Let the nation mourn - and pray for an equal Church role for women

HAVING given a mere 60 seconds to mourn the tsunami victims and a firm two fingers to those crippled by Third World debt, is anyone surprised that our Government has insulted the memory of John Paul II for economic gain?

A country that was formerly known for all the right things has shamed itself with the deportations of children by night and the miserly hoarding of its vast wealth. To honour our new god, perhaps we should uproot Dublin's Millennium Spire and replace it with a giant euro coin with the inscription 'Godless Rich Irish Only'.

Alternatively, we could take a lead from unlikely countries like Egypt and India and do the honourable 'day of mourning' thing. Believe it or not, Messrs Ahern and Cowen, some things are far more important than money.