The decision to close the Irish embassy to the Vatican may have been a Cabinet decision, but Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore was seen as the plan’s chief architect.
WHEN Enda Kenny delivered his stinging denunciation of the Vatican on July 20, the public response was overwhelmingly supportive.
Mr Kenny, speaking in the Dáil, claimed the Cloyne Report into clerical child sexual abuse had exposed "the dysfunction, disconnection, elitism [and] the narcissism that dominate the culture of the Vatican to this day".
The Holy See had, he said, deliberately downplayed the rape and torture of children to protect its own primacy and power.
It was blistering stuff, and the accuracy of sections of the speech was later questioned by some critics. But judging by the response in the shape of letters and emails to Mr Kenny’s department following the speech, the public was on his side.
Of those who wrote to his department in the 12 days after the speech, 94.3% were supportive and just 5.7% critical. The overwhelming public view seemed to be that the criticism had been both justified and long overdue.
In stark contrast, the immediate public response to Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore’s decision to close the Irish embassy to the Vatican was hugely negative. Of those who wrote to his department in the 12 days after the announcement of the decision on November 3, some 93.1% were critical and just 6.9% supportive.
Although comparisons between the correspondence in July and November cannot be regarded as definitive or scientific — Mr Kenny received much more correspondence, for starters, and the intervening months saw intense debate on the issue which may have hardened or changed feelings — the snapshots at least suggest the public viewed the Cloyne and embassy issues very differently.
Mr Gilmore cited cost grounds for the closure of the embassy.
"While the embassy to the Holy See is one of Ireland’s oldest missions, it yields no economic return," the foreign minister said.
But few of those who wrote to Mr Gilmore’s department in the days after the announcement believed this rationale. Instead, they felt that the closure was motivated by politics, not economics, and accused Mr Gilmore of insulting both their intelligence and their faith.
Though the closure was a collective Cabinet decision, it was Mr Gilmore who announced it and Mr Gilmore who was seen as the chief architect of the move.
Some letter-writers questioned whether Mr Gilmore’s own beliefs — or lack of them — were a factor, saying he was a self-confessed atheist (though when the Labour leader was asked about his beliefs in a 2007 Hot Press interview, he said he was an agnostic).
In the same vein, they questioned Labour’s motives, claiming the party was driving an "anti-Catholic" agenda in Government which included the goal of "de-Christianising" the Constitution.
Others questioned the wisdom of the move on diplomatic, rather than religious grounds, pointing to the importance of the Vatican in world affairs.
And while the department redacted citizens’ names from the files released to this paper, some of the writers clearly identified themselves as Labour members or supporters. Their support for Mr Gilmore’s party did not stop them from criticising the closure — indicating the level of anger which the decision provoked.
Severing diplomatic relations ‘wrong’
YOU are, I understand, a self-confessed atheist and that is your privilege, but to act on behalf of the people of Ireland and decide that what might be in your best interest is also and always in the best interest of the rest of us (is wrong). The days of De Valera looking into his own heart to see what Ireland needs is dead and gone and I strongly protest that you see fit to sever diplomatic relations with the Vatican — on the pretext that it is for economic reasons. I am appalled at the arrogance already creeping into this present Government — the very reason that we threw out the last one — but despite the whole economic mess, FF never stooped this low.
The majority of Irish people, whether practising are not, are part of the Catholic faith and that needs to be recognised and respected. I am a Catholic and I do NOT want to see the embassy closed.
On an issue of such national importance, as a leader of our country, you have no right to make such a drastic and long-lasting decision.
Closure highlights small-mindedness
YOUR closure of (the) Vatican embassy highlights your small- mindedness once again. A study of your political past would confirm how erratic you can be and how unsuitable you are for your present position.
Closure of embassy a misjudgment
WHEN the Taoiseach Enda Kenny made a speech in the Dáil following the Cloyne Report, I wrote to him stoutly congratulating him on his words regarding the Catholic Church’s role in child abuse matters over decades.
I felt proud of his leadership.
Thus, though I am a practising Catholic, I am not a passive follower, and have written to various Church personnel on their pathetic leadership. Despite this, I think the closure of the Vatican embassy is a misjudgment on your part, or the Government’s part. Catholicism is in the DNA of our culture, it couldn’t be otherwise as its values and assumptions have informed our world view for centuries.
We should respect and indeed appreciate that because, despite its recent appalling handling of abuse worldwide, that Church represents a force for good, and is active in so doing in practically every corner of the globe. To distance ourselves from such a vital international organisation seems to me to be short-sighted, and at face value appears reactionary.
I hope that decision will be reversed.
You attack the church, you attack me
I AM… speechless. I am horrified at the petty attacks against the Church that manifest once again in the closure of the embassy in the Vatican. You attack the Church, you attack me and my family. Being Christian does not mean being a dummy and not reacting to kicks.
I can guarantee you that we will react to this petty attack that has of course nothing to do with our economic situation. Have you got at least a bit of honesty? It is time for us to rally against the agenda of Labour and their allies in the Government. Do not forget we are the Church too and we are the ones who vote as well. I hope and pray Labour will not dare to canvass outside of church ever again and that the Good Lord will forgive you. Shame on you.
Action showed prejudice
What amazes me in relation to your decision to close the Irish embassy to the Vatican is the fact that you felt you had the right to insult the vast majority of the Irish people. I feel this is a terrible mistake and has lost us a lot of credibility internationally and also in the long run a lot of economic activity. One example would be the American football match in the Aviva (in) 2012 whereby Notre Dame University are booking in 25,000 visitors to Dublin hotels and the Navy many more. This is as a result of the work of the Irish Council of that university which largely consists of very wealthy, powerful and Catholic people. What might be regarded as "religious tourism" will certainly be damaged as a result of your actions. Could you not divide the embassy house in Rome in two and have the two embassies there?
To be honest, your action has come across as prejudice.
Fully supportive of Government
ON coming across a campaign on The Irish Catholic website encouraging its readers to email you with their concerns about the downgrading of Ireland’s relationship with the Holy See, I thought I would contact you to express my support for the move.
My only wish is that it wasn’t primarily for economic reasons, but instead that it was done in direct response to the findings in the Murphy and Cloyne reports, the reports of what I consider to be some of the most shocking and brutal crimes ever committed in this country. It sickens me to think of what happened to so many innocent children in the hands of the Catholic Church and, worst of all, that the Vatican did all they could to cover it up and disrupt the investigation (so as) to protect their own interests.
I’m a strong supporter of the separation of Church and state and fully support your decision.
Congratulations on a brave move
I WOULD like to congratulate you on your brave move to close the Vatican embassy. Standing up to vested interest at this time of economic hardship is becoming a valuable trademark of your Government. I hope it continues.
I would like to reassure you that I have not heard anyone from my peer group (I am 28) criticising the move and my father, 68, a weekly Mass-goer, also supports the move.
Opportunist decision in wake of clerical sex abuse
AS a practising Catholic, I am disgusted at the decision to close the Vatican embassy. I see this as an opportunist decision in view of the sexual abuse of children by some priests.
The majority of the priests that I have met have been hardworking, dedicated men who work hard for the Church and the parish. In spite of the failures of some priests, the majority of Irish people are Roman Catholic even if they do not always attend Mass on Sundays. They still wish their children to make their first Holy Communion and Confirmation, and they hope to be married and buried by Catholic priests.
It is hypocritical in the extreme to see dedicated atheists expecting to be extolled and praised during a Catholic service, attended by priests and bishops, and to be buried in consecrated ground if during their lifetime they have never contributed to or attended the Church. I regret that you came to this decision.
Are Irish Catholics not worth representing?
I AM extremely disappointed that you have decided that it would be in Ireland’s best interests to discontinue its mission to the Holy See.
With at least 75% of the Irish population still claiming to be Catholic, would you not agree that it would be in the best interests for that portion of the population to have national representation at the Vatican? Or should Catholics come to the understanding that we are not worth representing?
I urge you to reconsider your decision. The benefits far outweigh any economic cost.
Diplomatic ties are not just financial
ALL of us are very much aware of the failings of the Church in Ireland regarding child abuse. There is no excuse for what has happened and the Church has a long way to go to atone and make amends.
As a priest working on the ground in this country I have no wish to see a more special bond with the state than any other religion has, in fact I believe the further any religion is from the state the better, let both in their different ways do their best for the people who are most in need.
Having said that I find it sad and indeed incomprehensible why Ireland should close its embassy to the Vatican.
I certainly do not accept your reason… no economical return; surely there is much more to having an ambassador in any country, not just the Vatican, than the mere hope of a financial boost to our coffers, even in these hard recessionary times.
Surely the fact that we have had such a close relationship with the Vatican for centuries should have had a bearing on such a decision as you have made and maybe if we were made aware, perhaps on a website, of the vast economic returns we are getting from all the countries we do still have an embassy in, it would help us to better understand this decision.
Cutting off nose to spite your face
I WOULD like to object to your closing of the Irish embassy in the Vatican. Is it possible that you are so hostile to the Catholic Church that you would "cut off your nose to spite your face"? I suggest you reverse your decision before it is too late and you mess up goodwill towards the present Government.
Time to open doors not close them
I AM very saddened by your proposal to close the embassy to the Vatican. I find it incredible that your vision is so myopic and mercenary. This is a time when we need to open doors and keep all the contacts we can in every part of the world. I find it very cynical that this proposal was kept quiet until after the presidential election! Were you afraid it might not be good for your candidate? Where is your honesty and transparency?
You are meant to represent the people not impose your will and ideologies. As you say yourself those in government are there to "serve and not rule". I do not see signs of service in this move of yours but imposition without consultation of the vast majority of people on this island who have other views on this matter.
FG may wonder why Gay Mitchell did so badly in the presidential election. It is because of their leader’s abuse of the Vatican in making false statements and not having the decency to acknowledge it.
Closure speaks of adolescent pique
I WOULD like to protest at the closing of the Irish embassy to the Holy See. International diplomacy calls for all sorts of nuanced actions and the ability to carry out a foreign policy is the mark of a mature polity.
The gesture is a retrograde step and speaks of adolescent pique and an immature view of international relations.
Embassy belongs to Irish people
I WISH to protest most strongly about your decision to close OUR embassy to the Holy See. I emphasise OUR as distinct from YOUR. OUR embassy represents the whole people of Ireland, not just your narrow ideology. Trying to present it as an economic decision fools no one. This decision must be reversed immediately.
Is the Republic a cold house for Catholics?
I WISH to express my deep disappointment at the closure of the Irish embassy at the Holy See. The excuse is facile and regrettable, leaving one to wonder is the Republic becoming a "cold house" for residents of the Catholic faith?
Mr Kenny, speaking in the Dáil, claimed the Cloyne Report into clerical child sexual abuse had exposed "the dysfunction, disconnection, elitism [and] the narcissism that dominate the culture of the Vatican to this day".
The Holy See had, he said, deliberately downplayed the rape and torture of children to protect its own primacy and power.
It was blistering stuff, and the accuracy of sections of the speech was later questioned by some critics. But judging by the response in the shape of letters and emails to Mr Kenny’s department following the speech, the public was on his side.
Of those who wrote to his department in the 12 days after the speech, 94.3% were supportive and just 5.7% critical. The overwhelming public view seemed to be that the criticism had been both justified and long overdue.
In stark contrast, the immediate public response to Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore’s decision to close the Irish embassy to the Vatican was hugely negative. Of those who wrote to his department in the 12 days after the announcement of the decision on November 3, some 93.1% were critical and just 6.9% supportive.
Although comparisons between the correspondence in July and November cannot be regarded as definitive or scientific — Mr Kenny received much more correspondence, for starters, and the intervening months saw intense debate on the issue which may have hardened or changed feelings — the snapshots at least suggest the public viewed the Cloyne and embassy issues very differently.
Mr Gilmore cited cost grounds for the closure of the embassy.
"While the embassy to the Holy See is one of Ireland’s oldest missions, it yields no economic return," the foreign minister said.
But few of those who wrote to Mr Gilmore’s department in the days after the announcement believed this rationale. Instead, they felt that the closure was motivated by politics, not economics, and accused Mr Gilmore of insulting both their intelligence and their faith.
Though the closure was a collective Cabinet decision, it was Mr Gilmore who announced it and Mr Gilmore who was seen as the chief architect of the move.
Some letter-writers questioned whether Mr Gilmore’s own beliefs — or lack of them — were a factor, saying he was a self-confessed atheist (though when the Labour leader was asked about his beliefs in a 2007 Hot Press interview, he said he was an agnostic).
In the same vein, they questioned Labour’s motives, claiming the party was driving an "anti-Catholic" agenda in Government which included the goal of "de-Christianising" the Constitution.
Others questioned the wisdom of the move on diplomatic, rather than religious grounds, pointing to the importance of the Vatican in world affairs.
And while the department redacted citizens’ names from the files released to this paper, some of the writers clearly identified themselves as Labour members or supporters. Their support for Mr Gilmore’s party did not stop them from criticising the closure — indicating the level of anger which the decision provoked.
Severing diplomatic relations ‘wrong’
YOU are, I understand, a self-confessed atheist and that is your privilege, but to act on behalf of the people of Ireland and decide that what might be in your best interest is also and always in the best interest of the rest of us (is wrong). The days of De Valera looking into his own heart to see what Ireland needs is dead and gone and I strongly protest that you see fit to sever diplomatic relations with the Vatican — on the pretext that it is for economic reasons. I am appalled at the arrogance already creeping into this present Government — the very reason that we threw out the last one — but despite the whole economic mess, FF never stooped this low.
The majority of Irish people, whether practising are not, are part of the Catholic faith and that needs to be recognised and respected. I am a Catholic and I do NOT want to see the embassy closed.
On an issue of such national importance, as a leader of our country, you have no right to make such a drastic and long-lasting decision.
Closure highlights small-mindedness
YOUR closure of (the) Vatican embassy highlights your small- mindedness once again. A study of your political past would confirm how erratic you can be and how unsuitable you are for your present position.
Closure of embassy a misjudgment
WHEN the Taoiseach Enda Kenny made a speech in the Dáil following the Cloyne Report, I wrote to him stoutly congratulating him on his words regarding the Catholic Church’s role in child abuse matters over decades.
I felt proud of his leadership.
Thus, though I am a practising Catholic, I am not a passive follower, and have written to various Church personnel on their pathetic leadership. Despite this, I think the closure of the Vatican embassy is a misjudgment on your part, or the Government’s part. Catholicism is in the DNA of our culture, it couldn’t be otherwise as its values and assumptions have informed our world view for centuries.
We should respect and indeed appreciate that because, despite its recent appalling handling of abuse worldwide, that Church represents a force for good, and is active in so doing in practically every corner of the globe. To distance ourselves from such a vital international organisation seems to me to be short-sighted, and at face value appears reactionary.
I hope that decision will be reversed.
You attack the church, you attack me
I AM… speechless. I am horrified at the petty attacks against the Church that manifest once again in the closure of the embassy in the Vatican. You attack the Church, you attack me and my family. Being Christian does not mean being a dummy and not reacting to kicks.
I can guarantee you that we will react to this petty attack that has of course nothing to do with our economic situation. Have you got at least a bit of honesty? It is time for us to rally against the agenda of Labour and their allies in the Government. Do not forget we are the Church too and we are the ones who vote as well. I hope and pray Labour will not dare to canvass outside of church ever again and that the Good Lord will forgive you. Shame on you.
Action showed prejudice
What amazes me in relation to your decision to close the Irish embassy to the Vatican is the fact that you felt you had the right to insult the vast majority of the Irish people. I feel this is a terrible mistake and has lost us a lot of credibility internationally and also in the long run a lot of economic activity. One example would be the American football match in the Aviva (in) 2012 whereby Notre Dame University are booking in 25,000 visitors to Dublin hotels and the Navy many more. This is as a result of the work of the Irish Council of that university which largely consists of very wealthy, powerful and Catholic people. What might be regarded as "religious tourism" will certainly be damaged as a result of your actions. Could you not divide the embassy house in Rome in two and have the two embassies there?
To be honest, your action has come across as prejudice.
Fully supportive of Government
ON coming across a campaign on The Irish Catholic website encouraging its readers to email you with their concerns about the downgrading of Ireland’s relationship with the Holy See, I thought I would contact you to express my support for the move.
My only wish is that it wasn’t primarily for economic reasons, but instead that it was done in direct response to the findings in the Murphy and Cloyne reports, the reports of what I consider to be some of the most shocking and brutal crimes ever committed in this country. It sickens me to think of what happened to so many innocent children in the hands of the Catholic Church and, worst of all, that the Vatican did all they could to cover it up and disrupt the investigation (so as) to protect their own interests.
I’m a strong supporter of the separation of Church and state and fully support your decision.
Congratulations on a brave move
I WOULD like to congratulate you on your brave move to close the Vatican embassy. Standing up to vested interest at this time of economic hardship is becoming a valuable trademark of your Government. I hope it continues.
I would like to reassure you that I have not heard anyone from my peer group (I am 28) criticising the move and my father, 68, a weekly Mass-goer, also supports the move.
Opportunist decision in wake of clerical sex abuse
AS a practising Catholic, I am disgusted at the decision to close the Vatican embassy. I see this as an opportunist decision in view of the sexual abuse of children by some priests.
The majority of the priests that I have met have been hardworking, dedicated men who work hard for the Church and the parish. In spite of the failures of some priests, the majority of Irish people are Roman Catholic even if they do not always attend Mass on Sundays. They still wish their children to make their first Holy Communion and Confirmation, and they hope to be married and buried by Catholic priests.
It is hypocritical in the extreme to see dedicated atheists expecting to be extolled and praised during a Catholic service, attended by priests and bishops, and to be buried in consecrated ground if during their lifetime they have never contributed to or attended the Church. I regret that you came to this decision.
Are Irish Catholics not worth representing?
I AM extremely disappointed that you have decided that it would be in Ireland’s best interests to discontinue its mission to the Holy See.
With at least 75% of the Irish population still claiming to be Catholic, would you not agree that it would be in the best interests for that portion of the population to have national representation at the Vatican? Or should Catholics come to the understanding that we are not worth representing?
I urge you to reconsider your decision. The benefits far outweigh any economic cost.
Diplomatic ties are not just financial
ALL of us are very much aware of the failings of the Church in Ireland regarding child abuse. There is no excuse for what has happened and the Church has a long way to go to atone and make amends.
As a priest working on the ground in this country I have no wish to see a more special bond with the state than any other religion has, in fact I believe the further any religion is from the state the better, let both in their different ways do their best for the people who are most in need.
Having said that I find it sad and indeed incomprehensible why Ireland should close its embassy to the Vatican.
I certainly do not accept your reason… no economical return; surely there is much more to having an ambassador in any country, not just the Vatican, than the mere hope of a financial boost to our coffers, even in these hard recessionary times.
Surely the fact that we have had such a close relationship with the Vatican for centuries should have had a bearing on such a decision as you have made and maybe if we were made aware, perhaps on a website, of the vast economic returns we are getting from all the countries we do still have an embassy in, it would help us to better understand this decision.
Cutting off nose to spite your face
I WOULD like to object to your closing of the Irish embassy in the Vatican. Is it possible that you are so hostile to the Catholic Church that you would "cut off your nose to spite your face"? I suggest you reverse your decision before it is too late and you mess up goodwill towards the present Government.
Time to open doors not close them
I AM very saddened by your proposal to close the embassy to the Vatican. I find it incredible that your vision is so myopic and mercenary. This is a time when we need to open doors and keep all the contacts we can in every part of the world. I find it very cynical that this proposal was kept quiet until after the presidential election! Were you afraid it might not be good for your candidate? Where is your honesty and transparency?
You are meant to represent the people not impose your will and ideologies. As you say yourself those in government are there to "serve and not rule". I do not see signs of service in this move of yours but imposition without consultation of the vast majority of people on this island who have other views on this matter.
FG may wonder why Gay Mitchell did so badly in the presidential election. It is because of their leader’s abuse of the Vatican in making false statements and not having the decency to acknowledge it.
Closure speaks of adolescent pique
I WOULD like to protest at the closing of the Irish embassy to the Holy See. International diplomacy calls for all sorts of nuanced actions and the ability to carry out a foreign policy is the mark of a mature polity.
The gesture is a retrograde step and speaks of adolescent pique and an immature view of international relations.
Embassy belongs to Irish people
I WISH to protest most strongly about your decision to close OUR embassy to the Holy See. I emphasise OUR as distinct from YOUR. OUR embassy represents the whole people of Ireland, not just your narrow ideology. Trying to present it as an economic decision fools no one. This decision must be reversed immediately.
Is the Republic a cold house for Catholics?
I WISH to express my deep disappointment at the closure of the Irish embassy at the Holy See. The excuse is facile and regrettable, leaving one to wonder is the Republic becoming a "cold house" for residents of the Catholic faith?