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The Catholic church plays its part in fighting homelessness. Photo: Getty Luke J Gibbons asks why the Catholic church hasn’t solved Ireland’s homeless crisis yet, given its portfolio of properties and “estimated” bank balance (Letters, August 30). At a time when calls for secularisation and the separation of church and state often reach a deafening screech, a call for the church to step back into the breach to conclusively address the State’s latest great failing is nothing if not refreshing in its novelty – even when the call derides current church efforts as amounting to “hollow prayers”.
Mr Gibbons claims “the church has not taken tangible steps to address homelessness”. A variety of church-run and church-affiliated organisations step up to the plate to help our homeless population every day. I think of Brother Kevin Crowley and Dublin’s Capuchin Day Centre, which has been feeding Dublin’s homeless for 40 years.
I think of the work of the St Vincent de Paul, which – though not church-run – enjoys substantial church support, whether through the holding of collections during mass or through the separate patronage of priest-directed massgoers. I think of the scores of Catholic-run schools and their charitable endeavours to raise funds and awareness to fight homelessness by means of sleep-outs and street collections among other measures. The Pope has yet to make out a cheque payable to Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien and the government of a country as rich as ours, it is true.
But the church more than plays its part in fighting the scourge of homelessness in other, more tangible ways that do not absolve the Irish Government of what are ultimately its failures and its responsibility. Killian Foley-Walsh, Kilkenny Barbara Scully’s call to remove Catholic patronage from all schools is short-sighted and another example of cancellation and blame-hunting (‘Ireland will never be free until religion is banished from state infrastructure’, Irish Independent , August 29). Many grievous mistakes have of course been perpetrated by church members over the years while the church itself has looked away.
These are human mistakes and not any flaw in the Christian doctrine. Pete Young, Dudley, West Midlands Micheál Martin has said there “are no plans to publish these papers at this time”, relating to a letter and a paper he has written, detailing “the Government’s approach to strengthening our co-operation with international partners, including Nato”. We need to know what the Minister for Defence has in mind.
Nato has an expansionary ethos. Furthermore, plans to develop the EU as a military power are clear: the president of the European Commission said last March that Europe should strive to develop and manufacture the next generation of battle-winning operational capabilities”. Irish people have consistently shown their support for peace-keeping and our non-involvement in military alliances.
We have been previously warned not to be in the “slow lane of Europe”. Now is past the time to ask where the fast lane in Europe is going. Elizabeth Cullen, Thomastown, Co Kildare With the selection of Kamala Harris to oppose Donald Trump in the US presidential election, many – not least the mothers and children of Gaza desperately seeking shelter from bombs – were filled with hope that a more just and compassionate regime would emerge in the US to bring some urgency to the need to control the warmongers of all hues.
Now we read the headline in your report: “Kamala Harris first major TV interview: vows tougher approach on migration, supports weapons for Israel” (Independent.ie, August 30). Jim O’Sullivan, Rathedmond, Sligo On a wet and windy Thursday morning, I arrived at the car park at the foot of Croagh Patrick.
I paid the €3 parking fee for the day and looked up at the top of the peak. It was covered in cloud, but the rain had cleared. We set off at 7.
30am and made good headway as the path had very little traffic that early in the morning. The previous night’s rain did not affect the rocky surface. By 8.
50am we had reached the base of the final hard climb. The recently completed steps on the final assault by five great men – Matt McConway, Bernard Burke, Frank McNamara, Tulio de Jesus and David Doyle – who spent four years climbing the mountain more than 450 times deserve a mention. Without our solid sticks the final accent would have been challenging, but the combination of well-laid steps and a good stick made a big difference from my previous climbs without the newly laid steps.
As we approached the summit, some of the clouds had drifted and the white church was a welcome view. We reached the top at 9.30am.
The amazing views from the summit were limited due to cloud, but we got some great photographs overlooking Clew Bay. The steps were also very welcome on the way down. It took just over an hour.
I hope this description of our adventure will encourage more climbers to enjoy the climb and views, but remember to bring good warm clothing and a good solid stick. Seamus Joyce, Richmond, London I was saddened to hear of the passing of Frank Hayes (‘Former Kerry Group executive Frank Hayes dies after short illness’, Irish Independent , August 29). Almost 40 years ago, as Denis Brosnan was about to face down the farmer shareholders of Kerry Co-op, I wrote my first letter to a newspaper on the thorny subject of change.
The CEO of the then privately owned Kerry Co-op was attempting to convince the farmers of Kerry to allow the milk co-operative to become the first known co-op in the world to go down the public route and be part-floated on the stock exchange. Mr Hayes was particularly complimentary of that letter. To his wife and children I offer my sincere condolences.
He was a forward-looking and decent man. Tom McElligott, Listowel, Co Kerry Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel Stay up to date with all the latest news.
