Lenten pastorals warn of demoralising effects of campaign against government
Concerns voiced about impact on youth and women
Armagh, 12 February 1923 - Members of the Irish Catholic hierarchy have warned of the destructive and demoralising effects of the ongoing violence in the country.
In Lenten Pastorals delivered throughout the country, the bishops have echoed concerns previously expressed in their Joint Pastoral of October last year. Since then, the condition of the country has undoubtedly worsened and Cardinal Logue has expressed fears as to the potential implications of the ‘orgy of crime and outrage’ for the future of Ireland, and not least the potential ‘demoralisation of youth.’
‘Those who put firearms or lethal weapons into the hands of mere schoolboys, for they are little more, beguiling their youth and inexperience by false principles of patriotism, playing upon the generous spirit of innate Irish devotion and Irish bravery and sending them to commit crime, have a terrible responsibility to bear before God and man.’
‘Those young people inured to bloodshed, rapine, destruction of their neighbour’s property, public and private, in their youth, when they grow into men, will be very undesirable members of society.’
Even worse, the Cardinal warned, was the impact on the young women and girls who had become embroiled in the ‘wild orgy of violence and destruction, if not as active agents, at least as abettors and fomenters of strife.’
‘Should this fell spirit spread, alas for the future motherhood of Ireland! We have ever been proud of the women and girls of Ireland; and justly so. Their reputation has been a precious asset of the nation.’
The role of women in the ongoing civil war was also remarked upon by the Bishop of Elphin, the Most Rev. Dr. Coyne, who described recent events in Ireland as being ‘absolutely irreconcilable with the profession of Christianity.’ ‘Half-crazed, hysterical women’, Bishop Coyne added, ‘who know not what they want, devote a large portion of their time to the circulation of calumnies and misleading statements about Bishops and priests.’ He continued, ‘They assist, by carrying dispatches and arms, in the slaughter of some of the best and bravest of Ireland’s sons. They glory in the destruction of the property and in the continued crucifixion of the plain people of the country. And then, with pretended piety and brazen effrontery, they kneel in prayer to God.’
Across all the Lenten pastorals criticisms of the current campaign of violence against the Free State were heard, even from the Bishop of Derry, the Most Rev. Dr. MacHugh, who acknowledged that notwithstanding the injustices of the settlement that has been reached, ‘we must never forget that the Ten Commandments are to be the standard we are to follow.’
[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]
