This new phenomenon – paedophile hunter groups – which has recently visited our sphere has seriously hurt many people. From the outset, I want to say that the any form of grooming or sexual exploitation of children is a serious act that can never be condoned and a situation that has to be dealt with firmly and properly – within the law.
However, I feel that the act of publicly exposing and holding to public ridicule those caught in this is wrong. Currently, some are being tried without jury by these groups and exposed to potential attacks from others.
It also creates untold distress to the greater family circle of those involved. We must remember that these ‘accused’ are the loved ones of someone and that those bonds of love go very, very deep.
I also believe that in a humane society there is no place for shaming people publicly. As for Christians, moreover, we are called to love all, and to forgive all – not just seven times, but 70 times seven. And, if we reflect, we too, all of us, need others to forgive us not only seven times but 70 times seven.
As Christians we have to look to Christ and see what His response is in situations like this. It is always, always compassion.
Take the woman caught in adultery, the thief on the cross, the Prodigal Son (compassionate father), the lost sheep. That He asked for the little children be allowed to come to Him underlines the importance of the child in life and in Jesus’s mind, and warns very sternly about scandalising them. But, He forgives everything – in fact He is forgiveness. Not only does He forgive, but on the Cross He made an excuse for us – ‘for they know not what they do.’
In reading at last Sunday’s Mass we see Jesus touching a leper, being sick to the pit of His stomach at his plight, and curing him. To ‘touch’ a leper, in those days, was paramount to making oneself a leper. But, Jesus broke free of the thinking of the day and reached out. How often is He willing to reach out to each of us in our different forms of ‘leprosy’?
So, I would ask the people involved, and who may be well-intentioned, to reflect on the outcome of their work. I would ask them to reflect on the age-old phrase – ‘There but for the grace of God go I.’ I want them to ask themselves if the outcome is worth the pain and distress. I want them to ask themselves if this is the best way to treat a fellow human being who, whether we like it or not, is a child
of God.
And I would ask all of us who may watch or gloat at these videos online if this is the best way to treat ‘God in drag’ – ‘when I was … you…’.
MALACHY DUFFIN
Randalstown, Co Antrim
Don’t Oxfam scandal impact on smaller charities
What has prompted me to write this letter is my concern over the impact of the ongoing controversy involving Oxfam in terms of the possible reduction in support for charity organisations. It may be that members of the public will now be less inclined to support the very large charity organisations and that is to be regretted but my real anxiety is that it could also impact smaller charities who do not receive any support from government and depend totally on donations.
After retiring as a post-primary principal I became involved with Operation Rescue, a small charity working with HIV/Aids orphans and destitute children in Ethiopia. Operation Rescue, which is registered with the NI Charity Commission, runs three centres in northern Ethiopia working with almost 700 children. Local trustees channel support to the project and our current commitment is to enable the building of a much needed fourth centre in Maichew. All monies donated to Operation Rescue go straight to Ethiopia and trustees personally cover any administration costs. Operation Rescue itself has very low level of administration costs (only 12 per cent including salaries).
Obviously, my greatest concern is for this Ethiopian charity which won my heart on my first visit in 2005.
It is because I know there are many others who could tell comparable stories that causes me to express real concern that other smaller charities like ours could be adversely affected. My appeal is to urge people with any reservations about donating to a charity that they access information on the Charity Commission website or make direct contact with the trustees and are not tempted, in the face of these events, to withdraw support to these charities seeking to reach out to the many poor and vulnerable people in our world.
KATE DOHERTY
Chair of Trustees Operation Rescue UK & Ireland
Sinn Féin’s ‘unique’ take on history
In these days of Trump and Brexit, lies, alternative facts, and of course, fake news, have become an all too familiar currency in politics. The other common factor of course shared by Trump and Brexit is the toxicity and division created as a result.
It is now over a year since Martin McGuinness pulled the plug on the executive and since then the voters have trooped to the polls twice. However successful and satisfying those results may have been, to both Sinn Féin and DUP electoral strategists, it is hard to see how anyone could claim that the body politic, some 20 years after the Good Friday Agreement, could be more polarised. If this is progress I shudder to think what failure would look like.
This week, in the face of a new era, Sinn Féin seem to be doing their best to rewrite their own ‘unique’ take on history. The Civil Rights story is well known and the key personalities all too recognisable and fortunately some are still in a position to challenge and repudiate such blatant propaganda. Perhaps some Sinn Féin supporters might swallow this whopper, after all the reason for the collapse of the executive has changed once or twice in the past 12 months.
For all our sakes, I really hope that they still won’t be tapping away on their tablets, in the years to come thinking of new reasons to explain a non-existent executive.
Surely they have better things to be doing?
FRANK HENNESSEY
Belfast BT9
Silence not always golden
“I am the way, the truth and the light. No-one can come to the father except through Me.”
My wish is that everyone involved in the repeal of the Eighth Amendment could spend five minutes to reflect on this gospel quotation.
Christ, Our Redeemer, is being driven out of our country by greed and lust and by ambitious politicians.
Silence is not always golden, as Irish people should now know. No lessons were learnt from the gay marriage referendum. The silence from the hierarchy was deafening, so now the media, politicians and a section of the population are on the crest of a wave, thinking that the victory is already theirs.
In the drinks industry Good Friday doesn’t exist anymore. The fifth and sixth commandments are obliterated. God’s laws are not for the ‘enlightened and liberated Irish of this generation’.
Faithful Catholics should not be bullied into rejecting the Church of their baptism.
The flowery term of a termination used in media and medical circles tries to disguise the horror and suffering of aborted babies. No baptism nor final resting place for these ‘Holy Innocents’.
KATHLEEN McELKENNY
Maghera, Co Derry
Freedom of conscience guaranteed
Martin O’Brien (February 8) may well be right to suggest that Sinn Féin may pay dearly for suppressing freedom of conscience in spite of the fact that article 44.2.1 of the Constitution of Ireland guarantees freedom of conscience to every citizen.
In this respect Sinn Féin represents the unacceptable face of nationalism/republicanism and voters in Mid-Ulster should question Sinn Féin before giving them their votes. Is it not the duty of a TD to uphold the constitution?
GERRY GLENNON
Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
