Séamus Ahearne: Maybe we are a long way from being made in God’s image. (Tennessee Williams – A Streetcar Named Desire.)

BLAME IT ON THE STONES (Kris Kristofferson)

Boris Johnson has blamed the Church of England for Britain’s obesity crisis. He said that the Church has failed to provide people with ‘spiritual sustenance’ which has meant that people need to ‘gorge themselves.’   That surely is a new one coming from Boris.

CONOR McGREGOR V NIKITA HAND:

Conor McGregor and Nikita Hand took over much of the news recently. It was a Civil Case which meant that the burden of proof was on ‘the balance of probability’ that what N Hand alleged, was true. Unlike a Criminal Case where the burden of proof is ‘beyond reasonable doubt.’ It was a majority decision 8 to 4. It was a very sad case. But it also was a worrying case. Something was very wrong here: Both had partners. Both were out for the night. Both were drinking. Both were taking cocaine. Helen McIntee spoke of Hand’s courage and that was very true. She also spoke against what some expected. Why did the DPP not pursue the case? The Minister for Justice made the very important point: The Judiciary is independent of the Executive. There can be no interference. Unlike the craziness in the US, where the President Elect can have all charges against him delayed; can ensure that all judicial appointments are to his liking. This independence here is very precious.

AFFAIRE MAZAN:     

The Trial is coming to a conclusion. The case of Dominique and Gisele Policot. This was supposedly a happy and loving marriage. Some fifty men are on trial for drug-induced rape. This one time happy couple appear to have had a very hidden life. Dominique seemed to find sexual satisfaction by recording and watching other men rape his wife while she was drugged. He was caught up-skirting and the rest of his depravity was revealed. The Trial has attracted great interest. Many now see Gisele as highlighting the sexual jungle where some men seem to use women, and hardly need any commitment or involvement, by the women. (An inert woman can hardly be seen or felt to be involved). It is a very mad world. The Church’s outlook on sex over the years was twisted and unreal. But this new world, in the sexual jungle, does need a real thorough examination where the real values of humanity can be discovered and lived.

JUSTIN WELBY:

Justin Welby did a fine job. He was independent. He had his say. He was the spokesperson for faith in the UK. But he is resigning. Is he the fall guy? We hear many versions. If he didn’t know; should he have known? Why wasn’t he more curious? That appears to be a big question. He knew John Smyth. Those holiday camps appear to have been very dangerous. I do have problems. People always need a scapegoat. Does the retirement satisfy the ‘mob’ seeking a ‘head’? I am not convinced that many really grasp the mind of an abuser. Blame comes easily when we can’t get at the offender. One thing is becoming very clear is that ‘abuse’  is not to be found only in the Catholic Church. It is widespread. It is everywhere. Victims are multiple and everywhere. The obvious victim. The name of an institution. The families of the abused, and the families of the abuser. It is an almost impossible issue to handle. For all of us. But I still am concerned at how we ‘dump’ blame as we look for someone to point the finger at. This is always bigger than the obvious.

MURDER IN FINGLAS:

There was another murder in Finglas. Those of us who know the family involved, feel really upset. We are sick of hearing of people being knifed (stabbed) or being shot or hearing of more drugs being spread; of seeing the broken faces and voices of many on drugs; of hearing of the barons making money and destroying lives. We are also upset at the simple fact, that any such death draws attention to our lovely community and confirms for many our reputation, as if this was a dangerous place. It isn’t.

GOLDEN JUBILEE IN RIVERMOUNT:

We had our Golden Jubilee for Rivermount Parish last week (22^nd November). It was a wonderful occasion. The community celebrated in their own peculiar way. Full of heart, humour, humanity and honesty. We remembered all the characters of the past. We felt sad that many now are sick or have died. We missed them all. We remembered Larry Forristal – the first PP who set up things here and then the man who followed him – Mick Cleary. We remembered Jim O’Shaughnessy, Mary Conroy and Conor McCarthy who were the First Principals who did such a marvellous job and created the culture. We are very blessed in this community. There is life. There is fun. There is companionship. The three constituencies were very defined. The Regulars over the years. The next layer of people who supported everything but didn’t come to church. The final and wider community who weren’t too interested in religion but who called on us in those special moments of birth and death. They also always make us welcome in their homes.

THOSE OLD 78s:

Today is my 78^th birthday. I am blessed with health and energy. I am pleased to find delight and happiness in the everyday. I again have been blessed. The old 78s (record world) might have lost their purpose in life. This old 78 is still  here in this place and is happy there in. 27 years in Rivermount is very educational. We had Rita Ryan introducing our Rivermount Jubilee. She welcomed everyone and told a summary of the story. She expressed gratitude that the Augustinians left me here when they moved out. She summed up the situation by saying: “No one else would have him.”

THE ELECTION:

Tomorrow we elect a new Dáil. I hope everyone votes. I know they won’t. That is bad. We have a great system. With proportional representation. It really gives the electorate a real choice. Unlike the First-Past-the-Post in the UK. Or the American fiasco. I know our politicians make huge promises which are unrealistic. I know the expectations of the electorate are often nonsensical and unrealisable. I think Trump and his policies will be called upon later to explain why all the promises can’t be fulfilled. And finally we do have to be kinder to our politicians. They have an impossible job to do. We ask too much. Their lives are not their own. In a Christian sense, we need some gentleness.

Seamus Ahearne osa    28^th November 2024.

Association of Catholic Priests