“Deodatus”
Timoleague,
Co. Cork.

5^th April 2005

The letter’s Editor,
Irish Examiner,
Academy St.,
Cork.

Dear Sir,

 As a Catholic I would like to avail of the right to reply to T.P. O’ Mahony’s Article “Conservative Pope’s legacy is far from perfect” (Irish Examiner 4^th April 2005) 

While most liberals afforded our dear Pope the dignity of their silence as he lies in state in Rome, T.P. O’ Mahony adds another chapter to his previous volumes of anti-Catholic rhetoric. Yet again he condemns Pope John Paul II for urging Catholics to be loyal to what he (T.P.) considers to be “The damaging teachings of Humanae Vitae”. 

Poor T.P., he puts me in mind of a great poster that adorned the wall of the nurse’s home in England that never failed to amuse me. It was a picture of a goat in haughty stance on a rocky ledge, having become separated from the rest of the herd. The caption read “I’m so far behind I think I’m first”. 

Humanae Vitae is surely the most prophetic document ever to have been published by the Vatican. This Papal Encyclical published in 1968 condemned artificial contraception because it shuts God out of marriage. It predicted that the acceptance of artificial birth control would lead to widespread immorality, sexual promiscuity, abortion, marital infidelity, and among other things, disrespect for the dignity of women. 

Pope John Paul The Great during his mighty Pontificate has not alone torn down the walls of Communism and Totalitarianism but also that of Radical Feminism. He has exposed the radical feminist formula for “freedom” as a flop. He has restored true dignity to women and especially to mothers. His call at the United Nations Conference on Women that “mothers who choose to work full time in the home not be penalized, or be made to feel like failures” was profound. He stated that their contribution to their families and society was “immeasurable”. Already in America and in the U.K., families are heeding his advice. Many more women are opting to childcare their own children by choosing motherhood as a career. 

Pope John Paul has restored the dignity owed to women and mothers. In his opposition to artificial contraception, abortion and enforced labor he teaches us that true “freedom” comes not from any of these, it begins when the dignity each human person is respected fully.” 

Look around T.P. Thirty-seven years after Humanae Vitae was published, see the immorality, the sexually transmitted diseases, the millions of babies killed through abortion. Read the medical and scientific reports linking artificial contraception to heart disease and cancers. Study the link between abortion and breast cancer. Read objective sociological reports and realize the awful irreversible damage done by not having followed the teachings of Humanae Vitae.  These are the rotten fruits of the “Culture of Death”

Pope John Paul II merely continued the teaching tradition of Christ as handed down through the generations.  “I came that you should have life and have it to the full” said the Lord  “Humanae Vitae” respects the dignity of each human life and far from oppressing women elevates them, and demands due respect and recognition for what woman is. 

From your haughty perch T.P. look around and see the human misery brought on by this culture of death that you so blindly defend. Wake up to the reality that far from being out ahead of the Catholic Church in your way of thinking, you are very, very far behind indeed.

Yours sincerely,

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