintroduce, hereditary peers. The main obstacle, as I see it, is primogeniture. If women naturally inherited the titles as the first born, mirroring the Succession to the Crown Act, then much of the '21st century' argument would fall away. Jack Ruddy Hove, Sussex Law unto themselves Sir: Your issue this week contains an advertisement from the police asking us to support their pay claim. It also contains an article by Douglas Murray on the arguably wrongful arrest of a counter-protestor ('My tips to avoid arrest by the Met', 12 July). The police are completely out of touch with public feeling. If they want public support, they must admit that much of their policy today is wrong and needs to be completely changed. Not only must they back down over the incident Murray describes and many others like it, they must also totally reform their attitude to motorists. Michael Gorman Guildford, Surrey Healthy scepticism Sir: As a fellow Actonian I have followed (not in a stalker sense) and admired Toby Young for many years, but have never before known him to be paradoxical. Over recent years his Spectator column has revealed a healthy concern over the use of experimental medicines in the absence of long-term safety data, and only a few weeks ago a steadfast aversion to consuming food his wife has cooked with a black spatula, for fear of it causing cancer. But this week, in an enigmatic volte-face, we learn he has embraced a popular brand of weight loss injections, despite a number of signals reported even in the non-conspiratorial mainstream media of adverse side effects including death ('My sober assessment of the fat jabs', 12 July). I can only ask: who are you and what have you done with our beloved Lord Young? Robert Morley London W3 Stuck in the middle Sir: Madeline Waluigi Grant is right to praise the existence of middle names ('Notes on…', 12 July). However I would caution any parents-to-be from taking the additional step of choosing to use the offspring's middle name as their primary name. A lifetime of administrative hassle is the inevitable consequence. (John) William Hern Maidenhead, Berkshire
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Irish Examiner view: People in poverty are left behind
For a country that dragged itself out of poverty to wealth, we have certainly left a lot of people behind. St Vincent de Paul, at the coalface of citizens' attempts to keep up, not with the neighbours, but with the bare essentials, has called for a €16-a-week welfare increase to keep pace with the cost of living. And that's just the core rate, and not including other allowances that are vital to many people's survival. The core rate increase amounts to just over €830 a year — and frankly, one wonders if that's even enough, given the rates of inflation in recent years and the global uncertainty that a US-EU trade war might bring, not to mention the ever-present threat or reality of homelessness for far too many of our fellow citizens. The charity expects to get 250,000 calls this year. Let us recall that the population of the island is about 5.2m. SvP's head of social policy, Louise Bayliss, described it as 'policy failure', given this country's wealth. With the Government ruling out one-off measures to deal with the cost of living, urgency turns to how we can protect our most vulnerable people. One wonders how countries with similar populations that follow the Nordic model, such as Denmark and Finland, can seemingly deliver better outcomes for the people there than Ireland, which has a bigger GDP? The sad reality is that our problems are generally within our capability to solve, yet show no signs of abating even in the medium term. And that's a reality we should all sit with and contemplate — after all, how many of us are one lost job or one missed payment away from serious trouble? Times change, and relevance fades Cork city councillor Terry Shannon has objected to a process to rename Cork's Bishop Lucey Park, saying that Ireland is now 'a cold place' for Catholics. But is it? There is merit, certainly, in retaining elements of history, given how they inform our overall identity, as explored by Sarah Harte on these pages and in Monday's editorial. However, times do change, whether people like it or not, and what may be a touchstone for a previous generation may not have the same resonance for the current. The idea of wanting to rename areas associated with religious figures, given the numerous sexual abuse scandals involving the Church, as well as its historic role in oppressing women and children via mother and baby homes or industrial schools, seems quite reasonable. Let us remember that this is a vote simply to begin a process: The destination has yet to be reached. The suggestion of renaming the park isn't new, and can be found at least as far back as the aftermath of the commission into mother and baby homes in 2020. Although Cornelius Lucey — an opponent of contraception and a believer that the Church was right in everything including politics — may not be personally involved in any of the controversies affecting the institution, the stains on the Church affect him by association. For instance, he was responsible for founding the St Anne's Adoption Society in 1954 to arrange the adoption of babies born to unmarried Irish mothers in Britain. An Irish Examiner investigation in 2018 found that an unmarked plot in St Finbarr's Cemetery was bought by the society, which closed in 2003. Four children are buried in it, with the deaths occurring between 1979 and 1990. A neighbouring plot is owned by a different organisation that ran nursery services for the St Anne's Society. The Irish Examiner has reported extensively on the issues relating to adoption in this country. It is enough to warrant wariness in a republic that, for all its faults, endeavours to look forward rather than dogmatically back. Of the at least 5.2m people in the country, almost 70% identify as Catholics, which suggests that even as Mass attendance continues to shrink, that there is still plenty of warmth in that as a broad identity. How relevant people see religion as being part of their everyday life is another debate entirely, and one that predominantly remains between an individual and their own heart. Ultimately, what councillors voted in favour of is a renaming process — a decision on the name is still some way off, and what's to say the original name won't stay? The park, which councillors have noted will bear no resemblance to the one that closed for a revamp in 2023, will belong to the people of Cork. Shouldn't it be up to them to decide if they want to stick with the old or give it a brand new identity? Healy is an inspiration For a relatively small island, we have always tended to punch above our weight in culture and sport, with cyclist Ben Healy now taking his place on our list of elite names by being the first Irishman in 38 years to take a yellow jersey at the Tour de France. The last were Stephen Roche (1987) and Sean Kelly (1983), more than a whole generation ago, with Shay Elliot being the first in 1963. At 24, Healy, born in England and of Waterford ancestry, has plenty of life left in his legs, and even if he doesn't win the overall competition, it is exciting to see how well he's done at this nascent stage of his career, having only turned pro in 2022. Alongside our cluster of Olympic gold medallists, one hopes he can help inspire the next generation of Irish youth, at home and in the diaspora. No pressure, Ben.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Cork councillors vote to consider renaming Bishop Lucey Park after major revamp
Ireland has become a "cold place for Christians and Catholics", a Fianna Fáil councillor said as Cork city councillors voted to consider a renaming process for Bishop Lucey Park which is undergoing a multi-million revamp. They voted 17-11 on Monday night to approve a Section 140 motion submitted by Worker's Party Cllr Ted Tynan, Green Party Cllr Oliver Moran, and Social Democrats Cllr Niamh O'Connor, calling for the renaming process. Earlier this year, Mr Tynan said much of the documented clerical abuse, sexual, physical, or psychological, occurred during Bishop Lucey's time, both as a serving priest and as bishop of the Diocese of Cork and Ross from his appointment in 1952 until his retirement in 1980. Fianna Fáil Cllr Terry Shannon objected to the move, criticising what he described as 'this headlong rush to change for what many people are the old certainties'. He said people like him respect the 'new certainties and new ideas,' but he said that this isn't being reciprocated. 'There is an attempt now to rewrite history in this country,' he said. 'We see a lot of the old certainties now for an awful lot of people being shoved to one side. This country is becoming a cold place for Christians and Catholics. 'Will we take Fr Mathew down off his statue? Will we rename St Patrick's St, Pope's Quay? Where will it end?' Bishop Lucey Park under re-development by Cork City Council. Picture: Larry Cummins The church has a lot to answer for, but it was just one part of society, he said, pointing out that Bishop Lucey introduced the credit union system to Cork. "It wasn't all bad,' he said. Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy, a historian, said the redevelopment of the park will create new stories, new memories, and symbols, and the revamp presents an opportunity. 'It will be a new public space and park, and it is timely, 40 years on. And there is precedent in this city to replace street and placenames,' he said. Bishop Lucey became Bishop of Cork in 1952, with the diocese of Ross added six years later. He built five new churches named after the five Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary in the city's rapidly developing suburbs, and went on to oversee the foundation of 13 churches during his time as bishop. He founded the St Anne's Adoption Society in 1954 and started the Cork diocesan mission to Peru in the mid-1960s. He died in 1982 and the park was named in his honour when it opened in 1985 as part of the Cork 800 celebrations. Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy, a historian, said the redevelopment of the park will create new stories, new memories, and symbols, and the revamp presents an opportunity. Picture Denis Minihane. Cllr O'Connor said this is not a matter of 'renaming' a park – it's a new park deserving of a new name. 'When the new park opens, it will bear absolutely no resemblance to the park that was there previously," she said. "A new park presents a unique opportunity to choose a name that reflects what we value as a city." The park has been closed since December 2023 for the revamp, which is on course to be completed by November. Read More Cork City councillors retain plan for new bridge despite warnings it will limit use of the Lee
USA Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
ICE agents wielding guns tried to intimidate my church. We will not bow in fear.
When ICE agents descend on our neighborhoods, when fear spreads like wildfire, people of faith must be the living water that quenches it. As a pastor, I consider the church not just a place of worship, but a sacred home − somewhere families gather to find comfort, courage and communion. For generations, our pews have held the laughter of children, the tears of grief and joy, and the prayers of the faithful. Last month, the sanctity of our space was shattered. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered the parking lot of Downey Memorial Christian Church to take a man who was walking through our property. The agents were armed, masked and aggressive. They tried to intimidate clergy and staff − people whose only armor is their faith and moral convictions. In that moment, our sacred space became a site of state-sanctioned fear and violence. This is not isolated. It is part of a widening campaign. Opinion: I'm the daughter of Haitian immigrants. Trump's cruelty is personal. ICE raids keep fearful worshipers out of church Archbishop Alberto Rojas of San Bernardino, the spiritual shepherd of more than a million Catholics, recently excused parishioners from their obligation to attend Mass. Why? Because fear of ICE raids has become so pervasive that even worship cannot feel safe. These are not abstract fears. They are grounded in the reality our congregation and other houses of worship face. Again and again, President Donald Trump's administration has traded compassion for cruelty and mercy for militarization. With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which increases funding for ICE and expands its power to conduct raids, the message is clear: no space is sacred. But let me be just as clear: our faith commands a different path. Our faith in action is God's relentless love for the most vulnerable. It is the Gospel. Good news to those who need it most. Opinion: LA isn't burning. ICE has terrorized many into an ominous silence. In our churches, the pews tell a story. A child who no longer attends Sunday school. A mother too afraid to drive to choir practice. An elder who used to bring food to the potluck, now missing without a word. These absences are not by choice. They are the result of a system that treats our immigrant siblings as threats rather than neighbors. Human beings, beloved by God and protected by our Constitution, have been swept up without due process, without notice, without dignity. They are detained in inhumane conditions and, in many cases, deprived of their basic human rights. Churches will combat fear with faith Yet, in the face of fear, we do not fold. We are people of faith. And faith, in its truest form, is not passive. It does not retreat when challenged. It stands up. It reaches out. That is why, even now, clergy across California are organizing vigils, demanding action from corporations and elected officials, and showing up in courtrooms and communities to shield those targeted by unjust raids. Because our role is not just to comfort, but to confront injustice. To be clear, this is not about politics. It is about principle. It is about our shared humanity. It is about choosing solidarity over silence. It is about protecting the sacred right to gather, to pray, to belong. When ICE agents descend on our neighborhoods, when fear spreads like wildfire, people of faith must be the living water that quenches it. We may pray in different tongues. We may wear different vestments. But we are united by a common calling to love without exception, to protect without hesitation and to proclaim the dignity of every human soul. The government may have power, but we have people. People of faith, standing together, are more powerful than any raid, any bill or any administration bent on fear. We will not be moved. We will not be silent. And we will not let our communities be terrorized. Our faith began in occupied lands. It was born under an empire. And it reminds us still: when the powerful knock down our doors, we meet them, not with fear, but with courage, conviction and the radical love of community. Rev. Tanya Lopez is the senior minister at Downey Memorial Church in Downey, California.
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Politics
- Sunday World
Anti-immigration movement split over ex-UVF man's speech at Dublin's GPO
Armed robber Mark Sinclair addressed a rally at Dublin's GPO last weekend Armed robber Mark Sinclair addressed a rally at Dublin's GPO last weekend – the building regarded as a shrine by republicans as it the headquarters of the 1916 Easter Rising – spouting his anti-immigrant views. One woman passer-by who saw him said: 'Pádraig Pearse would be spinning in his grave.' Sinclair – who was jailed for 17 years in Scotland for bank robbing – is the cousin of notorious Shankill Butcher Billy Moore, who was jailed for 11 gruesome sectarian murders. But yesterday one prominent anti-immigration faction warned the top loyalist to keep well away from any future Dublin rallies. Three weeks ago the Sunday World revealed that Sinclair had been broadcasting live on his YouTube channel from a protest in Limerick. A Dublin councillor who is prominent in the campaign for tougher laws on immigration said yesterday that it was a disgrace that Sinclair spoke at the GPO rally. Former UVF man Mark Sinclair who spoke at a far right rally in Dublin outside the GPO Councillor Malachy Steenson told us: 'Former UVF prisoner Mark Sinclair spoke at the rally and he encouraged other loyalists to attend as many rallies as possible. 'Sinclair is a convicted bank robber and a self-confessed former member of the UVF. 'He has a close family connection to the Shankill Butchers gang, who gruesomely murdered Catholics over a period of years. 'Sinclair has attended a number of nationalist rallies in the Republic and I strongly condemn that. 'The organiser of this event was warned by myself and other prominent figures to disassociate from this individual and end her toxic and embarrassing relationship with loyalists.' The Sunday World has learned Sinclair's presence at rallies south of the border has split the anti-immigration movement, with many activists calling to have him banned. However, it is not just a section of anti-immigration campaigners who have said Sinclair is not welcome. Dublin community activist Joe Mooney, a well-known anti-racism campaigner, said: 'I don't want to see anyone with a racist or anti-immigrant profile being welcomed on the streets of Dublin or anywhere else in Ireland. Former UVF man Mark Sinclair 'I mean people like Mark Sinclair belonged to an organisation which bombed the streets of this city. These people should refrain from attending marches on the streets of Dublin. I was only a kid when Dublin was bombed by the UVF, but I remember the terror and the horror of what these people did. 'The UVF knew that those streets would be filled with workers on their way home. 'To think those people set out to kill as many people as they could on the streets of Dublin and Monaghan. And to think that today they would find some sort of status on the streets of Dublin is absolutely reprehensible. 'I'm involved with Dublin Communities Against Racism and I've spent a long time as a community activist and I deal with lots of issues. 'I don't believe its racist to ask questions about immigration. But when you take to the street and march or abuse people with dark-coloured skin that's completely and utterly wrong.' Dublin Communities Against Racism also hit out at Sinclair's presence at the GPO rally, saying it exposed the links between what it called 'Irish racists' and loyalists. It said: 'Dublin Communities Against Racism takes this opportunity to highlight the links between these anti-Irish bigots and the fake 'patriot' racists.' Referring to the UVF attacks on Dublin during the Troubles, it said: 'In 2024 and 2025, loyalists came to Dublin, this time invited and welcomed by racists and anti-immigrant campaigners. 'How times have changed, and shockingly so. 'Irish racists have long worked closely with loyalist terror supporters and extreme unionist and British fascist figures, going as far back as the 1930s. What all of their friends have in common is that they are violently anti-Irish and always have been. Mark Sinclair 'This anti-Irish and sectarian hatred has not gone away, but is conveniently covered up to unite and together target asylum seekers, immigrants and other foreign (and foreign-looking) people. Their anti-Irish hatred is not far beneath the surface. 'In recent weeks, some anti-immigrant and racist right figures have issued statements claiming to 'disassociate' themselves from loyalist figures. 'We do not accept this as genuine. This response is only due to the backlash created by the exposure and highlighting of these links.' Sinclair's cousin Billy was the man who kept the Shankill Butchers' murder machine oiled when 'Master Butcher' Lenny Murphy was taken off the streets and jailed on firearms charges. Jailing Moore for life, Judge Turlough O'Donnell told him: 'You Moore pleaded guilty to 11 murders carried out in a manner so cruel and revolting, as to be beyond the comprehension of any normal human being.' His cousin Mark Sinclair – from Kilburn Street off Belfast's staunchly loyalist Donegall Road – was sent down for 17 years for a series of robberies in Scotland. Sinclair – who now uses the social media title 'Freedom Dad' – carried out the bank heists in Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway. And he was scooped by police hiding out in Moore's rented flat in Edinburgh. At his trial at the High Court in Ayr, Sinclair told the judge he had been recruited by MI5 to carry out surveillance on Scottish groups sympathetic to Ulster loyalism in Northern Ireland. Mark Sinclair
