“One mention of pregnancy termination and the church leadership is galvanised into action. The Minister for Foreign Affairs should be asked to send a cable to Armagh on where it is we stand, and let the cobbler stick to his last. They can do the praying up there and we’ll do the legislating down here, thanks very much.”One wonders whether such discourse about any other religious group would be tolerated? That reference to the Minister of Foreign Affairs sending a cable to the North betrays a less than respectful attitude to our brethern on the other side of the border. One wonders whether Senator O'Toole also has a gripe about the fact that our current President is a Northerner? (I could also be pedantic and point out that Cardinal Brady is a Southerner by birth and that his diocese straddles the border.)
As John Hanafin (FF) had stated, we were an independent republic, and we would do our own business, added Mr O’Toole. “We won’t be lectured to by any fundamentalist whether he is wearing a red hat in Armagh or a white hat in the Vatican . . . This is not an issue of abortion. This is an issue of protecting pregnant women whose lives are in danger.
Pope Benedict very presciently noted last week:
There also exist – as I have said – more sophisticated forms of hostility to religion which, in Western countries, occasionally find expression in a denial of history and the rejection of religious symbols which reflect the identity and the culture of the majority of citizens. Often these forms of hostility also foster hatred and prejudice; they are inconsistent with a serene and balanced vision of pluralism and the secularity of institutions, to say nothing of the fact that coming generations risk losing contact with the priceless spiritual heritage of their countries.
[snip]
I also express my hope that in the West, and especially in Europe, there will be an end to hostility and prejudice against Christians because they are resolved to orient their lives in a way consistent with the values and principles expressed in the Gospel.
Catholics should expect more of this. Don't let the politicians get away with it.
1 comment:
How dare Joe O'Toole speak about our religious leaders in that way. He's a disgrace. It is amazing how the liberal mind set continually seeks to silence any view contrary to its own. The truth will not be silenced.
Senator O'Toole was a teacher for 10 years, and a school principal for 10 years. I presume the school was a catholic school!
Complaints to:
Senator Joe O'Toole, Seanad Eireann, Leinster House, Dublin 2.
Phone : 01 618 3786 Fax: 01 618 4625 E-mail: joe@joeotoole.net
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