Long shadow of the hierarchy still hangs over Government Buildings

THE Government described the recent meeting with Cardinal Desmond Connell and five other members of a delegation from the hierarchy as having been “a useful exchange of views”, and it has agreed to continue contacts with the hierarchy, which has been calling for a reference to God in the new EU constitution, as well as demanding an end to stem cell research.

This looks like a blatant attempt by the hierarchy to reassert their former primacy, especially in educational matters. Even though the latest meeting was described as unique, contacts have been going on behind the scenes since independence.

It has long been believed that Fr John Charles McQuaid provided an early draft of the 1937 Constitution for de Valera and his promotion to Archbishop of Dublin probably had a lot to do with his friendship with the then Taoiseach.