Our ‘democracy’ is flawed

Some 25,000 people, arguably extremists, marched in Dublin on Jan 19, to protest, intimidate and lobby the Irish Government regarding legislation on abortion and women’s rights to autonomy over their own bodies.

This protest was heavily prompted by an international organisation that has links to systemic and proven heinous crimes against children. This organisation, the Catholic Church, has made concerted efforts to shirk its responsibilities, both moral and financial, and had denied all wrongdoing until forced by the media to acknowledge its guilt. The Catholic Church, including its associates, is one of the richest organisations in the world.

Yet, it has moved assets and jigged its portfolio to deny paying deserved compensation to its victims, in many cases just adding more trauma to the already traumatised. Because of its refusal to pay appropriate compensation in Ireland, we, the taxpayers have had to pay up and are continuing to pay up.

Given the current economic climate, this means that we have all become victims of the Catholic Church.! It is now generally accepted that Rome was aware of this worldwide systemic abuse within its organisation. Yet did nothing to save the innocents but made massive efforts to protect its wealth — this says it all really.! Now this organisation wants to come out again and preach about the morals of life? If they had done their moral duty in the past, I might accept it as sincere. Is it morally right that an organisation that has been guilty of such corruption and manipulation in the recent past, should have such influence? Is it a question of maybe the Catholic Church taking advantage of the vulnerable in society again, to lead them onto the streets to suit their own ends? That is, taking advantage of a very serious health and legal issue, to try and restore confidence in its organisation. The Catholic Church has an unfair advantage over any other lobby group in the country. This leaves public perception open to distortion and highlights the danger and inequity of very strong lobby groups. It is grossly unfair on the ordinary Irish citizen that legislation is often enacted to appease such strong lobby groups. They are nearly always a very vocal minority that cares very little for the wishes of the majority but unfortunately, they can end up getting laws enacted that we all have to live by.!

This is what can happen in a democracy. Democracy is indeed flawed and while democracy is always democracy, it is about as fair as those delivering it.

John O’Hara

Burrin Road

Carlow