THE idea of a national government was yesterday welcomed by the Bishop of Kerry, Dr Bill Murphy, who said it might help "to get us out of the mess we’re in".He also spoke of the hardship being experienced in his diocese, which also includes parts of west and north Cork, due to the recession.
And, he urged people to simplify their celebrations of certain sacraments and not to be too focused on clothes, gifts and meals.
Bishop Murphy said he was delighted to see there was a chance that the political parties might come together and work towards a national government.
Pointing out that the political parties in the North were working together to resolve a difficult situation, he said he had believed for a long time that five years out of every 20 should see the different parties coming together to form a national government.
In that way, they could do things that might be difficult for one party to implement. He added that a national government would be a great example to others
"We need to work together, we need to be interdependent, and we need to look out for one another," he remarked.
Regarding the effects of the recession, Dr Murphy said priests in his diocese had told him of families coming now for help to the doors of presbyteries who would never have done so before.
Also, in a Radio Kerry interview, he said the St Vincent de Paul Society was getting requests for help from people who had previously contributed to the society.
Frustration and anger were being felt by families and especially by those who had lost their jobs, Dr Murphy said, but he appealed to people not to despair and not to lose hope. Hope was essential and a situation no matter how desperate could change
He said a person was more than a job and he urged people to join voluntary organisations.
Dr Murphy also called on parents to group together and to decide to simplify their celebration of Christmas, Holy Communions and Confirmations, to simplify clothes and to encourage their children to accept one small gift.
There was too much emphasis on clothes, gifts and meals, he maintained.
"Children who are led to believe they can expect the world will inevitably be disappointed," he warned
The practice underway among confirmation children in Kerry to donate to education in Kenya should be encouraged among First Communion children too, he said. It would be lethal to adopt an "I’m all right, Jack" attitude and to maintain an individualistic approach, he said.
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