Saturday, December 11, 2010

Kilkenny priest tells drug dealers to stop destroying families

A County Kilkenny based priest who has regularly spoken out against the evils of drug abuse, has appealed to all drug pushers in County Kilkenny to “stop destroying families.”  

Speaking at the funeral of a heroin addict in Saint Mary's Cathedral in Kilkenny City, Fr Mark Condon said, “If there are no drug pushers drawing teenagers into drug use and addiction then we have less gatherings like we have today.” 

And addressing drug pushers directly he challenged them, saying, “If you are here today and you are a drug dealer, take a good long look at the faces of the grieving family here today as your actions are responsible for this pain and this grief.” 

“Change!  Do not be part of this evil that is affecting every community in this country; do not become part of the problem, become part of the solution and stop.  Change your ways or you will continue to destroy families.” 

Fr Condon also appealed to the wider community to help drug addicts.  

He said, “There is an image of addicts out there in the wider community that they are in some way unclean, untouchable and unlovable.  This is an image that we need to get rid of; it is always someone's son or beloved daughter.  The person with the problem is seen as the problem, we need to look again as a community, we must begin to see the person, the son, the daughter and reach out and offer help.”

SIC: CIN/IE