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CELEBRATING RELIGIOUS ALIVE!NO. 264 MARCH 2020 | 190,000 COPIES NATIONWIDE | WWW.ALIVE.IE | IN CORK PAGE 2 Photo: Mark Wahlberg.

YOUTH ANSWER THE UPWARD CALL PAGE 3

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH FR. MIKE PAGE 5

ent, my favourite time of year”, are the words of actor CHRISTIAN OPPRESSION “LMark Wahlberg, photo’d (above) with his wife Rhea Durham, AT UNPRECEDENTED both proud of their ashes – Ash HIGH PAGE 6 Wednesday being of course the start “LENT, of Lent. Lent comes from the Old English word for “spring” and is the forty-day period before Easter, excluding Sun- days, which ends on Holy Saturday. It is a traditional doctrine of Chris- tian spirituality to do some form MY FAVOURITE of penance during this period, as a mark of our repentance, of turning away from sin and back to God. Mr Wahlberg uses his time in Lent to reflect on his faith and his normal penance is to take some time off TIME OF YEAR” from social media. A HIDDEN LIFE PAGE 17

All 15 pro-life TDs return to Dáil: most strident repealers lose seats PAGE 4

• The content of the newspaper ALIVE! and the views expressed in it are those of the editor and contributors, and do not necessarily represent the views of the Irish Dominican Province. 2 | ALIVE! MARCH 2020 In Lent we need to CELEBRATING RELIGIOUS IN CORK support each other

Photo: Cillian Kelly. Bishop Fintan blessing religious at the gathering.

LIAM O’CONNOR women of prayer, who can lead others into prayer,” remarked the Bishop Gavin who was addressing the first ever gather- ver 200 religious sisters, brothers Photo: Cillian Kelly. ing together of the members of religious and priests answered Bishop Fin- orders who are based in the Diocese. tan’s invitation to a prayer service Owen doing MC at a recent Youth 2000 gathering. O Bishop Gavin blessed candles at the at the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne, special prayer service and each commu- JACK WALSH fasting and abstinence programme this Lent Cork, to coincide with the worldwide Day nity was invited to bring one back to their to deepen his prayer-life. for Consecrated Life. The programme is called Exodus 90, and “In these times when many people don’t homes. The candles were lit from the Pas- asting and Abstinence, during the it is a spiritual programme aimed at Catho- seem to know the value of faith, religious chal Candle by students from local schools. year and particular during lent, lic men in particular. “It is probably best are called to witness to the presence of God After the liturgy, Bishop Fintan greeted “Fare an integral part of our Catholic described as 90 days of Lent with added whose love is revealed and encountered in all those present and refreshments were faith. The faithful practice of them means asceticism,” says Oliver. Meeting up with Jesus Christ,” Bishop Gavin said. enjoyed in the Visitor Centre of the that body, heart and mind are fully engaged other men during the programme is essen- “Religious are and must be men and Cathedral. in prayer,” says Marie of the Catholic youth tial. He explains: “[W]hile prayer and fasting organisation, Youth 2000. are of course at the forefront of the practice, She says that Youth 2000 is known for it is being part of a community that is inte- organising retreats, but that there are also gral to its success. Fraternity is important for Youth 2000 prayer groups all over the coun- the men who do this exercise [Exodus 90] try that meet each week – “coming together because we can help each other out and offer S   I for prayer, fun, faith formation and commu- support and encouragement.” PADRE PIO MINI-BREAKS from €699pps nity.” Father John Harris, OP, a long time Practices like Exodus 90, or its female friend and advisor of Youth 2000 has said of counterpart, Fiat 90, foster a sense of soli- 4 nights from June to October the movement: “The retreats are what we do, darity. As St. Paul wrote in his letter to the Dedicated pilgrimages to Padre Pio the prayer groups are who we are!” Romans, “just as each of our bodies has Full group programmes and 3 - 4 star hotels, within “These prayer groups are a vital spring- several parts and each part has a separate board into missionary activity and an function, so all of us, in union with Christ, walking distance of the sanctuary. impetus for young people to go deeper in form one body, and as parts of it we belong SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO & ASSISI - €945pps their spiritual life; fasting and abstinence to each other.” being a crucial part of this endeavour,” “All Christians need community and if you 6 nights | 24 - 30 June explains Marie. struggling with your Lenten obligations or Oliver Gallagher, a member of the thriving want to pray in community then consider 4 nights San Giovanni and 2 nights Assisi Youth 2000 Letterkenny prayer group and joining a prayer group near you”, encour- Exploring the Shrines and lives of Padre Pio and master of ceremonies at many their national ages Maire. For more information contact: St. Francis of Assisi. events is example of one who has taken to a [email protected] LOURDES & SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO - €975pps Monastic Day Retreat 6 nights | 9 - 15 October SATURDAY 21ST MARCH – 9AM-5PM 2 nights Lourdes, 1 Benevento & 3 San Giovanni TALKS Monasticism – Monastic Saints – Visit two of the most popular shrines in two dierent Life in a Contemporary Monastery countries with everything organised into one.

Donation only – All Welcome MEDJUGORJE & ASSISI - €899pps Participate in the Divine Office and Adoration – 7 nights | 14 - 21 October Lunch Provided 4 nights Lourdes & 3 nights Assisi Monastic Experience Fly direct to Mostar-Medjugorje & explore the shrine before 16th – 18th April taking the ferry to Italy to visit the shrine of St. Francis of Assisi Opportunity for Women discerning Religious Life to WE INCLUDE Fully Escorted Packaged Pilgrimage - Spiritual Directors - Services of experience life in our monastery. Marian Pilgrimages Rep. on the Ground - Return flights - Hotel Accommodation Religious Programme - All Airport & local Taxes CONTACT Mother Prioress, St. Benedict’s Priory, The Mount, Cobh, Co.Cork TEL 021 481 1354 WWW.MARIAN.IE EMAIL [email protected] (01) 878 8159 | (028) 956 80005 | [email protected] Booking essential for both events as places are limited. Fully licensed and bonded tour operator TO142 MARCH 2020 ALIVE! | 3

the priesthood.” The issue may not be fully settled Querida Amazonia yet, however the Exhortation pro- vides solace that the Pope has not DENISE RICHARDS has proven a relief to many of the attempted to change the discipline faithful, and at the same time dis- of the Church right now but states appointed those who were seeking that: “A specific and courageous fter the very public Amazon change. It seems that Pope Fran- response is required of the Church” Synod and the release of the cis has stepped back from taking to meet the needs of Catholics, Afinal document of the Synod, this step which would have under- he said, without saying what that entitled “The Amazon: New Paths mined over 1300 years of discipline response would be. for the Church and for an Integral within the Church. In relation to the issue of female Ecology”, there were concerns that At the same time, there are others ordination, the document states the Church would use this docu- who are concerned that because that ways must be found for women ment to remove the requirements the document makes no explicit to participate more in the life of the of celibacy and so create the possi- mention of the subject, while at Church “that do not entail Holy bility of married priests. the same time referring back to the Orders”. Pope Francis said the idea Pope Francis’ post-synodal final document of the Synod, this that women’s status and partici- apostolic exhortation Querida issue has not been put to bed. ument in this Exhortation, because framework of Lumen Gentium 26, pation in the Church could come Amazonia, which was released on Francis says in the exhortation: I would encourage everyone to to ordain as priests suitable and only with ordination “would lead the 12th of February has proven, “I will not go into all of the issues read it in full.” respected men of the community us to clericalise women, diminish to many, to have allayed those treated at length in the final doc- The final synod document says with a legitimately constituted the great value of what they have fears. The document does not refer ument. Nor do I claim to replace “[W]e propose that criteria and and stable family, who have had a already accomplished and subtly to the subject of married priests that text or to duplicate it … I have dispositions be established by the fruitful permanent diaconate and make their indispensable contribu- or priestly celibacy at all, which preferred not to cite the Final Doc- competent authority, within the receive an adequate formation for tion less effective.”

to replace rootlessness.” “We need a counter-punch to a society which has bracketed religion” Finally, Mr. O’Malley RUADHAN JONES that God is not abstract, he is find meaning,” he said. the importance of forming recommended that we not close and loving.” “Children are born with a educators, be they priests, bemoan the loss of the Ire- His talk was broken into religious sense. It’s for that teachers or parents. land of old, but look to im ‘O Malley, from three parts: what is secular- reason a child will ask ‘why’ “The baptised faith- the future. “People long Notre Dame University, ism; what is education; and ad nauseum.” ful have an opportunity to to answer ultimate ques- Tdelivered a thought- what comes after secularism. The role for Catholic create a culture of faith, tions. We must provoke ful lecture on the future Mr. O’Malley refuted education, Mr O’Malley sug- hope, and love. We must these questions, and offer of Catholic education at arguments that scientific gested, is to “open up this look to a sense of community answers.” Newman Church, Dublin on and intellectual advances desire and wonder, to ask the Wednesday 12th February. have left us “disenchanted” ultimate questions. We must Mr. O’Malley’s lecture with religion. propose the Catholic tradi- called for the Church to “Ireland has seen an tion, show how it holds the Fantastic Book O er form a new Catholic culture, attempt to destroy the roots full meaning of life,” he said. emphasising the importance of its society, he said. “Young “If we are to do this, teachers From Family & Life of education, as well as art people are rootless, which Professor Timothy P. O’Malley and parents must live what The Day Is Now and family life. leads to anxiety. They must they teach and teach what “We need to transform the determine what life means ‘foreclosed the religious they live. Equally, students Far Spent culture around us” he said. every day, without guidance.” sense’. must take up the truth as a By Cardinal Robert Sarah “We need to be continually Mr. O’Malley argued how- “Man has an insatia- life lived.” At the root of the collapse of formed in life to understand ever that secularism has not ble desire to know and Mr. O’Malley stressed the West, there is a cultural identity crisis. The West no longer knows who it is, Irish heritage with Lough With excursions to Eucha- because it no longer knows Derg, Our Lady’s Island and ristic miracles and other and does not want to know who made it, who established Youth answer Croagh Patrick being still holy places, seminar dis- it, as it was and as it is. Many very popular destinations cussions on the gift of the countries today ignore their for pilgrims, attracting thou- Eucharist, and daily recep- own history. This self-su oca- sands each year. tion of the Eucharist, the tion naturally leads to a Only the Upward Call €18.00 Those participating on this pilgrims will be guided into a decadence that opens the path to new, barbaric civilizations JACK WALSH Italian pilgrimage, August deeper understanding of and OP, a young Dominican Please send me the book. I enclose €18 (includes P&P) Sister based in Limerick. 22nd-28th, will first meet in love for Jesus in the Blessed Please print your details in BLOCK CAPITALS The pilgrimage, to Italy, Dublin for an overnight to Sacrament”, explains Sr. meet other pilgrims, to pray Mara Grace. or young adults will be traveling to sacred Name:...... together, and get rest for the The Dominican Friars who are looking to places in both Rome and early departure from Dublin and Sisters are hosting this Address:...... go deeper in your “F Orvieto around the theme to Rome the next morning. pilgrimage, named Upward ...... faith and connect with other ‘The Beauty of the Word “The rest of the week we Call. Cost is €615, all inclu- Irish young adults, we have Made Flesh’. will be staying next to Lake sive. To book, please email Phone:...... the pilgrimage for you,” is Of course pilgrimage is Bracciano where we will [email protected] by Mobile:...... the claim of Sr. Mara Grace very much still a part of our travel to Rome and Orvieto. 1st June. Email:......

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Katherine Zappone. She argued that abortion on-demand, without limit, should be legal. She lost her All 15 pro-life TDs return to Dáil: seat in Dublin South-West. Catherine Noone most strident repealers lose seats became a figurehead for Fine Gael’s Repeal campaign when she NIAMH UÍ BHRIAIN chaired the Oireachtas Committee on abortion, and famously claimed she t’s been an couldn’t find a pro-life extraordinary Ielection in many doctor to give evidence. ways, but one thing is very clear Noone polled just of 2% from the result: Fine Gael and first preferences in Fianna Fáil did not reap any of the rewards they thought would accrue the election. from the electorate for supporting the repeal of the 8th and introduc- Her Dublin North West colleague ing one of the most liberal abortion Noel Rock also lost his seat. Rock regimes in Europe. was one of many Fine Gael TDs who In fact, the opposite seems to supported abortion and were part have happened. Many of the most of the media pile-on which savaged strident voices for repealing the pro-life students for attending a 8th have lost their seats in Election conservative conference in the US. 2020. In contrast, all fifteen of the In Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael’s Mary TDs who voted against the abortion Mitchell O’Connor (‘pro-choice’ and bill in 2018 retained their seats. All pro-repeal’) failed to hold her seat, fifteen of them. Every single one. which went to pro-life TD, Cormac Devlin of Fianna Fáil. That’s pretty remarkable Marcella Corcoran Kennedy given that the pro-life in Laois/Offaly was considered a strident supporter of repeal in the TDs were bullied, vilified Mattie McGrath, Tipperary; Carol Nolan, Laois/Offaly; Peadar Tóibín, Meath East; Peter Fitzpatrick, Louth; Mary party. She lost her seat to Carol and harangued in the Butler, Waterford (Gript.ie) Nolan, the strongly pro-life TD. media, online and in the tion is not really an issue to the expediency, won them repeal of the 8th and voted against It was a terrible election for Dáil, before, during and forefront of their mind at election the admiration of pro-life giving pain relief to babies in late- Labour, who’ve achieved one of time when concerns such as health term abortion. their worst votes since the party’s after the referendum and voters everywhere. the subsequent vote on and housing are paramount, but its Ruth Coppinger, of the Socialist foundation. Joan Burton and Jan also clear that opposing abortion Party, is a radical abortion cam- O’Sullivan, both strong supporters the bill. as a matter of conscience doesn’t Repeal supporters didn’t seem paigner who also strongly opposed and campaigners for Repeal, are no seem to lose candidates votes. to hold many of its most strident peaceful pro-life vigils at abortion longer TDs for the party. Many of them defied the predic- advocates in quite the same regard. centres. Coppinger led an “abor- Fine Gael who led the campaign tions of pundits and pollsters who The principled stance Kate O’Connell of Fine Gael tion pill bus” around the country to repeal the 8th and introduced forecast their seats would be in of Mary Butler, Seán was a shrill supporter of Repeal, in 2015 and 2017, despite warn- abortion legislation have seen trouble. Some had to deal with con- Canney, Michael Collins, who made repeated personalised ings from senior obstetricians that their vote fall to 20%. Neither has stituencies that had been redrawn, Michael Fitzmaurice, attacks on pro-life TDs and com- it could endanger women’s lives. Fianna Fáil’s incredible journey or their previous party pouring mentators. A media darling, she She won’t be returning to Leinster to wokeness been rewarded with huge resources into the area to try Peter Fitzpatrick, Noel continued to attack pro-life coun- House after the election. extra votes: instead their medio- and oust the pro-life candidate. Grealish, Danny Healy- selling agencies after abortion had Minister for Social Protec- cre performance sees them being Almost all of them faced contin- Rae, Michael Healy-Rae, been legalised. She lost her seat in tion, Regina Doherty, abandoned forced into considering going into ued, targeted abuse on social media Michael Lowry, Marc Mac liberal Dublin Bay South. her previous pro-life stance to government with Sinn Féin. from abortion campaigners who, Lisa Chambers was consid- become a leading government Despite the referendum result, despite having won the referendum, Sharry, Mattie McGrath, ered to represent the new, liberal campaigner for repeal, describing there seems to be no bounty accru- wanted to punish anyone who stood John McGuinness, Carol face of Fianna Fáil, and described the pro-life position as ‘ignorant’. ing from voters for repealing the up for their principles or refused to Nolan, Eamon O’Cuiv, abortion regret as a “makey-uppy The Meath East TD was out on 8th and supporting abortion. It compromise their beliefs. and Peadar Tóibín, who thing” in the Dáil. She lost her seat the sixth count. may indicate that a great many Yes It is clear that this vindictive in Mayo. Another leading liberal Repealing the 8th and legalis- voters in the referendum are not as mindset was not shared by the put real compassion light in Fianna Fáil, Timmy Dooley ing abortion was a chief priority supportive of the current regime as electorate. For many voters, abor- before political lost out in Clare. Dooley supported for Minister for (Some) Children, politicians like to imagine.

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hath no fury like an unelected West Belfast boss disobeyed. GE2020: But last weekend, Nolan, Mattie McGrath, NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT, PLEASE! Peadar Toibin, Peter Fitzpatrick and others ALIVE! had the last laugh. And for those who are upset that the 32% support for keeping the All CREDIT CARD Payments accepted. The cheer 8th Amendment didn’t translate into a third CALL 01 404 8187 of the seats in Dáil Éireann, here is a clue to AIB, Tallaght • SORT CODE: 933317

the future. Irish voters are pragmatic and ACCOUNT NAME Alive Together • ACCOUNT NO: 29097-110 among the many are given, sadly, to a herd mentality. IBAN IE61AIBK93331729097110 • BIC BICAIBKIE2D ✃ They get angry about social problems like BLOCK housing and health, and some are prone to I wish to support ALIVE! Enclosed is my donation for CAPITALS manipulation by the media. They don’t vote PLEASE chaos in large numbers for family values issues. But €1,000 €500 €250 €100 it is equally evident from last weekend that RÓNÁN MULLEN the voters admire principled politicians who €50 €25 €15 other € stand up for their values. There is a lesson here for compromisers NAME f there was a standout - for that sizeable bunch of Irish politicians ‘three cheers’ moment who desperately follow the latest political ADDRESS Iduring this year’s scary fashion, regardless of the consequences for General Election weekend, their professional integrity. Some of these it was the 11th Count in Laois Offaly when have sold their grannies so often that they Independent and former Sinn Féin TD, Carol might be prosecuted for pimping. They have Nolan, was deemed elected after a sizeable done massive damage to Irish society in a TELEPHONE chunk of transfers from fellow pro-life Inde- desperate attempt to secure segments of the pendent John Leahy. electorate that, in the end, weren’t there for Sinn Féin has been busting to take out them. There was no reward for spinelessness Please send your donation to: ALIVE! St. Mary’s Priory, Tallaght, Dublin 24 Nolan since long before their electoral tsu- from the Irish voting public last weekend. nami showed up on the radar screens. Like And why would there be? There’s nothing to ANONYMOUS DONATIONS Aontú’s Peadar Tóibín, she had voted to keep admire, and nothing to remember, in what €300: EMC; €250: AN; BD; €150: MKF WATERFORD; AN; €100: AN; PC; NP; the Eighth Amendment in 2018 and she these politicians do. defended unborn children throughout the But people like Nolan, who stand up for PC; LD; CS; €60: RF; €50: AN; RH; WK; MK; AOB; €40: AN; D&BW; PMCE; abortion legislation debate. Like Peadar, she their beliefs while also doing the hard work CP; CLOGHEEN; €25: AN; €20: AN; WATERFORD READER; R&GMACG; TA; suffered the wrath of the higher-ups in Sinn in the constituency, get respect. There’s some €15: AN; MK; €10: AN; TOH; MARTHA; PO’N; €5: AN; STG: £40: PO’N Féin just for voting with her conscience. Hell consolation there in an otherwise tough political situation. If 8,000 people contribute just €20 each we can continue for another year. So where do we go from here? People are Special thanks to all of you who donated to ALIVE! during February. angry about the housing crisis, the health crisis, the bleak prospect for pensions, and been in the thick of that. Now they’re bidding for the next phase must tell the true from they have voted for change. Will they get the to run our economy. the false and always be ready to speak truth better life they want for themselves and their Their radical solutions may appear to to power. families by marrying Sinn Fein, or will they address problems at first, and there may repent at leisure? In my work as a Senator I have warned be some short-term satisfaction. But these Rónán Mullen is an Independent Senator against simplistic responses to complex solutions might wreck the economy and and a candidate for re-election on the NUI problems. In the name of compassion, we cause widespread suffering in the long run. Graduate Panel. Tel. 01 6183930 / ronan. often get cruelty instead, and Sinn Féin has Those of us elected to the Dáil and Seanad [email protected]

Questions and Answers with Fr. Mike The LENT: WHAT TO DO? me get to know the Lord better?” : Lent. I’ve tried giving You know yourself. You know what Dominicans things up, but it always will actually help you grow. For the Truth Is so Rare that Qseems a bit “hollow”. last couple of years, in addition to What should I do? my normal prayer time, I spend an It's DelIghtful to Tell It! A: This is a great question. I extra 15 minutes slowly reading and think we all face this same chal- reflecting on the Gospels at night. It lenge. We can find ourselves isn’t huge, but it really helps. walking the tightrope between Fasting. While we are required something so impossible that we to fast on Ash Wednesday and end up abandoning it in a week, or Good Friday, your “fast” can be we choose something so minimal almost anything. If you have a diffi- that it is essentially worthless. cult relationship with food, feel free Fr. Mike Schmitz In addition, it can be hard to be to choose a penance that is unre- honest about our motives. Are we lated to nourishment. A penance ented toward the good of others. giving up something out of love of can be any time we say no to a good Who could you help this Lent? God or because we would like to and natural desire out of love for While this could be actual “giving lose some weight? Are we doing this God. For example, someone might money”, it could also be “giving thing “just to see if we can make it”? decide to only check their email time”. I know of people who have What is Lent for? (or social media, or their smart decided to write one letter per day Let’s make this as simple as pos- phone) at certain times during the throughout Lent. They decided sible. Jesus talks about three areas day. This would be an act of disci- that these letters would be positive "The Gospel bears fruit whenever the that are indispensable regarding pline and sacrifice oriented toward notes of encouragement and grati- community of believers hears and welcomes the Christian life: prayer, fasting, purifying their heart. Your pen- tude. Of course, almsgiving could and almsgiving. For Lent, do one ance could be not sweetening your also be supporting the material the word of God in Truth and lives in charity." thing in each of these three areas. coffee. Another penance could be needs of others. There are groups Prayer. What is one way that you getting out of bed the moment the everywhere who need the support - Pope Benedict XVI can pray every day throughout Lent alarm goes off and not hitting the of Christians. that will strengthen your relation- snooze button. Ultimately, the question is: ship with Christ? Again, this is not Almsgiving: While both prayer “God, what can I decide to do Vocations Director - Fr Colm Mannion OP merely about “challenging yourself”. and fasting could be seen as being during this season that will make Mobile: 086-0864420 | Email: [email protected] This is about asking “What will help “all about you”, almsgiving is ori- me more like you?” 6 | ALIVE! MARCH 2020 RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WATCH

hormone drugs like [she] did.” Bell als outside areas prescribed for New Starbucks advert promotes regrets her treatment at the clinic religious worship, such as in – she was given puberty blockers, Christian private homes. Additionally, no transgenderism among teens testosterone injections and was more than 10 family members submitted to a double mastectomy are allowed to read Scripture or CATHERINE O’TOOLE LifeSite news reports that there is funerals by the age of 20. sing hymns in a “low voice”. The a major lawsuit underway against Another plaintiff to the case is punishment for breaching these the UK’s only “gender identity regulations could be very severe nurse Sue Evans, who worked at restricted tarbucks UK has recently development service” for children, – UCA News, a Catholic media the Tavistock clinic. She claims that launched an advertisement at Tavistock in London. One of outfit in Asia, reports that this no proper psychological evaluation Sfeaturing a young girl who the plaintiffs, 23-year old Keira in China could include closing the church wants to be a boy and struggles Bell stated that she had “become a or help is given to the minors. She and annulling the certificate BRIAN MCGONAGLE when referred to as “Gemma” - she claimant in this case because [she also feels that the clinic is under needed by the priest to legally is finally affirmed as a male when she did] not believe that children and pressure to perform for ideological carry out his work. visits Starbucks. The advertisement young people can consent to the reasons, partly because of efforts The Communist authorities has won the “Diversity in use of powerful and experimental by groups such as “Mermaids”. new set of regulations is claim that the regulations seek to Advertising Award” sponsored by affecting Catholic funerals get rid of “bad funeral customs” one of Britain’s biggest television Ain a number of Chinese and claim that the regulations stations, Channel 4. districts, such as Zhejiang in replace these with “a scientific, Starbucks also intends to raise eastern China. These regulations civilized and economical way £100,000 for a transgender advo- target not only the underground of funerals.” This move shows cacy group called “Mermaids” Church, but also the version of that even the government-con- which promotes access to puber- the Catholic Church controlled by trolled “official” Catholic Church ty-blockers, cross-sex hormones the Communist government. in China is not safe from the and body altering surgery for The regulations prohibit anti-Christian persecution now minors. priests from conducting funer- ravaging the country. Starbuck’s support for teen trans- genderism is somewhat surprising given that the mood in Britain is growing skeptical towards this phe- Canadian nomenon. A February 4th article on Centre. Photo: Tavistock bishops speak Christian oppression at unprecedented high out against BRIAN MCGONAGLE euthanasia

BRIAN MCGONAGLE new report on the worldwide persecution of Christians Ahas been published by Open ishops in Canada issued a pastoral letter calling for Doors USA, an organisation with more than 60 years’ experience in Ba vehement opposition to helping oppressed Christians. euthanasia. The bishops urged The findings are sobering. One in Canadians to rid their country of every eight Christians in the world this grave evil through political are under serious threat. Every day, pressure. The Catechism of the eight Christians are killed for their Catholic Church strictly forbids faith. Every week 182 Christian co-operation in such procedures churches or buildings are attacked. at all times. Archbishop Richard Smith Burning Roman Catholic Church in Nyarwele, Kagera, N. Tanzania, 3 May The main culprits of this per- Current Canadian law allows of Edmonton. 2016. (World Watch Monitor) secution are Communism, Islam, for euthanasia for persons over in 2016. paranoid dictators as well as gangs accompanying starvation, physical reported to have been killed on the 18 years of age, able to make Archbishop Richard Smith of or organised crime (as is the case in and mental abuse. Estimates are spot. their own decisions and “in Edmonton commented that “it Columbia). Sometimes Christians that up to 75,000 Christians are The Open Doors report urges grievous and irremediable med- ical condition.” The current had always been up until now persecute other denominations, as languishing within North Korea’s Christians to pray for their belea- is occurring in Eritrea. Trudeau government is expand- a rock-solid conviction that penal system. guered brothers and sisters in The top three deadliest countries Conversion from Islam is illegal ing the law to allow for people medicine is dedicated to the Christ, especially that their courage for Christians are North Korea, in Afghanistan. Those who convert under 18, people in good health preservation of life and to doing Afghanistan and Somalia. North are seen as traitors to the com- and faith may not fail. It is worth as well as those who are suffering no harm. Well, now we have ... Korea has topped the list since munity and are often in danger mentioning that the papal charity from psychiatric conditions to medicine being used actually 2002. Here, the possession of a of death. Radical Islam is also the Aid to the Church in Need exists to ask for euthanasia. 6,700 people prematurely to end life, which Bible could be enough to land a cause of persecution in Soma- support persecuted Christians in in Canada have died as a result of turns the medical profession on person in a labour camp, with the lia, where exposed Christians are various ways. euthanasia since its introduction its head.” I  stps JOE WALSH TOURS PILGRIMAGE & SUN HOLIDAY €  Is M  2 JUNE 2020 | 7 NIGHTS €799 pps Join Irish Dominican Friars on an exciting • Direct return flights from Dublin to Lisbon sightseeing guided tour of Irish monastic • 4 nights in Fatima (full board) foundations in Europe. • 3 nights in Estoril (half board) €1,399 • Luxury air-conditioned coach for all transfers St. Columbanus per person + Lueui 11–18 AUGUST 2020 sharing • Full religious programme in Fatima & free time + Lue St. Deicolus at leisure in Estoril FOR 7 NIGHTS • Guided tour of Sanctuary Square, Fatima + S Gaen St. Gall includes flights, transport, To book please phone and Aljustrel region + Reicenau St. Pirmin hotels, breakfast and evening Joe Walsh Tours meals. For more information: www.joewalshtours.ie | 01 241 0800 St. Fintan DUBLIN + Reinau Included is a donation towards a 01 241 0800 www.joewalshtours.ie | [email protected] | 01 241 0800 Licenced by the Commission for Aviation Regulation, TO 052 and TA 0689 in compliance with the Package Travel + Bi St. Columbanus new Classical Catholic School. CORK 021 427 7959 and Linked Travel Arrangement Package Regulation 2018. MARCH 2020 ALIVE! | 7

Fr. Vincent Twomey discusses the path Hope for the Future: Pro-Life Vote forward for the Church in Ireland highly visible in General Election 2020 DENISE RICHARDS Service of Reparation and a Cele- bration of Reconciliation in every EILÍS MULROY port for abortion didn’t save them. years not to fall for that. Who they Cathedral in the country”. And it’s clear from the results that vote for depends on the candidate’s r. Vincent Twomey, Emer- But he also remarked that this the pro-abortion positions adopted record, not what they say. The com- itus Professor of Moral needs to be balanced by “more inn Fein’s by the leadership of Fine Gael and prehensive lists with the record of FTheology at St. Patrick’s festive celebrations of the gift perfor- Fianna Fáil didn’t produce the polit- every candidate on abortion, com- College, Maynooth, addressed of God among us, as well as cel- Smance in ical dividend they expected. piled by the Pro Life Campaign and an enraptured crowd at the Uni- ebrating the lives of men and the recent Gen- Leo Varadkar’s decision to refer to others in the run up to the recent versity Church on Wednesday women of faith, who down to our eral Election struck the political pro-life politicians as “backwoods- General Election, proved an inval- 29th January in Dublin centre. own day devoted their lives to establishment like a thunderbolt. men” in the closing days of the uable resource to voters. The event was co-hosted by The education and the care of the sick Opinion polls a week out from the election campaign also backfired. Iona Institute and the Notre both at home and abroad”. election strongly hinted what was But what backfired much more The road back for the Dame-Newman Centre for Faith While many news outlets coming but it didn’t ease the sur- was Micheál Martin’s decision pro-life movement will and Reason. focussed on this part of the talk, prise when it happened. some years back to present Fianna not be easy. Many of the Fr. Twomey surveyed the or his reference to the need to It remains to be seen what their situation of the Church in Ire- Fáil as an abortion-supporting falsehoods pushed by dress more appropriately at newfound prominence in the Dáil party. In doing so, he dismissed the land, covering much ground in a Mass, there was a much deeper will mean in a wider political sense party’s official pro-life position that the pro-abortion lobby forty-five-minute session, reflect- discussion to be considered, but on the pro-life front, Sinn Féin received 80% backing from mem- are embedded deeply ing on the past, discussing the beyond the superficialities picked is not a friend of the unborn. Their bers at the 2017 Ard Fheis. into the public psyche. present and looking for a way for- up by the media. stance in the 2018 referendum was When the ‘Yes’ side won the ref- ward. In particular, the absence He went on: “The past achieve- stridently pro-abortion. And just a erendum, Micheál Martin was As American writer Mark of an authentic sense of God in ments of Irish Christianity, above few months ago they smoothed the praised for “calling the referendum Twain once remarked: “It’s our lives, which he believes is at all, but not only, the saints, have way for Westminster to impose an right”. He was even crowned ‘Politi- easier to fool people than the root of the Church’s troubles, to be recognised as sources of extreme abortion law on Northern cian of the Year’ by the Irish Times to convince them that they and of society’s more generally, is pride and inspiration. Pilgrim- Ireland. in 2018 for his pro-repeal stance. at the forefront of what he feels is ages on foot to the holy wells The political value of this cov- have been fooled.” the Church’s challenge now, as it and other sacred sites, such as If you were to judge the eted award lasted 24 hours. Two was in the past. Clonmacnoise and Clonfert need General Election outcome years on, and at a much deeper and That’s just a fact of life. It’s not a He called for a ‘Day of Repara- greater attention, especially for solely on the rise of Sinn personal level, the betrayal felt by reason to lose hope. Quite the oppo- tion’ to be held each year on the the youth. We also need to cele- Féin, all would appear pro-life supporters was seen in the site. It’s hugely encouraging to see First Friday in Lent, to remind brate the faith of our fathers as polling booths across the country new pro-life TDs elected, joining ourselves of the damage caused it found expression is the spirit- bleak from a pro-life on 8th February. existing pro-life politicians in the by the Church scandals in the uality of former generations. we perspective. But something It’s important not to overstate Dáil. We owe an enormous debt of 20th century, where “the clergy need to honour the astonishing quite extraordinary also what happened in the General gratitude to all our elected pro-life (Religious as well as secular) artistic and intellectual achieve- Election but there was a visible pat- representatives for the courage and would undertake a day of fasting happened in the election. All ments of the past – and future tern of pro-life voting, not evident leadership they are showing. and prayer, and go to confession, generations need to know and 15 of the TDs who opposed in previous elections. Against all the odds, the pro-life culminating in an evening Prayer appreciate them.” the Government’s abortion The political lead up to the abor- side fared much law in the Dáil were tion referendum in 2018 seems better in the to have stayed with people. The recent election comfortably re-elected. decision of Micheál Martin, for than commen- example, to abdicate his role as tators predicted. Some had their chances of leader of the opposition by refus- Let’s take heart re-election completely written ing to scrutinise the Government’s from that and off by much of the media, others extreme abortion proposal is still commit to work- had to overcome huge opposition viewed by many as contributing ing even harder within their parties because of significantly to the passage of the to fix what has their pro-life stance – and yet they referendum. The fact as well that been broken, for all prevailed. the leadership of Fianna Fáil even our country and If nothing else, it’s proof that refused to back amendments, like for the sake of a significant chunk of electorate allowing pain relief for unborn mums and their admires people who stick to their babies during late term abortions, unborn babies. principles and stand for something. still rankles and upsets many In contrast, 23 abortion-sup- people including Fianna Fáil sup- Eilís Mulroy porting TDs lost their seats in the porters nationwide. is a spokesper- 19th April election. It would be a stretch to Politicians are quick to claim on son for the Pro claim outright that their pro-repeal the eve of elections that they are Life Campaign 2020 stances cost them their seats, but ‘pro-life’. But pro-life supporters www.prolife- at the very least we know their sup- have witnessed enough in recent campaign.ie 38th Year Bishop Seeking the Intercession of St. Patrick Fintan Monahan t. Patrick, patron saint of our land, chosen by God to bring the faith to Ireland Bishop of Killaloe Scome walk among us again. Intercede for us to the most kind Father, through His only Fr John Regan A:- begotton Son, for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our nation: AUSTIN S TO F ercy JESU rks of m rm wo Pallottine Fathers I perfo ul. That the leaders of our country and elected representatives every so , in e sinner will enact just laws which will be in accordance with the eater th e Director of Music Úna Nolan The gr e right h eater th . Holy Will of God. the gr y mercy Soloist James Kilbane has to m - Diary 723 That our bishops, priests and religious and those who THE FIRST on not celebrated will ENQUIRIES ABOUT COACHES day be nkind devote their lives to spreading the Gospel will be this R. Ma mercy. that ASTE of my I desire TER E font ive Knock: Tel. (094) 9388100 Y AF to the d rece protected and kept safe in God’s love and service. UNDA it turns ion an S until onfess plete Limerick: Tel. (061) 419458 peace o to C com have will g obtain is ul that shall Mercy That the hatred and injustices in our country be dissolved. Dublin: Tel. (01) 842 5658 The so nion My ommu be able ly C and punishment. will Ho of sins or angel . That we will be blessed with an increase in vocations to ORGANISED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE EUCHARISTIC of man forgiveness no mind APOSTOLATE OF ATONEMENT FOR MERCY great that the priesthood and religious life. AMEN so to fathom it throughout all eternity 8 | ALIVE! MARCH 2020

FAMILY LIFE Democracy starts with family THE AOIFE DE CLÁR YOUTH FORUMWITH ÁINE KIRBY We prayed for our candidate at our rosary every night and when eventually it came to voting day our especially as a Catholic. ate nights and six and eight year olds thought it When I realised this, I realised early morn- would be a good idea to send their Why Mass? that if I didn’t have Mass my faith ing are often a guardian angels to meet all the would seem somewhat empty L or me, Mass has been one of recipe for disaster other guardian angels to “tell their those things that I attended because in the Mass we have in a household. We had a good run humans to vote for our guy”. Our Fwithout question as a child. Jesus. Also, the Mass is Jesus of this pre-General Election 2020 4-year-old thought it better to hold Probably because my parents coming in communion with us and it suited our family just fine! onto his guardian angel because brought me and when you are and we join with Him. Now this Our new year brought about a he’s “always falling over”. What a young it is family that you learn concept can be hard for people new challenge. We spent hours and clever little boy! from the most. However, going to believe and it can take a while hours in the car and were often very Our children couldn’t contain into secondary school, Mass kind to have complete faith in the idea late returning home in the evenings. their excitement when we got to of lost its meaning for me. I always that Jesus is present. What can be Myself and my husband, Ray, took the polling station. Over the three went but I started asking a lot more very helpful is to look at the priest turns every evening to drive to the weeks we had big discussions over questions about my faith and why on the altar holding up the bread next county in an effort to get a pro- who would get our preferences. Mass was so important for people. and wine, think back that a very life man elected to Dáil Eireann. We brought them all to the polling I think when you get into teenage long time ago Jesus created the It wasn’t all hard work. In fact, booth with us. They recognised all exact same action and said the years it’s good to question because pick it up again and remember the most of the time it was quite enjoy- of the names and faces on our ballot exact same words the priest says. if you don’t you will never get the basics of it but it will take a lot of able and we involved our children sheet and who the good guys were answers. It was definitely my first It definitely makes Mass seem a time and effort to get back to the in this task whenever we could. and who the bad guys were. After a Youth2000 retreat that showed lot more real. If you think about level you were at. It’s kind of the The older children leafletted huge long three weeks of campaigning we me Mass in a different light. So it, the Catholic Mass has been made the journey home to await the same idea with faith. areas with either myself or Ray and often we go to Mass and become around for 2000 years. That just results. We prayed the Rosary in the Many people may stop going on other evenings one of us would disheartened when we see a lot of shows how significant it is! car on our way home that ‘our guy’ to Mass and therefore they do spend some hours canvassing while adults and elderly people and not So, if you struggle with going to would get enough votes to be elected. not have the weekly reminder of the other went out in the van with as many young people. But when Mass I strongly encourage you to Children need to understand the the importance of their faith and the kids to put up election posters. I saw hundreds of young people go no matter what the distractions privileges and responsibilities that they can start to lose it. I’ve real- Other mothers leafletted with at Youth2000 and filled with so as it will be a weekly reminder of their babies in the buggies in the come with democracy so they are ised how much Mass actually can much joy for Mass, I couldn’t help your faith and it will definitely mornings. Politics became a hot ready to become participants in help us grow in our faith when but be uplifted in my faith and keep you grounded in your faith. topic in our house and we used the political process as adults. Chil- we fully realise its importance. If think that there was such a signifi- If you find it long or boring try to this opportunity to educate our dren are aware of issues of justice you think about Jesus at the Last cance behind the Mass. listen to the readings and see what children on how the country is gov- and fairness. Supper when He said ‘Do This in I heard a priest say something you can get from them and bring erned and how democracy works. We want our children to know Memory of Me’ it will make sense. during his homily once that we all your intentions to the altar They were fascinated. Their ‘News that we care about the environ- Jesus clearly showed us what he haven’t stopped going to Mass and ask for strength in your faith. of the Day’ in their copybooks were ment we live in. We are a family wanted us to do. He wanted us to because we have lost our faith After a while you will find that you filled with stories of canvassing, and the family is the basis of soci- celebrate the Mass as a memory of but we have lost our faith because love going to Mass and you will postering, leafleting and debates. ety. If we want to defend our family we stopped going to Mass. If you Him and so he could bring Him- get very much from it. Thomas We had discussions on health, values, we need to work to preserve think about it, it is so true. It’s self to us. He did this because Aquinas said ‘The celebration of housing and homelessness, edu- it. They need to know if we want as if you stop playing a musical He knew we would need all the the Holy Mass is as valuable as the cation, transport, farming, rural change we must help those trying instrument for years. Yes, you will strength we could get to live life, death of Jesus on the cross’. affairs and how money is spent to bring it about. and wasted. We explained left- Plenty of the bad guys were wing and conservative politics. We elected unfortunately. Many of the watched candidates debates and good guys weren’t. But despite our Lent: A time of giving read their leaflets. We rated them tiny budget and small campaign then and decided if they would be team ‘our guy’ was elected. We good politicians or bad ones. prayed with our children in thanks- It usually came down, to “Do giving for this. We were so happy. they like us Catholics?” and “Are The result was late coming in, so we celebrated with cake for break- they prolife”. That’s how we deter- fast the following morning. mined whether they were ‘good It was very important to us that guys or bad guys’. I would tell our children would see us actively them the candidates plans if they trying to shape the country for the get elected and would give them a good of the family. They helped. It quick run-down of their political will always be an uphill battle for past and usually they would come us. We are living in an anti-Catho- to their own conclusions. lic, anti-family, and anti-God country. But we have each other. s we know, Lent has begun. making a difference. The beauty Family is the most important Some people will see Lent of giving is that when people see thing so we must try preserve it. We Aas a time to give back to one person giving it can trigger JOE WALSH TOURS must be an example to our children. God and grow stronger in their a chain-reaction and the next One day it will be their turn to teach faith while others may find Lent person will want to give as well. MEDJUGORJE PILGRIMAGE TO POLAND this lesson to their children. We particularly difficult because all Imagine what a nicer place 4, 11 APRIL & 2 MAY 4 SEPTEMBER | 5 NIGHTS know we are different to many other that comes to mind is the word the world would be if we gave to €815 families in Ireland today. Our chil- pps Sacrifice. each other a little more. We could • 7 nights Medjugorje: €699 pps • 4* Hotel Justyna, Krakow dren know they are different and Often we may feel guilty about give our time to someone who is half board are quite happy to be so. • 2 Centre: 4 nts Medjugorje & not giving up lots of things. Why lonely, buy a present for a loved We are their parents. We need • Spiritual Director: Fr. Jimmy not instead think of ways that one, bring someone to Mass with 3 nts Dubrovnik from €729 pps to guide them on the right path O’Reilly you make a positive impact to us or just help with daily things in • Staying close to St James’s church and point them in the right direc- someone’s life, how you can show the house. • Visit Divine Mercy Shrine, Auschwitz, tion and with the help of God they in Medjugorje Jesus’ love to someone through I think many people get caught Zakopane, Saltmines & Jasna Gora will bloom where they are planted. your actions. up in their New Year resolutions They are with us for such a short The saying ‘actions speak louder which can be very good for making For more information: www.joewalshtours.ie | 01 241 0800 time. 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the dead, and so on. ery - it sells out the mission of Christ and the For Christians our consolation is not Church and it betrays the mourners. principally found in the past, in “the mem- But the faithful have to be educated to Poor substitute for ories”; it is in the future, in the hope of know what to expect at a Catholic funeral. God’s mercy for those who die in the state of grace, in knowing we will be reunited And to demand it. Proper formation before- a funeral homily in heaven. hand would avoid misunderstandings in Replacing a homily with a eulogy is treach- times of grief. t is not easy for a priest to give a funeral rather than standing up for the true blessings homily today if the deceased was a public the Church offers. Isinner, say a crime boss, a rapist, or a politi- In a Catholic funeral the centre of attention cian or journalist who campaigned to legalise is not the corpse, nor is it the mourners, how- the killing of unborn children. ever distressed they may be. It is God. The The current fashion in funeral homilies service is an act of worship, a recognition of has largely turned them into eulogies - as a God, creator and saviour. result, the bereaved now expect to be con- And the priest or deacon has a serious soled when their loved one is “celebrated” duty, not least to the bereaved, to keep the from the altar. focus on God and to stir up Christian faith This, in fact, is part of a wider trend to and hope. secularise not only funerals but the Church While appropriate words may be said itself, its services and sacraments. about the deceased, particularly about his So, Paddy’s cap, his football medals and a or her strivings to follow Christ, the homily can of beer are brought up in the “offertory is primarily a time for proclaiming God’s procession”. And his favourite pop song is word. played as his corpse is wheeled out of the It may deal with the shortness of life, the church. certainty of death, the reality of divine judg- The secularising trend has now become so ment, eternal happiness or loss, Christ’s strong in the Church that priests, “sensitive resurrection, victory over sin, the hope of to the bereaved”, go along with the travesty heaven, the need for repentance, praying for The funeral of St Stephen by Filippo Lippi.

defence. It distracts them from the This raises a deeper issue - the Where does O’Toole get his morality muddle and despair at the core of basis for human dignity. He needs their view of life. But it’s a game for to face that one too. rish Times journalist Fintan smuggled into his attack on Trump submit to his moral view, especially losers. When US blogger Leah Libresco, The real issue here is objective O’Toole complains that Donald a moral teaching he learnt as a if it will cost them? then an atheist student at Yale Uni- Trump “determines to be true ... Catholic child. He now wants to By attacking others, liberals like morality, the idea that behaviour I versity, set out to defend objective whatever suits him at the moment.” impose it on others. O’Toole can avoid such questions is good or evil irrespective of what And it would be “real news” if his But as a liberal he dodges a lot of and they are rarely challenged, Trump or anyone else may think. morality it eventually led her to the people “actually told the truth.” questions. Is telling the truth, for mainly because so many in the Does the journalist believe in Catholic Church. O’Toole, in his O’Toole assumes that telling example, really a good thing? What media share the same groupthink. objective morality or not, and if quest for moral clarity, might check the truth is a good thing. He has makes it good? Why should others Attack is their best form of he does, where does it come from? out Libresco’s story. CATHOLIC YOUTH AND TILDA misreads study on religion and health iddle-aged and older ways to socialise will be nec- and their impact on us. Why PRO-LIFE ACTIVIST TRAINING DAY people who attend essary as we develop into a no mention of this in the Mreligious services more secular society,” she study? SATURDAY 28TH MARCH 2020 regularly are significantly said. It’s a rather trite com- If, in fact, it was specifi- SILVER BIRCH HOTEL, OMAGH, CO. TYRONE – 10AM-5PM happier or less likely to show ment. cally their beliefs and their “depressive symptoms”, says Why not ask if the benefits worship that benefited peo- Are you well-equipped to promote God’s teachings? a new Irish study. of religious practice might ple’s mental health, why On the other hand, those not be partly or even mainly Do you wish you knew how to answer those di cult questions ignore or hide this behind a who claim to have a strong due to the religious (Catho- trite or shallow comment? on contraception, sexuality, abortion and marriage? faith but rarely practise it are lic) beliefs themselves and to This undermines whatever the act of worship? This pertinent one day seminar will equip you with the tools on: likely to have worse mental help the study might be to health. Don’t the experts tell us Sacredness of life, faith, family and sexuality. policy-makers • The Trinity College that people’s mental health The Trinity College • Refute attacks and articulate truths on a range TILDA study on growing old and social involvement are research was mainly funded of issues, including an introduction on media involved more than 6,000 much affected by their view by George Soros and the training techniques. (mainly Catholic?) adults of themselves and by their Health Department. Neither • Pro-life debates, proclaiming Christ in the aged 50+. hopes? of which “do” religion. secular marketplace as Catholics, spiritual The findings are impor- So, whether they see warfare, the role of prayer, and much more. tant. But how did the themselves as God’s Age 18+ years. researchers interpret them? children or just as Did personal prejudice dis- meat on legs will surely JOE WALSH At this crisis time in Ireland, can you a ord to miss it? tort their spin? They might impact their lives. As Thoroughly Catholic pro-life activist training. research that too. will their belief about TOURS € OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY €1,695 HURRY! Closing date for applications is 25th March 2020. The only reason offered death: extinction or pps Order your application form today! for the beneficial effects of door to eternal happi- 30 MAY 2020 | 7 NIGHTS religious practice was that ness with God. Suggested donation £25 including lunch and materials. Concessions for • Direct return flights fromDublin unemployed / unwaged/ students. 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world for God, to counter the deni- continue until the end of time. All emblematic tasks of healing. He als of him and thus to defend man’s must be reunited in Christ in one heals the disturbed communion MONTHLY greatness. And what more could body: the great hymns on Christ in between a man and a woman. He Meditations one say and think about man than the Letters to the Ephesians and to heals their love. He drives out the the fact that God himself was made the Colossians tell us this. Christ demons who over and over again man? Michael’s other role, accord- knocks. Today too he needs people exhaust and destroy their love. He Angels heard on high ing to Scripture, is that of protector who, so to speak, make their own purifies the atmosphere between of the People of God (cf. Dn 10: 21; flesh available to him, give him the the two and gives them the ability he three Archangels who are Jude Thaddeus and in the Book 12: 1). matter of the world and of their to accept each other for ever. mentioned by name in Scrip- of Revelation. Two of this Arch- We meet the Archangel Gabriel lives, thus serving the unification In Tobit’s account, this healing is ture: Michael, Gabriel and T angel’s roles become obvious in especially in the precious account between God and the world, until recounted with legendary images. Raphael. This reminds us that these texts. He defends the cause of the annunciation to Mary of the the reconciliation of the universe. In the New Testament, the order in the ancient Church - already of God’s oneness against the pre- Incarnation of God, as Luke tells it Dear friends, it is your task to of marriage established in crea- in the Book of Revelation - Bish- sumption of the dragon, the to us (1: 26-38). Gabriel is the mes- knock at people’s hearts in Christ’s tion and threatened in many ways ops were described as “angels” of “ancient serpent”, as John calls it. senger of God’s Incarnation. He Name. By entering into union with by sin, is healed through Christ’s their Church, thereby expressing The serpent’s continuous effort is knocks at Mary’s door and, through Christ yourselves, you will also be acceptance of it in his redeeming a close connection between the to make men believe that God must him, God himself asks Mary for her able to assume Gabriel’s role: to love. He makes marriage a sac- Bishop’s ministry and the Angel’s disappear so that they themselves “yes” to the proposal to become bring Christ’s call to men. rament: his love, put on a cross mission. From the Angel’s task may become important; that God the Mother of the Redeemer: of St. Raphael is presented to us, for us, is the healing power which it is possible to understand the impedes our freedom and, there- giving her human flesh to the eter- above all in the Book of Tobit, as in all forms of chaos offers the Bishop’s service. But what is an fore, that we must rid ourselves of nal Word of God, to the Son of the Angel to whom is entrusted the capacity for reconciliation, puri- Angel? Sacred Scripture and the him. However, the dragon does not God. The Lord knocks again and task of healing. When Jesus sends fies the atmosphere and mends the Church’s tradition enable us to dis- only accuse God. The Book of Rev- again at the door of the human his disciples out on a mission, the wounds. The priest is entrusted cern two aspects. On the one hand, elation also calls it “the accuser of heart. In the Book of Revelation, task of proclaiming the Gospel is with the task of leading men and the Angel is a creature who stands our brethren..., who accuses them he says to the “angel” of the Church always linked with that of healing. women ever anew to the reconcil- before God, oriented to God with day and night before our God” (12: of Laodicea and, through him, to The Good Samaritan, in accept- ing power of Christ’s love. He must his whole being. All three names of 10). Those who cast God aside do the people of all times: “Behold, ing and healing the injured person be the healing “angel” who helps the Archangels end with the word not make man great but divest him I stand at the door and knock; if lying by the wayside, becomes them to anchor their love to the “El”, which means “God”. God is of his dignity. Man then becomes a any one hears my voice and opens without words a witness of God’s sacrament and to live it with an inscribed in their names, in their failed product of evolution. Those the door, I will come in to him and love. We are all this injured man, ever renewed commitment based nature. Their true nature is existing who accuse God also accuse man. eat with him, and he with me” (3: in need of being healed. Proclaim- upon it. in his sight and for him. Faith in God defends man in all his 20). The Lord is at the door - at ing the Gospel itself already means First of all, there is Michael. frailty and short-comings: God’s the door of the world and at the healing in itself, because man is HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS We find him in Sacred Scripture brightness shines on every individ- door of every individual heart. He in need of truth and love above all BENEDICT XVI, Memorial of the above all in the Book of Daniel, ual. It is the duty of the Bishop, as knocks to be let in: the Incarna- things. The Book of Tobit refers three Archangels, St Peter’s Basil- in the Letter of the Apostle St a man of God, to make room in the tion of God, his taking flesh, must to two of the Archangel Raphael’s ica, 29 September 2007

burst! Having heard something, the fool suf- and do not depart... Accept whatever befalls fers birth pangs like one in labor... Like an you, and in times of humiliation be patient. SIRACH: SPIRITUAL READING arrow stuck in a person’s thigh, so is gossip For gold is tested in the fire, and those found inside a fool.” acceptable, in the furnace of humiliation. FR. JOSEPH BRIODY your happiness” (8:17-19). Many passages in Sirach are superbly Trust in him, and he will help you; make your Sirach warns against loose talk and gossip. suitable for spiritual reading, waiting to be ways straight, and hope in him. You who fear In 19:4-12 he writes: “One who trusts others discovered and reflected upon. In 1:22-24 he the Lord, wait for his mercy; do not stray..., Wisdom Part 23: too quickly has a shallow mind... One who speaks about anger, patience, and silence: trust in him, and your reward will not be lost. Sirach-Forgotten Gems rejoices in wickedness will be condemned, “Unjust anger cannot be justified, for anger You who fear the Lord, hope for good things, but one who hates gossip has less evil. Never tips the scale to one’s ruin. Those who are for lasting joy and mercy. Consider the gen- repeat a conversation and you will lose noth- patient stay calm until the right moment, erations of old … has anyone trusted in the ypical of the Wisdom Books, Sirach ing at all.” and then cheerfulness comes back to them. Lord and been disappointed? Or has anyone gives advice about prudence, the habit He differentiates between gossip, not to They hold back their words until the right persevered in the fear of the Lord and been of making good decisions. His advice T be repeated, and what should be passed on moment; then the lips of many tell of their forsaken? Or has anyone called upon him about speech is relevant in this age of social because it is important and might save some- good sense.” and been neglected? For the Lord is com- media: “Do not consult with fools, for they one in danger: “With friend or foe do not Most of all, Sirach recommends fidel- passionate and merciful; he forgives sins and cannot keep a secret. In the presence of report it [gossip], and unless it would be a ity, humility, trust in God, and openness to saves in time of distress” (2:1-11). strangers do nothing that is to be kept secret, sin for you, do not reveal it.” Humorously he God’s forgiveness. He proposes a whole way It is easy to see how these words were for you do not know what they will divulge.” advises… you don’t need to say everything of life: “My child, when you come to serve the embraced by the early Christians, and how He goes on to say that revealing all your you know: “Have you heard something? Let Lord, prepare yourself for testing. Set your Sirach received the well-deserved name, thoughts to just anyone, “may drive away it die with you. Be brave, it will not make you heart right and be steadfast... Cling to him Eccelsiasticus, the Book of the Church.

bled, conscious of the trust that has also by witness and example. The appointment of been placed in me despite my many “I also would like to thank my deficiencies. I accept this new mis- brother priests of the diocese, and Monsignor Michael F Crotty as sion, in a spirit of obedience and elsewhere, who have supported me gratitude, trusting that the Lord throughout these past 25 years of Papal Nuncio of Burkina Faso Jesus Christ, who calls me now to priesthood. Finally, a special word be a Successor of the Apostles, will of gratitude to Bishop William be my guide and light in bringing Crean of Cloyne, for the pater- DAVID REYNOLDS a country that has recently been the Good News of the Gospel, to nal care and concern that he has savaged by war and violence, with wherever the Holy Father, the Suc- shown to the priests of the diocese over 600,000 people displaced, he Ballygiblin native, who thousands of schools closed and cessor of Saint Peter, chooses to of Cloyne, whether they be near or began his career in the Dio- Churches being burned down by send me. far, within or without. Tcese of Cloyne, has been Islamic extremists, in a country “My gratitude at this time also “The Holy Father, mindful of appointed by Pope Francis to the that was until recent years, rela- goes out to all who have nurtured the Irish monastic missionary tra- diplomatic post in the African tively quiet and stable. So quiet, me in the faith: first and foremost, dition, has assigned me the titular country Burkina Faso. Archbishop indeed, that many readers may my late parents, Mary and Timo- See of Lindisfarne in the North Crotty was born on 26 March 1970 be more familiar with its former thy Crotty, and my family; the faith of England, founded by Saint and was ordained a priest for the name, Upper Volta. community of Mitchelstown Parish Aidan, a monk of the monastery of Diocese of Cloyne on 3 July 1994. Archbishop Crotty, on his - the clergy, Christian Brothers, Iona founded by Saint Columba, He has worked in Kenya, Canada, appointment stated: Presentation Sisters, and particu- Co-Patron of Ireland, with Saint Iraq, Jordan and Spain previously “While being deeply honoured by larly the teachers of Ballygiblin Brigid and Saint Patrick. Through as well as having studied in Ireland Pope Francis’s decision to appoint National School and Christian the intercession of these, and all and Rome. Archbishop Crotty will me his representative to Burkina Brothers School, who taught the the Saints, may God give me the have a challenging task ahead in Faso, I am also profoundly hum- Catholic faith not only by word, but Monsignor Michael F Crotty. strength to do his will.” MARCH 2020 ALIVE! | 11

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTTEOUSNESS SAKE, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN – MATT 5:10-12

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postulate against experience. We The Convergence of Science and devise experiments to test our working hypotheses, and believe those laws or SCRAPS hypotheses are correct which seem to DEREK RYAN COLUMN Religion – Prof. Charles Townes agree with our experience. Such tests can disprove a hypothesis, or can give DR. PAUL DELANEY Faith is necessary for the us useful confidence in its applicability ELECTION CASUALTIES scientist even to get started, and correctness, but never proof in any absolute sense. t is not a time to gloat at all. It is ne Sunday morning, a staff and deep faith necessary for important to remember that those member of IBM’s Think maga- him to carry out his tougher EXPECT PARADOXES Icandidates who have lost their Ozine turned on the radio to hear tasks. Why? Because he We must also expect paradoxes, and seats as TDs have lost their jobs. It Dr. Charles Townes discussing the rela- must have confidence that not be surprised or unduly troubled by is also important to remember that tionship of science to religion with a them. We know of paradoxes in phys- Photo: Katherine Zappone. there is order in the universe some of them have jobs to go back Bible class. Townes was already dis- ics, such as that concerning the nature to. And that they all will now receive tinguished for inventing the maser and and that the human mind of light, which have been resolved by fairly decent pensions – which they co-inventing the laser. (Masers are to – in fact his own mind deeper understanding. We know of probably feel they deserve follow- microwaves what lasers are to visible Katherine Zappone. – has a good chance of some which are still unresolved. In the ing their activist roles in recent light). Intrigued, they asked him to put realm of religion, we are troubled by seismic referenda here in Ireland. Honourable mentions his thoughts down in writing. understanding this order. the suffering around us and its appar- go to Kate O’Connell (“We won. We’ll get our way ... Soon after the news came from Stock- ent inconsistency with a God of love. Ye can talk for as long as ye like ... Ye lost. It must be hurt- holm that Townes had been awarded Without this confidence there would Such paradoxes confronting science do ing.”), Lisa Chambers (“abortion regret is a makey-uppy the Nobel Prize. This delayed things, be little point in intense effort to try to not usually destroy our faith in science. thing”), Regina Doherty (a swing vote), Joan Burton, but eventually he published “The Con- understand a presumably disorderly or They simply remind us of a limited Paul Murphy, Katherine Zappone (Minister for Children vergence of Science and Religion”. Here incomprehensible world. Such a world understanding, and at times provide a who voted against children’s rights for the youngest chil- are some excerpts. would take us back to the days of super- key to learning more. dren, pictured), Catherine Noone (chaired the Oireachtas stition, when man thought capricious After his Nobel prize, Townes moved SCIENCE SEEKS ORDER, RELIGION forces manipulated his universe. In fact, to Berkeley and changed careers mid- Committee on the 8th Amendment, and publicly made SEEKS PURPOSE AND MEANING fun of an aging priest at a Mass she attended), Noel Rock it is just this faith in an orderly universe, life to astronomy, becoming the first to The goal of science is to discover the and Shane Ross. understandable to man, which allowed detect complex molecules in interstel- order in the universe and to understand the basic change from an age of supersti- There are many more that ought to have felt the back- lar space and to measure the mass of through it the things we sense around tion to an age of science, and has made Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black lash but didn’t which is a bad reflection on pro-life voters. us, and even man himself. This order we possible our scientific progress. hole at the centre of our galaxy. (His The reality is that parties will feel that there is a very express as scientific principles or laws … The necessity of faith in science is office was on the same floor in Berkeley small pro-life vote out there and they have more to worry The goal of religion may be stated as reminiscent of the description of reli- where I did my Ph.D. He would hum in about economic promises than anything else. an understanding (and hence accept- gious faith attributed to Constantine: “I the lift – one of my colleagues called it ance) of the purpose and meaning of believe so that I may know.” But such the “Nobel hum”). He was chairman of our universe and how we fit into it. Most faith is now so deeply rooted in the sci- the NASA advisory committee for the PHILIP SCHOFIELD religions see a unifying and inclusive entist that most of us never even stop to Apollo moon landing. he news that Philip Schofield, origin of meaning, and this supreme think that it is there at all. He won the 2005 Templeton prize, after 27 years of marriage purposeful force we call God. given to someone who “has made an and with two adult children, Understanding the order in the uni- PROOF exceptional contribution to affirm- T verse and understanding the purpose in announced that he was homosex- Photo: Nick Morris. Another popular view of the dif- ing life’s spiritual dimension, whether ual, was greeted across the media the universe are not identical, but they ference between science and religion through insight, discovery, or practical are also not very far apart. world with fawning solidarity. is based on the notion that religious works,” saying ideas depend only on faith and revela- Much was made of how he was “I believe that science and religion FAITH tion while science succeeds in actually have much in common and should looking after his family. Given that The essential role of faith in religion proving its points. In this view, proofs interact strongly. If we look back in his- the world is supposed to consider is so well known that taking things on give to scientific ideas a certain kind tory, I think it arguable that the growth that homosexuality is no different Philip Schofield. faith rather than proving them is usu- of absolutism and universalism which of modern science owes much to the to any other form of sexuality, the ally taken as characteristic of religion, religious ideas have only in the claims Jewish and Christian religions. Mon- reaction is strange. If he had announced that he was no and as distinguishing religion from sci- of their proponents. But the actual otheism indicated a consistent and longer attracted to his wife but attracted to other women, ence. But faith is essential to science nature of scientific proof is rather dif- reliable universe and the creation an the reaction would have been much different. too, although we do not so generally ferent from such simple ideas…. interesting one that should be exam- Surely, this is how it ought to be considered? After 27 recognize the basic need and nature of In the natural sciences, we “prove” ined. These were viewpoints out of years he has not only told his wife that he no longer finds faith in science. it by making some kind of test of the which Western science could grow.” her attractive but also that he never did and has been living a lie. Of course, the reasons why he felt the need to keep this secret for all this time is difficult to know. But member of Aontú and his passing is a why the need to make the announcement on live TV, if Francie Brolly: Obituary great loss to all of us.” not only to receive the gushing admiration of the rest of Youth for Life NI paid tribute to a FROM GRIPT NEWS the media world? He was later elected as a Sinn Féin man they described as a pro-life hero. MLA for Derry. “We are so sad to hear of the sudden He and Anne Brolly left the party passing of pro-life hero, Francie rancie Brolly, the well-known over its support for abortion and were Brolly,” they said. “Our thoughts and singer, musician, teacher and Citizen’s Assembly founding members of Aontú. Francie prayers are with his wife Anne, chil- republican activist has died sud- contested the local elections last May as he new Citizen’s Assembly is underway. I have F dren, extended family and friends at denly in his home in Dungiven Co. an Aontú candidate. never got an invite. I never got an invite to be part this devastating time.” Derry. News of his passing was greeted Party leader Peadar Tóibín paid of any of these. I don’t really know how anyone gets “Francie was very kind, upright, T with sadness among people in Derry tribute to Francie as a longstanding an invite. But this time they are talking about gender faithful and inspirational husband, and within the wider community. republican who like others took a stand equality. Of course, the aim of this is to make some more father, teacher, musician, politician With his wife Anne, he was a on an issue of principle. changes to the Constitution. The article states “The State and man. He was a man of great faith renowned musician, singer and song- He said that he had been a “strong recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives writer, and the couple toured and and active elected representative for and principle who sacrificed so much to the State a support without which the common good recorded extensively together over the the people of East Derry, a man of faith in the cause for justice. He did so much cannot be achieved. The State shall, therefore, endeavour course of a long and devoted marriage. and an Irish Republican who worked so work to protect preborn children and to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic He was immersed in preservation and hard for the unity of the Irish people.” their mothers and fathers. We must all necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties promotion of Irish traditional music, “He had a great warmth, political continue his legacy to ‘cherish all the in the home.” This is considered sexist. Against women. song and dance and was a fluent and insight and he stood strongly for his prin- children equally.’ But if anything, it discriminates against men. But, as enthusiastic Gaeilgeóir. ciples. He was founding member of Aontú We must all continue his legacy to David Quinn of the Iona Institute points out, can anyone He was perhaps best known for his and his passing is a great loss to all of us. cherish all the children equally.” even say what a woman is anymore? Or who is a woman? ballad about the blanket protest in the “He worked so hard for the unity of “His passing is a huge loss – past, Anyone can now decide their gender by filling out a form. H-Blocks. The song is perhaps the most the Irish people. He was a lovely man present and future generations. He will So, what’s the big deal anymore? powerful to emerge from the conflict and of great warmth and fun. He had tre- not be forgotten.” expresses the feelings of people who had mendous political insight and he stood [email protected] been forced into an ultimately tragic war. up for his principles. He was founding Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. MARCH 2020 ALIVE! | 13 “I thank God every day for the Industrial Schools that raised me” Former resident of Irish Mother & Baby Home and Industrial School addresses the false media narrative.

BRIAN Ó’CAITHNIA gave him a photo she had kept He soon opened his own tai- of him that was taken when loring shop, and became so he was four years old. skilled he even made a suit for public lecture in Tuam Mr. Costelloe recalls that Mohammed Ali! last October given by the boys were treated well Mr. Costelloe is astounded Ahistorian Brian Nugent both at the orphanage and at how false the media por- on the third edition of his the industrial school. Despite trayal of the state-run ground-breaking work “@ it being during the “Emer- orphanages and industrial tuambabies: A Critical Look gency”, the war years, the boys schools managed by religious at the Tuam Children’s Home were “well treated as regards orders is. All his siblings did scandal” (available on www. the basics of food, drink and quite well after their respec- lulu.com) saw a number of had warm accommodation.” tive times in care, and were former residents of the Homes Eamon felt the nuns in the given solid vocational train- step forward in support of his orphanage were actually very ing, with his sisters becoming research that counters a false motherly - “the Sisters loved nurses in England and his historical narrative that has every baby” - and some of the brothers becoming successful emerged in recent years. Christian Brothers and teach- in their different pursuits. One such man was Eamon ers in the Industrial School Inspired by Brian Nugent’s were equally caring, like the Costelloe who had been raised comprehensive refutation of A picture taken by Eamon Costelloe when he visited St. Patrick’s in the 1970s. by the Sisters of Charity in superior Brother O’Keefe, and the “Tuam Babies” narrative, St. Patrick’s Boys School, Mr O’Donnell, who Eamon as it has come to be known, dous devotion to Our Lady Kilkenny. Born the second kept in touch with. Mr. Costelloe was aghast to and is a daily Mass commu- youngest of nine children in see a recent display in Collins nicant who prays often for “The Sisters loved Boher Buí, near Ballaghader- Barracks Dublin that stated the souls of the Sisters who reen, Co. Roscommon, Mr. every baby” that babies were “presumably devoted their lives to look Costelloe’s mother died buried in a septic tank.” He after boys like him. when he was two years old At St. Joseph’s Industrial wrote to the manager of the while she was working on School in Salthill, Galway, Barracks: He prays often for the the family farm, and a short souls of the Sisters Mr. Costelloe was trained in “I respectfully ask while later his father became the tailoring trade until the who devoted their ill and incapable of looking that the record be age of 16. This school was lives to look after after his family. Mr. Costel- run by six resident Christian corrected so that the boys like him. loe, along with other young Brothers and other teachers reputations of these siblings, were put in the care coming from outside. Some of Sisters are no longer of different orphanages and his teachers, Costelloe notes, The Sisters from St. Patrick’s when he visited them in the 1970s. industrial schools across Ire- were overly reliant on cor- being tarnished by If you have a similar land. Eamon himself was poral punishment. In 1949, this untruthful public story to tell, please email sent, along with his younger at the age of sixteen, he was display in Collins [email protected] brother Noel, to St. Patrick’s given a job as an apprentice Boys School, Kilkenny from tailor with Kenny’s tailors in Barracks.” 1935-43 which was run by High Street in Tuam. the Sisters of Charity, under During these years Ireland In response, the manager of a similar arrangement as the suffered from an economic the Barracks distanced him- Home in Tuam. depression, and Mr. Costel- self from the display, saying it Mr. Costelloe has fond, loe was not paid the wages was not an historical museum happy memories of his time in that were due to him. When exhibition, but merely an art St. Patrick’s. He stayed there he sought help from the installation dealing with the until the age of ten, when the Christian Brothers, he was artist’s own reflections and boys were transferred to an disappointed that there that the word “presumably” industrial school in Salthill, was no network or support did not mean it was a fact. He Co. Galway. In the 1970s, he system to help him and that concluded the letter by stat- returned to visit the Sisters he felt he was “out on his ing he appreciated that Mr. as an adult to talk to the nuns own.” Fortunately, a family Costelloe’s experience of the Eamon Costelloe with the who had looked after him. member living in Birming- Sisters of Charity was a posi- letter he received from the They showed him his original ham invited him to join him tive one. Manager of Collins Barracks cot and one of the nuns even as an apprentice tailor there. Mr. Costelloe has a tremen- regarding his complaint.

Eamon Costelloe can be seen in the middle holding the ball in the grounds of St. Patrick’s orphanage. 14 | ALIVE! MARCH 2020

NEWS FROM ACROSS THE IRISH SEA and no-one asked any questions. A detailed report in the Mirror in March 2018 revealed that in Rotherham, a fifteen-year-old Another report of grooming gangs became pregnant six times in four years and had three abortions. Another girl of fourteen had two in the UK reveals the same story abortions and was returned to her abusers hours after the second MARIA HORAN paedophile rings has been majority of gangs comprised of abortion. When interviewed at a eradicated, including in Asian men, or more specifically, later stage, she said that no-one Pakistani men. Writing for the Rotherham, another haven asked her any questions about what recent inquiry from the UK Telegraph, British Pakistani jour- was happening to her at that time. for grooming gangs, which has revealed yet another nalist Aniqah Choudhri points out It is clear that Ireland has a gang Apaedophile grooming gang experts claim are still that Asian men are not let off the culture developing, and they oper- that operated in plain sight of continuing to operate. hook for other crimes and are even ate across Ireland with little fear of police and social workers six- over-represented in UK prisons. the justice system. They worry only teen years ago in Manchester but She believes that fear of racism about defending their turf from absolutely nothing was done to The Manchester inquiry entitled is just an excuse, as thousands of rival gangs. The path is paved for protect at least 57 girls who were “Operation Augusta” makes for rape reports have been inaccu- tion to sexual activity. There was similar occurrences in Ireland as hooked on drugs, raped and left sobering reading. Victoria Agoglia, rately recorded and inspections of a failure to recognise that sexual the UK, now that the Irish govern- emotionally broken, including one who died from a drug overdose police reports show that vulnera- activity between young people of ment has introduced abortion with 15-year-old who died from an over- told her carers that she was being ble women and girls were at high similar ages may still involve abuse no restrictions to twelve weeks and dose. This followed similar reports raped but they described her risk of having their cases ignored or exploitation. no parental consent needed, it will over the last 15 years from Rush- behaviour as prostitution and did in a number of forces. Only 1.7% of Despite claims in the UK as to be easy for abusers to bring girls to olme, Rotherham, Peterborough, nothing about the men who regu- reported rapes in the UK result in its objetive, explicit sex-ed has GPs for the abortion pill, no ques- Oxford, Rochdale, Bristol, Telford, larly visited her care home. Even prosecution. done little to address the increas- Newcastle, Aylesbury, Hudders- her coroner let her carers off the In his detailed study of eight tions asked, just as happens in ing child sexual exploitation in the field, and Keighley. hook, claiming that she had a pro- towns and cities with paedophile the UK, enabling abuse of young UK. The concerns of parents and It is remarkable though hardly pensity to grant “sexual favours”. grooming gangs, author of ‘Unpro- women and girls to go undetected. grandparents raised in the open surprising how little coverage However, the report concluded tected’, Norman Wells observed And as in the UK, the social ser- online consultation last year on this report received from media that “Manchester City Council had that in all locations, authorities vices system in Ireland has already sex-ed were completely ignored sources and even the main source parental responsibility for Victoria looked the other way when abuse repeatedly failed thousands of vul- of the report was a local Manches- throughout this difficult period and was detected, as underage sex has by the British government and the nerable children, so who will speak ter newspaper, not a national one. due to poor professional practice come to be viewed as a normal new RSE programme is set to start up for those who are being targeted and an absence of the most basic part of growing up and seen as in all educational establishments by traffickers? Each time a new report on statutory child protection pro- relatively harmless as long as it is schools in September 2020, with Once again, it would appear that this issue is delivered, all cesses failed to protect her.” consensual. no exceptions for faith schools. Irish lawmakers are determined involved wax lyrical about In every one of the UK grooming Children were being treated as Another pattern in the grooming to emulate the serious errors of gangs, those in authority claimed adults and believed to have the gangs in the UK was that it was rel- the UK, even when all evidence how lessons need to be that they were afraid of being seen competence and autonomy to atively easy for gang members to points to the disaster that this learned. Yet none of these to be politically incorrect, as the make their own choices in rela- bring pregnant girls for abortions has become.

NEWS FROM STATESIDE On magazines the warning Porn to be slapped with ‘warning would have to be easily visible. “A lot of people have seen California New book claims big tech label’ if Utah Bill succeeds warnings on products about toxic substances. It would be enforced DENISE RICHARDS Exposing minors to pornography in the same way it enforces theirs,” censors conservatives is known to the state of Utah to cause Brammer stated. negative impacts to brain devel- Failure to display the warnings DEREK RYAN warning label proposed to be opment, emotional development, could invite prosecution by the added to pornographic con- and the ability to maintain inti- Utah Attorney General’s Office Atent would state in part that mate relationships. Such exposure and result in a fine of $2,500 per nternet giant Google has long ‘exposing minors to pornography is may lead to harmful and addictive infraction. Because so many chil- faced accusations of bias known to the state of Utah to cause dren stumble across pornography sexual behavior, low self-esteem, against conservatives, and an negative impacts.’ by accident—anti-porn speak- I and the improper objectification of upcoming book cites documents Sixteen states in the US have ers confirm that this is very, very and sexual violence towards others, confirming that it takes action already dubbed digital porn a common—these warnings could among numerous other harms. against right-wing content in public health crisis, and now the stop children from being imme- Brammer modeled his bill after direct response to complaints state of Utah may be taking con- diately exposed to porn. “A lot of from left-wing activists. crete action on this. If Republican California’s product label require- people are clicking on something, Daily Caller senior investi- Representative Brady Brammer ments and would instruct porn they don’t want to see it, they like gative reporter Peter Hasson gets his way, a warning label will be producers to post the warnings vis- to have a little heads up before they is the author of a new book, attached to any adult video, maga- ibly - on videos, the warning would see an image they really,... it’s not The Manipulators: Facebook, zine, or publication. The proposed have to be present for a full fifteen what they’re getting into,” Bram- Google, Twitter, and Big Tech’s Bill 243 reads as follows: seconds. mer noted. War on Conservatives. The Fed- eralist published an excerpt from identify as pro-choice are more the book, focusing on emails American public reject Roe v Wade likely to vote for candidates who Hasson obtained that shed fur- support abortion restrictions, as ther light on how Google makes DAVID REYNOLDS that if the Supreme Court revis- are more than nine in ten, or 96 such decisions. its Roe v. Wade, it should rule to percent, of those who identify as He notes that there’s a pro- ring cases of apparent left-wing allow states to determine abor- found double standard at play, as discrimination by the video giant pro-life. new Marist poll released tion restrictions (46%) or make Additionally, 65% of Ameri- Google simultaneously promotes and its parent company Google. on the anniversary of the abortion illegal (16%). This out- left-wing messages via its Crea- YouTube has deleted investiga- cans, and the same percentage of Supreme Court’s landmark come includes 39 percent of those tors for Change program, which tion footage from pro-life group A registered voters, say they “are decision in Roe v. Wade finds who identify as Democrat and 40 supports left-wing personalities Live Action, censored discussion more likely to vote for” candi- most Americans reject the 1973 on YouTube while responding of transgenderism and mental percent of those who consider dates who would limit abortion to quickly to left-wing complaints illness, restricted educational ruling that created a right to themselves “pro-choice.” at most the first three months of about conservative content that is videos from conservative pundit abortion. Only 33% of Americans say pregnancy. This outcome includes deemed objectionable. Dennis Prager on false “mature According to the poll, which abortion should be legal at any 88% of Republicans, 62% per- Conservatives have long been content” pretenses, and more, was sponsored by the Knights of time without restriction. cent of Independents, and 44% of wary of YouTube due to recur- LifeSiteNews reports. Columbus, 62% of Americans say The poll found 41% of those who Democrats. MARCH 2020 ALIVE! | 15

the original Union of England and Scotland The Ideas of March in 1606, was already PHILIP JOYCE of being the woman to carry the combined with England long awaited Saviour. Their dia- as a principality. The

logue inspired another, perhaps Photo: Thomas Szuztek. St. Patrick’s Cross - red here is some- the most repeated of any Christian thing about prayer, the Hail Mary, Ave Maria. diagonal on white - was Tthe month There is a term in Ireland for added in 1801 and is very of March - named one who is seen to be there for all evident on the insignia after the Roman god of war - – a ‘walking saint’. Saint Joseph, of the Police Service of that definitely indicates change. whose feast day occurs on the Momentous change did come two 19th, was very nearly another Northern Ireland. thousand years ago through a most kind of ‘walking’ saint. On hear- gentle woman saying ‘Yes’ to an ing Mary’s startling news, he was Apart from his own ‘confes- angelic proposition. tempted to walk away and live sio’ and Letter to Coroticus - the Any other woman in her right elsewhere to save her reputation. latter protesting about slave trad- mind would have dismissed this He also accepted the Message of ers - there is relatively little known Call out of hand. The beauti- the Holy Spirit and stayed by her about the early life of our patron ful, simple prayer of the Angelus to become the better type of ‘walk- saint - and not much of his later tells the Story of New Creation ing saint’. life, either. It is widely agreed that Statue of St. Patrick at the footstep of Croagh Patrick, Co. Mayo, Ireland. celebrated on March 25th, the Bearing in mind the documented the teenage Patricius - and possi- Feastday of the Annunciation. ancestry of Jesus, it is fitting that bly two of his sisters, Lubaid and English or Welsh accent. Perhaps and unreceptive country, decided “The angel of the Lord declared Tighris - were taken by an Irish the month of His Incarnation one could say that he became a to return home, dying on his way unto Mary - and she conceived of raiding party from Bonaventum should commence with the feast delayed ‘invasion’ of the ill-fated through Scotland at Fordaun near the Holy Ghost (Spirit)”. Taburniae, a Romanised town day of Saint David. The yellow- – and almost extinct - Roman Aberdeen. On this most blessed of occa- which may have been in Wales, cross-on-black flag of this patron Empire. The locals of Sliabh Mish Today, Saint Patrick’s Day - to sions, the Angel Gabriel descended saint of Wales will, no doubt, be the North of England or even must have been quite intrigued! a large extent - has descended from heaven with a request from flown proudly in that territory on Strathclyde. Wherever the actual When Patrick was inspired to into an excuse to break whatever God. Gabriel bypassed the forts March 1st. location, Patrick and his siblings and castles of the rich and winged had been brought up in a Christian return to Ireland, it is perhaps Lenten denials some of us attempt his way through the luscious People often wonder why environment, their grandfather, fortunate that he did not cross to observe. Infernal secularism has valley of Esdrelon - near Mounts St. David’s Cross does Potitus, a presbyter and their paths with his predecessor, Pal- grown a somewhat shoddy drink- Hermon and Carmel in Galilee - ladius. This missionary, reputed ing culture - with all of its pitfalls not, as a rule, occupy a father, Calpornius, a deacon. Their to a humble dwelling in Nazareth, mother, Concessa, was of Frank- to have founded three churches - around the celebration. Hopefully ancestral home of Mary, fiancée of share of the Union Flag ish origin and possibly related to in the County Wicklow region, more will come to realise, some- the carpenter, Joseph. incorporating the Crosses Saint Martin of Tours. did not get on too well with the day, that the same Holy Spirit who Mary was alone at prayer when of Saints George, Andrew As the English language would local dignitaries. According to the inspired Mary to say ‘Yes’ to God’s the angel visited. What a powerful not be established for almost Chronicle of the Saint Prosper of Messenger, Gabriel, also inspired God-magnet must have been her and Patrick. Apparently another millennium, Patrick prob- Aquitane, Palladius, not wishing Patrick to return as missionary to spiritual life to receive the honour Wales, at the time of ably spoke Latin with a northern to spend a long time in a foreign this land of his enslavement.

Science! A gift from God or just another God? HOME EDUCATION DAY & WOMEN’S RETREAT IGNATIUS MONEKE modern positivism, hence portraying biblical TWO GREAT EVENTS ONE WEEKEND – KNOCK, CO. MAYO narratives as myths, legend or parable. Con- temporary Christians may have lost focus on any erudite African ‘DAUGHTER’S OF SION’ WOMEN’S RETREAT – faith and become overwhelmed by the won- REST AND CARE CENTRE, and Asian migrants ders of science to the degree of idolatry. That ‘AM I DOING GOD’S WILL?’ KNOCK, CO. MAYO Mor the people in said, there are still African and Asian Chris- diaspora within the west- tians who mostly still approach biblical faith SATURDAY 14TH MARCH 2020, 9:30AM – 5PM WITH MASS ern countries are propagating the theory in a literal manner. Following last years successful day, we are pleased to host our next that Christianity is a scam used by the West Secularism has a firm grip on the world to penetrate and infiltrate Africa and Asia to because of the predominance of scientism, day for Catholic Women seeking to grow in holiness and sisterhood. gain control of natural resources. and Christians are becoming subservient to With Fr. Philip Kemmy, Fr. Mark Byrne S.O.L.T., Therese McCrystal This view is informed by the experi- secular ideologies. It is hard to understand and others. Suggested donation €20 with lunch. ence that faith is virtually dead in the West the relevance of Christian faith in the world “Sing and rejoice, O Daughter of Sion, for behold, I come and I will amongst westerners themselves. They use where science is dominant and solely credited dwell in your midst, declares the Lord.” Zechariah 2:10 social media and other means to de-indoctri- to human intellectual exploits. nate their people back home, encouraging the It is possible to demonstrate that science To book, call HLI (Ireland) number below. jettisoning of the Christian religion. is indeed a gift from God. This concept is Fasting and solitary meditation which are essentially the reason why faith is still very still common practices in Africa and Asia progressive and relevant in Africa and Asia, HOME EDUCATION – IS GOD REALLY CALLING US TO THIS!? are being rationalised by many Christians despite sustained campaigns to undermine in the West, as they apply health warnings faith. People from these regions still make HOME EDUCATION DAY SUNDAY 15TH MARCH 2020 about fasting and desist from what used to be material investments in the growth of faith. The purpose of education from a Catholic perspective and the commonplace. There is still a strong rooted belief amongst importance of support along the way. It then makes sense for a wavering migrant Africans that God alone is supreme and indis- to renege on faith and send messages back pensable. They believe that all good things Testimonies from new and experienced home educators. home that Christianity is delusional - and a are gifts from God, including science. Science Rest and Care Centre, Knock, Co. Mayo mere tool of imperialism and colonialism. has never taken a supreme place in the minds Sunday 15th March 2020 10am-4pm with lunch, Mass and chat This message is beginning to resonate. of Africans, even amongst the adherents of One can only but wonder about what traditional religion. Suggested donation €20 per person, €30 per couple with lunch, tea future remains for faith in the midst of the The record of great scientists acknowl- and co ee. near universal subscription to the idea of the edging the sovereignty of God should be supremacy of science. This is evident in the motivational to doubtful Christians and Limited numbers. Book either or both days with redirect focus on genuineness of faith and level of investments in science and technology Human Life International (Ireland) which dominate economies but also satu- supremacy of an ever omnipotent God. It is rate private lives. Most people in the West no high time genuine Christian voices started Guadalupe Centre, Main Street, Knock Co Mayo. longer see any benefit in making equivalent, or emerging from the West to counter the cam- TELEPHONE 094 937 5993 EMAIL [email protected] Charity CHY 11138. any, investment to support the faith. paign that Christianity is a scam used to The modern approaches in Christian infiltrate Africa and Asia to accomplish the For an Ireland where God is First, Life is Sacred, the Family is cherished. practices are largely inconsistent with the imperialists’ agenda. 16 | ALIVE! MARCH 2020

adolescents with gender Gender change in Ireland – under the radar dysphoria can be given puberty-suppressing DAVID REYNOLDS proposals.” hormone blockers is Another tactic of avoiding the public is to “Tie your campaign to ‘unsafe’ and must be n interesting report has come more popular reform” and Ireland immediately stopped, into the public domain, titled proved one of the convenient test but their concerns were A‘Only Adults? Good Prac- cases for this theory: suppressed.” tices in Legal Gender Recognition for Youth’. The document was pro- “In Ireland, Denmark duced by Dentons (the largest legal and Norway, changes to The service, provided in Ireland firm in the world), Thomas Reuters the law on legal gender by flying in two clinicians from an Foundation (a large philanthropy) NHS trust in London to run clin- and the International Lesbian, recognition were put ics at Crumlin Children’s Hospital, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer through at the same time was considered unsafe by three and Intersex (LGBTQI) Youth & as other more popular doctors working in the gender area Student Organisation (IGLYO) (a reforms such as marriage who expressed grave concerns network of “96 national and local over the service provided by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgen- equality legislation. Tavistock and Portman NHS Foun- der, queer and intersex youth and This provided a veil of dation Trust at Crumlin, the Irish student organisations across the protection, particularly in Independent learned. Council of Europe region”). Ireland, where marriage It also learned that requests treat- The document looks at the les- ment be terminated were omitted sons learned across eight countries equality was strongly from draft minutes of meetings, on how to get the law changed to supported, but gender and that proper documentation of And along with this, someone can trajectory is a clear money trail accept gender change theory and identity remained a more diagnoses were not kept and no now change their sex from male to from the pharmaceutical lobby clear decision documented regard- undermine the roles and responsi- difficult issue to win bilities of parents. James Kirkup in female, or vice versa, just by filling to the construction of a legal lie ing starting treatment. The Spectator analyses the report public support for.” a form. that supports, newly constructed This came only days after it and pulls out some of the lessons Now you know how it came medical identities that override emerged a lawsuit was being taken learned, most of which involved, The report recommends to about. No one told you. People with biology.” She identifies founda- by a former nurse, a parent, and a avoiding media and public scru- avoid doing what is normally done money and influence were able to tions connected to huge biomedical former patient against the trust in tiny, and working behind closed in a democratic society (engage in discuss behind closed doors with groups in the US that fund the var- the London High Court. The action doors, under a veil of secrecy: robust civic debate) but to hide politicians on issues that affect ious lobby groups that lead to this is challenging the clinic’s practice “In many of the NGO advocacy away and try to sneak legislative your children, with the intent of report and to changing laws in Ire- of prescribing hormone blockers campaigns that we studied, there change. For many out there, this overcoming parental rights. The land. If you follow the money it is and cross-sex hormones to chil- were clear benefits where NGOs may help explain why it feels like report says “It is recognised that the easy to understand why a medi- dren under the age of 18. More managed to get ahead of the gov- all this gender rules and politically requirement for parental consent cal behemoth would be interested widely documented, but still kept ernment and publish progressive correct speak has arrived in your or the consent of a legal guardian in ensuring laws are in place that relatively quiet, is the resignation legislative proposal before the gov- face so quickly and with so much can be restrictive and problematic allow it to sell its drugs and prac- of psychologists in the UK who are ernment had time to develop their authority. You had not heard any- for minors.” This type of law-mak- tices used in these practices. disturbed by the ‘over-diagnosis’ of own. NGOs need to intervene early ing breaks the trust between the gender dysphoria. thing of it two years ago and now It is little wonder that in the legislative process and ide- there are new rules, even new lawmakers and citizens. No longer Connected all the issues above, ally before it has even started. This laws, new ways that you are not can there be trust when secretive the Irish Independent it would not be hard to draw a line will give them far greater ability to allowed speak, activists telling you lobbying and intentional duplicity reported on 3rd of between the ‘over-diagnosis’ and shape the government agenda and that there is no such thing as male is considered the norm. February that “a number the profit to be made in biomed- the ultimate proposal than if they and female, children learning this Following this report, Jennifer icine, with the collateral damage, intervene after the government has in school, girls having to share Bilek, in The 11th Hour, delves of doctors have claimed the young lives and families that already started to develop its own toilets and showers with boys. deeper: “What we can see in this a service under which are being trampled over.

Beauty, love, hope, and sies. Quite the opposite: the movie faith are in many places, rebuilt a little corner of God’s king- The kingdom of heaven is something dom in the ruins left by decades and we can see them if of aggressive feminist ideology. to be conquered and those who are we look closely. If we The women in the story were not engage our hearts into the fighting in anger against an unjust decisive seize it (MAT 11:12) contemplation of these society controlled by men. To the contrary, they projected joy, caring little gems, we are on the DR. BÉNÉDICTE We are Christians, we And yet, it can be hard to keep intelligence and love, of themselves side of victory, we magnify and of the men around them, in the SAGE-FULLER have the infallible support a cool head. It can be hard to see beauty, love, hope, faith around us. the goodness that is various trials they encountered. from God Our Father It is too easy to stare at the dark, created, and we defeat evil. The third movie was a quick here is to His children, and and to forget that indeed, these pick on Netflix on a Sunday night so much the tenderness of Our things are there! They are there for to occupy my mind while I was I recently watched three movies, darkness us to see, to take draw joy from. folding the laundry. It was called T Lady. We have the Light and unexpectedly walked away around us, so much uncertainty They are in the smiles of our chil- Downsizing. In this movie, climate and so much on our shoulders. We brought by Our Lord. He dren, in a beautiful liturgy at Sunday simply smiling. First, there was Le change fear is put in perspective, rise every morning, and we do our lights up the way, He is Mass, with magnificent songs per- Mans’ 66, the Ford v Ferrari con- side by side with the ultimate and best to fulfil our duties, to love our the Life. We know that formed by choir; in the delicate pink test. I loved that the movie was single question in the world since about men pursuing a dream. Men the Fall: Love. Compellingly, the families, to do what is right. And with Him by our side, glow of an early Spring sunrise; in yet, how can we avoid worrying the amazing acts of witnessing we are vilified these days, portrayed as story takes the viewer from the about the future? nothing can happen to us. see throughout the country. ridiculous and immature, or idiotic current forced belief that the big- Between the threat of compul- But let us be careful that we do machos outsmarted by a woman. gest threat is global warming, to sory sex-education, the pervasive He is with us in the Eucharist, in not only see them in those safe and In this movie, they were just great the realisation that actually, that it might of the gender ideology, the Adoration, in the slightest move- comforting places. For even there, men: normal people, with noble is our failure to Love each other. near-complete loss of Faith in com- ments of our hearts. He is as close behind the beauty, there can be feelings, courageous, smart and It is doing the Christian thing munities, the unsettling difficulties to us as we let Him. He redeemed worry, or resignation: about our passionate. That was a little parcel to seize decisively the little gems in the Church, the silent fallout of the world, He triumphed over evil children’s future, about the Church, of normality regained against the we see around us. These lights, the abortion referendum, the fears once and for all. We know that we about the environment. And always gender ideology. no matter how small, light up the amplified by mainstream media – will triumph with Him. Non prev- that floating feeling that perhaps I went to see Little Women. I was world for us, they conquer the coronavirus, wars, climate change, alebunt. The gates of hell will not these are the last beautiful things half expecting an irritating movie kingdom of Heaven, in our hearts, it is hard to keep a confident heart. prevail. We know this. the world will ever see again. filled with feminist idiosyncra- and in society around us. CULTURE MARCH 2020 ALIVE! | 17

agus a leithéid de chapall a fháil cheilt. Seo cuid den dán a thugann Ach mairfigh cáil an tsean-fhir agus i gcás cur in aghaidh, an doras léargas ar laochas na linne sin ina áigh a leagadh síos is an capall a thab- ndéantar cur síos ar mhairtíreacht Fad fhásfaidh féar ar thalamh; Na Péindlíthe hairt leis.’ ag Carraig Aifrinn. Beidh a scéal á ríomh ag fearaibh ‘Ní thabharfar cead do aon Fáil, PÓL Ó MEÁDHRA gcionn chomh maith. phápaire vótáil nó a bheith i mball “Tá tusa óg, a Athair Séan, Is anseo i lár an ghleanna. Seo blaiseadh de na dlíthe.. den phairlimint go dtabharfaidh sé Táim féin i ndeireadh beatha; móid i gcoinne thransubstaintiú’ Déan malairt éadaigh liom anois Tháinig deireadh leis an gcos ar mí Dheireadh Fómhair 1691 dhein ‘Tá sé de dhíth is de dhualgas ar ‘Gach éinne a bheidh ina atur- Anseo i lár an ghleanna.” bolg oifigiúil le Fuascailt na gCait- Pádraig Sairséil conradh síochána an ngiúistís croiseanna, pictiúir, is nae, abhcóide dlí, nó oifigeach eile, liceach sa bhliain 1829. Níorbh leis na Sasanaigh tar éis na inscribhinní a chuirtear in airde go I beidh air móid dílseachta a thab- Do deineadh malairt gan é sin deireadh na géarleanúna mblianta de chogadh agus ár sa tír. poiblí a leagadh’ ró-mhoill áfach. Bhí na máirtírígh ann go Conradh Luimnigh a thugadh air. ‘Is miste leis an ngiúistís glao ar hairt… agus ráiteas a dhéanamh i gcoinne thransubstaintiú.’ I gcoinne toil an tsagairt, flúirseach arís le linn thréimhse an Mar chuid den chonradh gheall aon duine d’aois a sé bliana d’aois Is shíl sé deora móra bróin Ghorta Mhóir sna 1840idí nuair a na Sasanaigh nach gcuirfeadh siad nó níos sine, chun fianaise a thab- ‘Ní bheidh cead ag aon duine a dhéanann arm tine, claíomh, Anseo i lár an ghleanna. dhiúltaíodar a gcreideamh a shéan- isteach ar an gCaitliceachas is go hairt faoi mhóid agus a rá cá raibh adh agus an t-anraith a ghlacadh. sceanna nó uirlisí eile a bheith mbeadh saoirse creidimh i réim agus cathain a bhí an t-Aifreann Do ghaibh na Sasanaigh Brian Ó Bheadh sé an éasca dar sinsir ina bhall den den chreideamh in Éirinn. D’fhág Pádraig Sairséil ráite agus cé a bhí láthair. Aon Laoi, géilleadh agus an Creideamh Ársa pháipéarach.’ agus go leor dá shaighdiúirí an tír chléireach ar a rugadh sa tslí seo Is d’imigh saor an sagart; a thréigin ach sheasadar an fód go go luath ina dhiaidh leis an tuis- cuirfear chun na gcoilíneactaí iad.’ Do chroch siad Brian ar chrann cróga thar na blianta fada géarlúna. Ba insaí radacach iad na dlíthe cint gur amlaidh a bheidh agus ‘Ní chuirfidh aon duine marbhán caol ard Bímís buíoch dár sinsir a dhein an ar an gCreideamh Caitliceach in iad imithe thar sáile. D’imigh na i reilg mainistreach nó clocha atá Anseo i lár an ghleanna. íobairt dúinn is ná déantar dear- Éirinn, ina ndearnadh tagairt huaisle Gaelacha agus Sean Ghall faoi chos faoi phian de deich bpúnt mad orthu go deo. leo. Fágadh an tír gan ceannairí agus bainfear an méid seo de aon go rialta ar ‘dul i gcoinne thran- agus ‘Na Géanna Fiáine’ imithe duine atá i láthair ag an adhlacadh. substaintiú’. Cuireadh go leor de GLUAIS/VOCABULARY Coilíneachtaí - colonies uaithi. Nuair a chonaic na Sasa- Tabharfar leath den airgead seo mhuintir na tíre chun báis de dhea- Marbhán - a corpse sca na ndlíthe, na sagairt ach go Péindlíthe- Penal laws naigh go raibh na Gaeil briste, don bhrathadóir agus leath eile don Reilg - a graveyard háirithe, a maraíodh ina gcéadta Conradh síochána - a peace gan airm ná ceannaírí, ní fada gur mhinistir Eaglasta Protastúnach.’ Scoileanna scairte - bhriseadar an Conradh. Leag an ‘Ní bheidh cead ag aon duine den agus lucht seilge na sagart i mbun treaty hedge schools phairlimint i Sasana dlíthe nua chreideamh phápach, múinteoire- a gcéirde. Conradh Luimnigh - Aturnae - attorney síos, na péindlíthe, a raibh mar acht scoile a chleachtadh go poiblí Déanann an sean dán scoile Treaty of Limerick chuspóir acu an Creideamh Cait- nó an óige a theagasc.’ ‘Anseo i lár an Ghleanna’, le Seán Caitliceachas - Catholicism Abhcóide - barrister liceach in Éirinna a bhriseadh. ‘Ní bheidh cead ag aon phápaire Mac Fhearais, cur síos ar shaol Na Géanna Fiáine - Transubstaintiú - Géarleanúint gan stad, gan staon- aon chapall, gearrán nó láir a cho- an tsagairt ag an am, maraon leis the Wild Geese Transubstantiation adh a bheadh i ndán do Chaitlicigh imeád den luach cúig cúig phúnt. na híobairtí a dhein an gnáthdhu- Cos ar bolg - oppression Fuascailt na gCaitliceach - na tíre le linn an Ochtú hAois Déag Beidh sé de cheart ag aon Phrotus- ine leis an gCreideamh a choimeád Giúistís - a justice Catholic Emancipation agus cuid mhaith den chéad dár túnach le cabhair an phóilín cuartú beo agus iad ag dul ar Aifreann faoi

ALIVE! FILM REVIEW demonstrates by will alone the significance ALIVE! BOOK REVIEW who feel it but cannot articulate it. He also of his resistance. took aim at the left in a number of books, OF THE MONTH Malick’s style is distinctive, and that such OF THE MONTH such as The Uses of Pessimism (and the a heavyweight would take on this topic has Danger of False Hope) which is an easier stoked the interest of many Christians. Fools, Frauds entry point into his criticisms than Fools A Hidden Life There are elements to praise in this film, Frauds and Firebrands: Thinkers of the like the extended depiction of Franz’s family New Left which is a challenging read RUADHAN JONES life or some of his time in prison. Once in and Firebrands because Scruton is not at all a contrarian but prison, there is at least a context in which By Roger Scruton an educated, and extremely well-read, phi- his mute suffering is more appropriate. losopher in his own right. he latest drama from arthouse auteur But the overly picturesque and aesthet- DEREK RYAN He takes on a wide-range of left leaning Terence Malick (Badlands, Tree of icized depiction of nature and Franz’s political theorists and philosophers, such TLife), should be of much interest to home, the irritating habit of cutting non-se- as: E. P. Thompson, Ronald Dworkin, R. D. Christians… but it isn’t. A Hidden Life tells quentially or in the middle of lines, the Laing, Jurgen Habermas, Gyorgy Lukacs, oger Scruton died in January after a the story of Franz Jagerstatter, an Aus- voice-overs which distance one from the Jean-Paul Sartre, Jacques Derrida, Slavoj six-month battle with cancer. He died reality of the characters’ suffering – all rob Zizek, Ralph Milliband and Eric Hobsbawm, trian farmer and Catholic martyr who was after a much longer battle with people executed for refusing to swear an oath of the story of its beauty and power, and Franz R deconstructing their own thoughts and posi- who did not like what he had to say. As a con- of his distinctive, Catholic resistance. tions with a clarity and directness that is loyalty to Hitler. servative, he was never popular amongst his Watching the film is like being invited to sometimes bewildering. In this book he is at Inspired by his Catholic faith, Franz literary and academic peers. He was set-up a a party and then never being introduced to his irascible best. was the only man in his village to refuse year before he died by the New Statesman, the other guests. You sit around, watching, But as the title tells you, Scruton has little conscription, and for this he gave his life. when he was selectively quoted, out of con- but you can’t take part. What makes it all time for the thinkers on the left – and for Though an intriguing subject matter, text, and labelled as a racist. At his insistence, the more frustrating is that in reality, Franz good reason as he considers many of them to Malick fails to deliver on the dramatic the transcripts were produced, and apologies engaged directly with questions of just war be apologists for the oppressive communism potential of Franz’s story. issued, but not after the Conservative Party and Catholic teaching; though not a learned of Russia and Eastern Europe who many of Malik effectively gags his hero, never removed him from his voluntary post as an man, he spoke with a clarity which suggests them defended as he was thrown in prison and allowing Franz to explain his motives or unpaid housing advisor. divine intervention. What Malick produces kicked out of Czechoslovakia on numerous their origins. Because we now understand True to the man, he insisted that the is a pale imitation of the real thing. occasions for supporting academic freedom the evil of the Nazis and Hitler, it’s easy to interviewer who set him up not be sacked fighters. For his pains, he has been awarded accept Franz’s suffering, however irrational from his job. However, in a column in the state honours across Eastern Europe, while it may appear. conservative magazine Spectator, under being sneered at in the UK, even in death, with But for his wife Franziska, his mother, the headline “Roger Scruton: My 2019,” he papers, couching their obituaries with notes and his sister-in-law, all of whom are wrote, “During this year much was taken on him being ‘controversial’. dependent on him for their health and hap- from me — my reputation, my standing as a piness, his actions are frustrating. They are public intellectual, my position in the Con- Sir Roger Scruton, writer and philos- shunned by their friends and neighbours, servative movement, my peace of mind, opher, born 27 February 1944, died 12 shouted at and spat upon; they struggle for my health.” January 2020 water and for food. This event characterised how he has been And yet, when Franziska confronts Franz, treated by the leftwing establishment since seeking to understand, he does no more than 1968 when he witnessed the revolution in wring his hands. The only justification he Paris and realised he was not of the left. ever offers for his resistance is that “I cannot Since then, he has been, if not a critic, a very do what I strongly believe to be wrong”. strong adversary of the left – for which he It’s fair to say that many Nazis acted in the ultimately suffered before he died. strong belief that what they were doing was An author of over 50 books, many on aes- right! In saying this, he is not offering a thetics and philosophy, there are a number justification from reasonable grounds – he that seek to explain conservatism to those 18 | ALIVE! MARCH 2020

a priest.” After assuring the priest In 2011, Kobe faced another Death of a basketball superstar of his innocence, he was told by challenge when his wife Vanessa him to place his trust thereafter in filed for divorce, but showing the BR. BRUNO SECUNDO his virtues of persistence, and team- God, who gives us no cross without same grit and determination that work, which combined to win for the necessary grace to carry it. It he was renowned for on the court, him 5 N.B.A. Championship titles. was this abandonment to God that he vowed to fight for his marriage, thletes the world over paid Perhaps less widely reported since Kobe later recognised as the key citing especially the need to do so tribute to Kobe Bryant who his passing is how these virtues were moment in the affair for his children. His determination Aperished in a helicopter crash rooted in his Catholic faith. Although cleared of criminal of work at his marriage, to over- on January 26th, aged 41. The most Born and raised in a Catho- charges, he settled a civil lawsuit come faults and failures, saw his famous name in American basket- lic family, Kobe spent part of his with his accuser. In an era when wife withdraw the divorce petition ball when he retired in 2016, Kobe childhood in Italy. After marrying such high-profile settlements are two years later. Bryant died along with eight others, in the Catholic Church in 2001, usually accompanied by state- His commitment to his family including his teenage daughter Kobe experienced a moment of ments of a non-admission of guilt, and his faith was also to be seen in Gianna, 13, when their helicopter crisis when he was accused of rape Kobe had the magnanimity to apol- the same way I did. After months more mundane moments too, such came down in adverse weather con- in 2003. He later told a magazine, ogise to his accuser explaining, of reviewing discovery, listening as attending Sunday Mass with ditions in Calabasas California. “The one thing that really helped “Although I truly believe this to her attorney, and even her testi- them at an Orange County parish. The extent of the tributes is me during that process—I’m encounter between us was consen- mony in person, I now understand May God have mercy on his soul a testament not only to Kobe’s Catholic, I grew up Catholic, my sual, I recognize now that she did how she feels that she did not con- and all those lost in this tragic undoubted basketball skills, but also kids are Catholic—was talking to not and does not view this incident sent to this encounter”. accident.

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LIVES OF THE SAINTS was a living conversation with Prayer and fasting always went to the city to the basement of Fr. God, had to be maintained. There- together, he said, so he put us on Roy’s rectory and to enjoy “a deli- fore, spiritual activities had to be bread and water for the day. It was cious dish of roast groundhog.” DOROTHY DAY worked into her day. not literally bread and water. After All this made more demands on So, in addition the organizational Mass in the morning we had black their time, on her time. But this work, the works of manual ser- coffee, with no sugar in it, anda did not mean pressure. For this she PART 37: Her conversion, however, vice, which the production of The few slices of bread. At noon we had also had the answer, drawing on SPIRITUAL ACTIVIST brought about a radical change Catholic Worker, the hospitality bread and water. In between we the faith she had been given. “The to all that she did. It was not that houses and the farms all involved, sat and listened to talks on the love same principle always worked. If orothy Day, in most of the she stopped doing much of what there was Mass every day, listening of God” We are rushed for time, sow time summaries of her biogra- she had already been doing. It was to the preaching and teaching from Who attended these? Some from and we will reap time. Go to church phy which you will read, is that the depth and meaning of the the priests who helped them grow the houses of hospitality, some who D and spend a quiet hour in prayer. described as a “social activist”. She motivation for what she was now in their faith. bought and read about them in The You will have more time than ever, was certainly that. Her early life, doing was fundamentally differ- Father Pacifique Roy, the Jose- Catholic Worker, students, teach- before her conversion to the Catho- ent. Everything was now rooted in phite priest from Quebec, at one ers, workers and unemployed. and your work will get done. Sow lic faith, was a maelstrom of activity that faith which, as she believed, period was their key support for “Those were beautiful days, Dor- time with the poor. Sit and listen to – picket lines, marches, in and out of God had gifted to her. This in its this work. He gave them “days of othy recalled years later. “It was them, give them your time lavishly. prison, and deeply involved in what turn brought new demands on recollection”, usually at a Domini- as though we were listening to the You will reap time a hundredfold. is now called performative journal- her time. She knew that to keep can convent or a Visitation convent gospel for the first time. We saw Sow kindness and you will reap ism. That is, journalism which is not this faith alive, and to help all her outside of Baltimore. There was all things new. There was a fresh- kindness. Sow love, you will reap just happy to report the news, but co-workers keep the flame which nothing soft about the lifestyle he ness about everything as though we love. ‘Where there is no love, if you agenda-driven journalism which maintained their zeal burning, a proposed for all who came to hear were in love, as indeed we were”. put love, you will take out love’—it wants to also make the news. life of prayer, a life in which where him. “He urged fasting upon us. In the evening they would go back is again St. John of the Cross.” MARCH 2020 ALIVE! | 19 PRIZE CROSSWORD CROSSWORDCRYPTIC N CLUESO.: €25 243• for the first correctMarch entry out 2020 of the bag. Entries before Monday, 9th March 2020. Kids Corner €25 One entry per family. Winner & answers next month. NO. 243 Dia dhaoibh a pháistí, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 It is now springtime and the COLOURING COMPETITION - WIN €10 196 weather is starting to get warm again. You will start to see all the new baby animals around the 8 9 countryside. There are so many wonderful things to be seen in

nature which reminds us of God’s 10 11 creative wonder. March is also the month in which we celebrate St Patrick’s Day. On this day we remember St 12 13 14 Patrick our patron saint who, in 16 the 5th century, brought Chris- 15 tianity to Ireland. St Patrick had 17 18 19 20 great faith and love for God and the people of Ireland, so much so he wanted them to experience God’s love for themselves. So he 21 22 set out on his mission to spread the message of God and Jesus all throughout the land. 23 24 Like St Patrick, it’s important to remember to pray and have faith in God, because it is through him ACROSS DOWN ✃ that we are able to ask for help 1. Mostly written around this season (6) 1. West is© only EMMANUEL partly dominated by commonPRESS sense (6) through life. 4. Valuables, like collections (6) 2. Abandon 100 when surrounded by gentle 8. Vision needed for this place, we hear (5) disturbance (7) Slán go fóill, 9. Inconsiderate Les returns to skate (7) 3. Added a newspaper? (5) ACROSS 10. Chaotic opera in the outdoors (4-3) 5. SeedlessDOWN raisin to partly insult a nation (7) Aisling 11. Gather for a Eucharistic celebration (5) 6. I race around the shrub (5) 1. Mostly written12. around Our country’s this leader season is a cheat (6) perhaps with an 7. Split1 in. theW discest his is manager only madepartly (6) dominated by common sense (6) KIDS WORDSEARCH 4. Valuables, like collectionsemptiness inside (6) (9) 9. Fluster2. aroundAbandon the ship is100 mentally when tiring surrounded (9) by gentle 8. Vision needed17. for Short this tangled place, fibre (5)we hear (5) 13. The crime disturbanceof partition? (7) (7) GOD, CREATION, PATRICK, 19. Strengthen if you’re part of a number (7) 14. Deplorable when in the untidy house (7) 9. Inconsiderate21. Les Punctuation returns mark to on skate the Spanish (7) army officer (7) 15. A taxi3 .returnsAdded to get usa anewspaper? counting frame (6) (5) IRELAND, LENT, FAITH, 10. Chaotic opera22. in Note the an outdoors army of angels (4-3) can be Holy? (5) 16. The 5leader. Seedless involved in messy raisin method to (6)partly insult a nation (7) HOPE, LOVE, WONDER 11. Gather for a Eucharistic23. City that’s right celebration for the steamship (5) worker (6) 18. Oil to6 .go withI race dome-shaped around dwelling the shrub(5) (5) ✃ 12. Our country’s24. leader Planes atis thisa cheattime of dayperhaps leave material with washed an 20. Scoundrel7. Splitsmudged in rougethe (5)disc his manager made (6) ashore (6) emptiness inside (9) 9. Fluster around the ship is mentally tiring (9) 17. Short tangledSOLUTION fibre (5) TO FEBRUARY CROSSWORD: 13. The crime of partition? (7) NAME FEBRUARY CROSSWORD WINNER: ACROSS: 1. Turban 4. Racket 8. Patio 9. Pivotal 10. Larceny 19. Strengthen if you’re part of a number (7) 14. DeplorableMary O’Raghallaigh, when in the untidy house (7) ADDRESS 21. Punctuation mark11. Ochre on 12. the Squealing Spanish 17. Evita army 19. Trivialofficer 21. Matador(7) 22. Sided15. A taxi returns to get us a counting frame (6) 23. Tirade 24. Athens DOWN: 1. Tipple 2. Retorts 3. Alone 5. Alveoli Trafalgar Road, Greystones, 22. Note an army6. of Ketch angels 7. Tilled can 9. Paymaster be Holy? 13. Unaided(5) 14. Griddle 15. Hermit16. The leaderCo. Wicklow. involved in messy method (6) 23. City that’s right16. forSlides the 18. steamshipInter 20. Inset. worker (6) 18. Oil to go with dome-shaped dwelling (5) AGE 24. Planes at this time of day leave material washed 20. Scoundrel smudged rouge (5) NAME ashore (6) Return to ALIVE! St. Mary’s Priory, Tallaght, Dublin 24. ADDRESS

Who am I? (Riddle) FEBRUARY COLOURING I lead God’s army in the fight, A Spiritual warrior COMPETITION WINNER: who takes flight, Guardian of the church and Catriona Ryan, Solutions to February Crossword: Ardscoil Phadraig, TELEPHONE champion of justice, With sword and shield he

Granard, Co. Longford. Across: 1. Turban 4. Racket 8. Patio 9.

SAINT MICHAEL. SAINT protects us. ANSWERS: Age 13. Solution to ALIVE!Pivotal St.10. Mary’sLarceny Priory, 11. O chreTallaght, 12. Dublin 24. Squealing 17. Evita 19. Trivial 21. DUMBAG WRITES... LETTERS FROM A MASTER TO A TRAINEEMatador 22. Sided 23.TEMPTER Tirade 24. Athens. Down: 1. Tipple 2. Retorts 3. Alone 5. Alveoli 6. Ketch 7. Tilled 9. Paymaster 13. are unwilling to rock the boat taught on marriage courses as Unaided 14. Griddle 15. Hermit 16. Slides on this issue; as if the earth is the new norm 18.for Inter conservative 20. Inset. their eternal home, not looking Catholics. Family Planning heavenward for their parishioners But it’s the exception, not the or themselves. rule. Pope Pius XII, the first Pope Dear Dastardly Smithers, They say so themselves in Do they not know it’s their job to to address the issue in depth to a that abominable book called the get their congregation to heaven? conference of Catholic midwives o you know how many Catechism. And yet I don’t think But by their silence they are stated that it is only to be used married Catholic couples the ordinary person has any idea. walking all those pretty clueless, for medical, eugenic, economic Dartificially limit their family In Ireland, the parish sizes are well-meaning Catholics into hell. I and social reasons. It says in that size? Loads! Sixty-three percent dwindling not just because most mean, what a waste of time, going other awful Book, ‘go forth and of Irish women are using artificial people can’t be bothered to go to Mass week, in week out, thinking multiply’. birth control. Seventy-eight to Mass anymore #airhighfive you’re doing the right stuff, only to Ignorance and silence - a great “LENT, MY percent of the country is Catholic. but also because Catholics aren’t find out when they die that their team. Smithers, I think you should That’s a lot of Catholics doing responding to God’s call to be efforts were in vain because they’ve have the afternoon off as there FAVOURITE something, seriously wrong, open to the life He sends them. been living in mortal sin all this isn’t much work to be done around TIME OF YEAR” although the Catholic Church Luckily, the priests on the time? Isn’t it great? here anymore. states that contraception is pulpits are typically quiet on this And now, take the new issue Yours, always disgracefully, “intrinsically evil,” (that means one. They like to be especially of natural family planning, it is seriously wrong to use, each quiet when it comes address issues permitted by the Church, in certain and every time regardless of the surrounding women’s rights and circumstances being promoted circumstances). the whatnot. It’s as if the priests as the Catholic answer to the pill, Dumbag 20 | ALIVE! MARCH 2020

that came out with any pro-family policies. In a recent visit to Ireland, Katalin Novák, New Government? Same old, same old Hungarian Minister for the Family and Young People, spoke of the National Pro- DEREK RYAN the policies that empower families to make gramme for Supporting Marriage and Family autonomous decisions? Where are the (NPSMF) in her country which includes: pro-family tax policies? Where are the tax y the time this goes to print there may breaks for single income families who wish to 1. Women who have had and raised at least be a government in place, unlikely choose to have a stay at home parent? Where four children will be exempt from per- Bthough that is. Whether it will be a are the childcare policies that give families sonal income tax payment for life. Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael coalition, a Sinn Féin choices rather than being herded by the gov- 2. Couples under 40 years of age are eligible coalition with Fianna Fáil, or less likely with ernment into two income lifestyles, daycare for a €30,000 grant when they first get Fine Gael, or least likely, some form of left as the only childcare? married. alliance comprised of Sinn Féin, Solidar- All the parties mentioned above cam- 3. The government contributes to the mort- ity- People Before Profit, Labour, the Green paigned for abortion. They want it safe, legal gage loan of families with two or more Party etc, it matters very little. and rare. None of them consider abortion children. Reflecting on the debates and the policies, bad. Some of them danced at Dublin Castle 4. Families raising at least three children can they all say much the same things without when the 8th was defeated. It is legal. It will avail of a grant to purchase a new 7-seater saying much at all. Their policies are little never be safe, often for the mother and always car. more than saying how they will spend some- for the child. And where are the policies that 5. Families receive preferential loans for the one else’s money and a bit about how much will make it rare? Where are the incentives purchase of a home they will take off other people. They say for the mothers to keep their child in the face 6. Grandparents eligible for a child-care much about what they will spend it on, but of socio-economic challenges? Where are the subsidy to support working parents and very little about how that spending will lead incentives to not choose abortion? increase in crèche places for those that to improvements in society, or for people. The best the last government (Fine Gael wish to avail of them. The pre-election debate was a lot about how and de-facto Fianna Fáil) could offer was free 7. Children’s allowance from the second tri- much government can do for you. Not about Next Taoiseach: Marty Leo McDonald? condoms which they seemed to be adamant in mester. how much or how little it ought to do. The providing despite expert advice that it would greater and higher association what lesser general tenor was that all parties felt that the make absolutely no difference, and Sinn Fein Nothing like this in Ireland where the and subordinate organizations can do.” government should be involved in as much and all of those on the left, just clamour to dream is presented as a confused message It sounds a bit convoluted but in many get parents out to work and the children into of getting all out to work, crowd out the pos- as it can get away with. respects, it says that the state and govern- institutional childcare as quick as possible. sibility of having families young, promote Priority seems to be on government inter- ment should back off rather than roll in and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael media releases abortion, keep everyone busy and chasing vention and provision rather than enabling. take over too much. Our political debates were like adverts for The Bold and the Beau- careers with success defined by money and Very little was to be heard about the princi- ignore this issue. In the US, the idea tends tiful, absent of families and children, only status, which the government will take it off ple of subsidiarity. The what? I hear you ask. to divide the Democrats and the Republi- upwardly mobile, joyful singletons. Mary Lou you and spend it on things you may have Catholic social teaching considers sub- cans – although not cleanly. And in the UK, McDonald was ridiculed online by associates spent it on yourself if you had been able to sidiarity as a fundamental social value with the Tories and Labour are similarly divided. of Fine Gael for suggesting the government keep it, while reinforcing the poverty trap at direct implications for politics, but with a In Ireland, there is little of the divide. ‘should encourage the people to procreate’ the expense of promoting and celebrating a moral aim of respecting the autonomy of Increasingly, the Government creates the on the leaders’ debate, yet it was only Aontu reasonable standard of living. the human person in the face of state power. expectation of entitlement, and is becoming Pope Pius XI stated, in his encyclical, ‘Quad- the equivalent of a ‘cargo-cult’. ragesimo Anno’, that subsidiarity: When one party promises more than “is a fundamental principle of social phi- another, they are presented as more virtu- losophy, fixed and unchangeable, that one ous. Although it is forgotten that they are should not withdraw from individuals and spending someone else’s money. And they LOOK WHO’S commit to the community what they can all promise to spend it on much the same accomplish by their own enterprise and things, ambivalent about the impression that industry.” auction politics is providing to an impres- COMING TO The Catholic view is that the principle of sionable youthful electorate. subsidiarity is a moral issue and to cross is it Subsidiarity is about empowering individ- FATHER is objectively wrong. Pope Pius XI’s encycli- uals. It is also about the family and respecting cal states that: CORK MIKE SCHMITZ and promoting that fundamental unit of “Just as it is gravely wrong to take from society that keeps it all together. The ties that individuals what they can accomplish by bind and prevent society from disintegrating their own initiative and industry and give into a morass of individuals, dependant on EVANGELISATION it to the community, so also it is an injus- and answerable only to the State. tice and at the same time a grave evil and But where are the pro-family policies pro- CONFERENCE disturbance of right order to assign to a posed by the new governments? Where are SAT 30 & SUN 31 MAY 2020 CLAYTON HOTEL, SILVER SPRINGS, CORK

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