The Church Of Ireland
Press Release

1 Micah 6: 8

'He has shown you, O man, what is good: and what does the Lord require of you, but to act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.'

For too long people have been troubled by disturbing allegations about what has been going on in public life and for too long they have looked to politicians to deal with it effectively. Perhaps now is the time for all of us, with the Dáil moving into recess and daily political confrontation mercifully in abeyance, to reflect carefully from a moral perspective on what is happening to our country. What a terrible tragedy that at a time of unequalled material prosperity we should be coping with the consequences of a huge moral deficit in the political, commercial and professional life of the country.

But therein lies danger - people enjoying life may choose to opt out and close their minds to serious matters facing us. The harsh truth is that for far too long there has been a contagion of corruption in this country, fuelled by greed for money and power which has got to be acknowledged and dealt with. But this can only happen if the honest people in politics and other areas of public life, supported by the people at large, have the moral courage to make it happen. But do they have that courage?

Little room for personal integrity and honesty in political system

Sadly, there are many indications to the contrary. Loyalty to the party and party discipline take priority. People vote for things, they say they believe are wrong, because it is the will of the party. One party urgently demands action if it thinks it can embarrass another party. Tribunals are proposed by one party, opposed by another. It is very difficult to look at Dáil Éireann and detect a common mind committed to establishing truth for its own sake. Everything seems to be judged by what is in the interests of the party and there is little room for personal integrity and honesty. That is morally dangerous.

Another area of concern is that of trust. Politicians are elected by the people to serve the people. Where they have become indebted to rich and powerful interests they are compromised and this must give rise to questions as to motivation. Indeed, it has been indicated quite clearly that at least some of those who secretly gave money to politicians expected certain things to follow. Ordinary people who have no such advantage are in a different league and it is disturbing to think that they may have been betrayed and their proper interests neglected by the very people elected or appointed to represent them in order to satisfy the wishes of a privileged few with money and connections.

That would be morally indefensible, not only for those directly responsible, but also for any who would be party to a cover-up.

Weaker sections of society are most vulnerable

Inevitably in a culture of this kind preoccupied with the interests of the rich and powerful, the weaker sections of society are most vulnerable. It is worth noting, that at the time when vast sums of money were being given over by property developers and others to politicians under various headings, that tragic and courageous group of people, the haemophiliacs, were given little or nothing. Could there be any worse example of political failure or betrayal?

Hypocritical attitude to refugees and asylum-seekers

Yet it continues. Take the current policy on refugees and asylum seekers. If that had been the policy in the United States in the mid-nineteenth century most of those who fled the Great Famine in Ireland would have been sent back here for they were almost entirely economic refugees. How hypocritical can we be?

Again judges in the courts appeal for facilities for young disturbed and damaged children with grudging response. Prison authorities plead with little effect for the resources necessary to improve the lot of the many wounded and broken people in their care. Yet somehow as a society we remain unmoved and untouched at such things and the politicians know it.

Can it be that our material prosperity has dulled our social conscience and our moral sensitivity? Have we become part of what J.K. Galbraith, the American economist, called the culture of contentment - that significant constituency of people who are well-off and enjoying life and don't want to be too troubled by scandals in politics or anything else and who can be bought off with a few goodies in a budget?

Need for reflection

Perhaps the most important reflection over the coming months needs to take place in the minds of ordinary people who have the capacity to change things if they are so inclined - if they really care.
If we are serious about Christian values, based on love of God and love of neighbour rather than self, then we need to think through the implications of our attitudes to society in general and politics in particular. At the very least they mean that goodness and integrity are essential to our national well being and that in our prosperity we have obligations to those who, for whatever reasons, live on the margins of society in Ireland and beyond. If, however, our priority is self-interest and indifference to others, then we will see things differently and act differently.

'He has shown you, O man, what is good: and what does the Lord require of you, but to act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.'