None of them owns the moral high ground
I’m thinking of Rónán Mullen’s column (Irish Examiner, July 9) and a slew of recent letters to the editor, all implying that certain sections of Irish society are purer in thought and deed than others, untroubled by the sins of the flesh which are plaguing lesser mortals of other political persuasions.
It seems as if they might even be living up the diktats of canon law as well. Are the sons and daughters of certain political parties less likely to engage in premarital sex than others?
I think not.
Are they less likely to seek divorce, abortion, extracurricular activity, shall we say, or to engage in safe sex, practise continence, or play the field as the opportunity arises?
And are the clerical guardians of morality any better than the rest of us? The recent exposure of child sex abuse (especially among so-called pillars of the community) would suggest that we need to tread a little more carefully before consigning any section of our society to outer darkness, or unwittingly confusing the issue by holding up waffling politicians as the salt of the earth and the ultimate voices of moral authority and reason.
Richard Dowling,
Coote Street,
Mountrath,
Co Laois.
