Church doing world of good

LISTENING to Coleman at Large on Newstalk, I asked myself if was I living on a different planet. The topic was “has religion any relevance in today’s world, especially the Catholic faith?”.

I listened to the “experts” speak of the Church as predominantly a dominating power structure that has long ago lost its sell-by date. For me, the Catholic Church is overwhelmingly one that offers service; sure, it has elements of power structures, but they are minimal in the overall context.

To know what the Catholic Church does for our society is only to open one’s eyes to what is going on in our world.

Are these Newstalk experts living in my world?

The list of services that the Church has offered and is still offering is endless. Here are some: the work of St Vincent de Paul; the work of prison chaplains; the work of hospital chaplaincy; the work of priests in parishes caring for the old, sick and dying; the many centres where those unable to buy a meal are fed, (Bro Kevin’s Centre in Church St feeds more than 300 each day). The list is endless, but just to mention the loving care of the sick that places such as Lourdes provide for millions of pilgrims from all over the world, not forgetting the marvellous work done by Catholic missionaries in Africa and other continents.

The so-called experts should visit Lourdes, visit Africa, visit the day centres where the poor are (but I am forgetting they are on a different planet).

Priests — along with so many others — are ashamed and humiliated at the child abuse horror, but please look around and give credit for so much good being done by so many good Christians.

We live in a climate of perpetual criticism.

Fr Bill Ryan, OFM Cap.

Chaplain

Bon Secours Hospital

Glasnevin

Dublin 7