Cardinal Brady should examine his conscience over response

SEAN BRADY has had some interesting things to say in the past about the exercise of conscience, about being required to do something in the course of a person’s job that went against their beliefs.

Three years ago the Catholic Church’s Cardinal in Ireland attacked the introduction of civil partnerships for same sex couples, citing Pope Benedict’s call for “governments to enact policies that protect marriage”. “He (the pope) wants governments to do what they can to keep the family intact and safe from destruction. It is a family based on marriage, marriage between a man and a woman, which is the vital cell of society. I repeat that call of Pope Benedict because this is one of the fundamental choices that Ireland has to make and make soon,” he said.

Brady ratcheted it further by claiming that “there are times when we have to choose either to stand clearly on the side of Christ, or depart from him. This can come about not only in moments of personal crisis but also at certain moments in the life of an entire society.”