Give a break to those who want to shed light
In a recent column he said the Catholic Church has the capacity to be caring. For this he was taken to task in your letters column by Jason FitzHarris (Irish Examiner, October 5) who asked about all the bad things “his church” (a phrase repeated 15 times in the letter) was responsible for.
What is not mentioned is that “his church,” as the people of God, is composed of all of us who wish to belong, and to attack one of its members is to attack the whole body.
By our nature, we human beings are not perfect, but we do have a responsibility as brothers and sisters by virtue of our common humanity also to seek the good in each other and then build upon this with praise and imitation.
Were Mr FitzHarris to say, for example, that ‘the media is bad,’ based solely on the shortcomings of a few journalists, I’m sure editors would respond in quick defence.
The current diet of negativity promoted by those who think along these lines does nothing to highlight the good we are all capable of, instanced by the involvement of caring people in movements such as the Special Olympics, the Society of St Vincent de Paul, the Chernobyl Children’s Project, etc.
It seems to me we should be giving Rónán Mullen and others who prefer to light candles than to curse the dark a much-needed break. In an oft-dark world, we badly need their light.
Ciarán Sherry
Quay Road
Ballina
Co Mayo
