Ireland is now stifled by liberal groupthink

It has long been the mantra of “modern/liberal” Ireland that in the past the state was over deferential to the Catholic Church. There undoubtedly was an element of truth to this to the detriment of both Church and State. However those times have long since passed.

Unfortunately instead of finding a rational middle way, much public debate has been replaced by a nasty, ill-informed and kneejerk anti-Catholicism. This poison has seeped also into academia.

A Catholic chaplain, Fr David Barrins has courageously drawn attention to this new form of intolerant, anti-intellectual, liberal fundamentalism.

And nowhere was this better illustrated than in a recent RTÉ Today radio debate, featuring Fr Barrins and three protagonists, including a less than balanced presenter.

It is ironic that when Fr Barrins said he wasn’t looking for any privileged position for Church-related groups, merely pluralism on campus, he was shouted down. The irony was lost on all three as they engaged in exactly the kind of censorious groupthink that the Church has been accused of adopting in the past. How sad is it to hear that universities are aggressively involved in enforcing thought control. Fr Barrins is to be congratulated.

Eric Conway

Balreask Village

Navan, Co Meath.