Keyes is a stone’s throw from inciting violence

It appears the author, Marian Keyes, wants a ‘national stone a priest day’.

She said that no matter how nice the priest, how many raffles he organises, he is still a foot soldier for a “f*cked-up, misogynistic regime”. It’s not a pleasant idea, being pelted with stones.

How would Ms Keyes feel if this violent language was directed at herself? It reminds me of George Seawright, the DUP councillor, who called for all Catholic priests to be burned at the stake. These are sad and intolerable statements from people whose prejudice and intolerance is more important than courtesy and respect.

Ivana Bacik is supposed to be a public representative in the Seanad. Yet she says the Catholic Church’s position on abortion is because the clergy are misogynistic and see women as innately deceitful.

If this is the language of public representatives, who cannot get beyond their own prejudice and intolerance, we have a long way to go.

Let’s appraise every institution and every statement, but let’s also acknowledge that those propagating prejudicial and intolerant views should have their views named precisely for what they are.

Ms Keyes and Ms Bacik would do well to take US President Barack Obama’s words from his inauguration speech to heart. “Let not name-calling be substituted for reasoned debate.”

Fr Stephen Foster

Vincent St North

Dublin 7