Church & State :+: Compare & Contrast
national |
rights, freedoms and repression |
opinion/analysis 
Saturday November 12, 2005 15:29
by iosaf mac diarmada
This week the heirarchy of the Roman Catholic Church and its secular powerbase popped up on my radar twice.
The Ferns reports was published in Ireland, and the PD Liz O'Donnell TD is to be congratulated on her little speech, which though bitchy did get the point accross.
The Spanish heirarchy meanwhile has spent the last weeks pumping up its fans for a march against the Socialists plans for education reform today in Madrid which is to "draw a million". Its the return match after the Bishops drew a million to oppose gay marriage.
Two traditionally catholic states who have only recently experienced prosperity, and begun the development of socially open and secular societies dealing with "much the same" problems.
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Liz O'Donnell's speech to the Dail, came from a woman who obviously feels she suffered at the hands of "the special relationship" at the heart of the Irish state. I want to reduce
it though to these lines, which exactly how she got up the Taoiseach's nose :-
"This 'no more Mr. Nice Guy' approach by the State means no longer countenancing the unhealthy enmeshing of the Church in the secular layers of our society. It means no more consultation between Church and State
*on IVF.
*On abortion services.
*On stem cell research.
*On Ireland's support for family planning in the third world.
*On contraception or supports for single mothers.
*On adoption.
*On homosexuality.
*On civil marriage.
In a democracy, all views can be articulated, but the special relationship is over. The deference is over. The cosy phone calls from All Hallows to Government Buildings must end."
Oh well, Bertie pops into All Hallows, a missionary seminary in his constituency. Those young men who attend All Hallows, undergo a 7 year education which sort of qualifies them for the best crosswords, and entitled them to be a "minister of publick worship" in "the missions". Not one graduate of All Hallows holds a parish in the Irish state. They are sent off to convert the world, be it Africa or Birmingham. Please note the Irish state has not seen an equivalent import of tanned or dark skinned curates from wherever it is the Holy Men of All Hallows go.
Read the O'Donnell list again-
*IVF. *abortion services. *stem cell research.
*Ireland's support for family planning in the third world. *contraception or supports for single mothers.
*adoption. *homosexuality. *civil marriage.
Thats quite a list for the right wing party of our nightmares isn't it?
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The kathurlicks of España don't like the PSOE (who are the only democratic form of "the reds2 they allow into government), if you don't get that, you don't understand Spain now or in the past.
They failed to stop the change to the Marriage law, which by inclusion of one phrase, equalised all civil marriage regardless of gender. Even though they brought out all their bishops, their party the PP and their widows.
Now its the return round, the PSOE want to introduce a very large package of Education reforms called the "LOE". Its unpopular in many circles, it is perceived as part of the EU wide Bologna process, and lefties feel it will copperfasten the privatisation of education and undermine certain faculties such as Humanities. The Kathurlicks oppose it though, because it wants to limit their control of primary and secondary education.
Liz O'donnell's rage at the Ferns report which yet again reminds of the very special position the RC church holds in systematic sexual, physical, emotional and pyschological abuse of Ireland's youth since the formation of the state was lost behind her little jibe at Bertie Ahern.
If she had left out the Hallows, and told us more about her wishlist, attention might not have been taken from the -
*systematic
*institutional
*abuse.
in Schools, Hospitals, Orphanages and Seminaries.
The PSOE response to a week of bishops taking tothe media to confirm or deny their participation at today's rally, (each accompanied by an open air mass) was to send the vice prime minister María Teresa Fernández de la Vega on an impromptu visit to Rome to the Vatican.
To remind Cardinal Angelo Sodano (remember him? he rose to prominence as the confessor to Pinochet) the "prime minister" of the Vatican that the relationship between the RC church and the kingdom of Spain was decided in 1979.
They gave her 20 minutes.
That is to say, the deputy prime minister of the European state which boasts the longest relationship with the RC Holy See in the world, got less audience time with the "vatican pm" then that same man gave Condoleeza Rice whilst Pope John Paul 2 lay dying.
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There will be return demonstrations in favour of secular and free education as a right on November 17th. Because neither PSOE or Catholics have got it right. Bit like Ireland. That list is not Liz O'Donnell's list.
Here endeth the lesson.
Pass the plate.