A chara, – Dr Ciarán Ó Coigligh (June 25th) is worried about the fate of the "Anglican Christian ethos" and the "Catholic Christian ethos" after the "incorporation" of the colleges into one DCU campus.
Yet, in 1831 in response to the initiative of Edward Stanley, chief secretary of Ireland, the two archbishops of Dublin, Daniel Murray (RC) and Richard Whatley (CoI) agreed to run the new National Schools which would have “combined literary and separate religious instruction”.
They even managed to produce a course on basic Christianity for teaching in common.
Murray said that there could be no possible objection to a Protestant teaching secular literature to Catholic and Protestant children together. He was succeeded by Paul Cullen, who was to say that any case where Catholics came under the influence of Protestants was, of necessity, a proselytising situation. So I fear that the Catholic ethos referred to is really a Cullenite ethos.
It is Catholic teaching that all who are baptised are incorporated into Christ, so, isn’t “incorporation” a good name for the transfer of the colleges, not only logistically but also theologically? It is also Roman Catholic teaching that we should “become what we are” and wouldn’t that be a lovely ideal for Coláiste Phádraig on its new campus? – Is mise,
Fr EOIN
de BHALDRAITHE,
Bolton Abbey (Cistercian),
Moone,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – I would like to support the sentiments expressed by Dr Ciarán Ó Coigligh, who indicated that there was no consultation, no negotiation and no agreement with those most immediately concerned regarding the future of the colleges of education that are to be incorporated into Dublin City University.
That is exactly what happened with regard to the Church of Ireland College of Education. Many members of the church are dismayed at the decision and angry at the way the decision was made. After the board of governors had made a decision, so-called consultation meetings with stakeholders were held. It seems that those involved think that talking at people amounts to consultation. I attended one of those meetings. People were not listened to. Our views were dismissed. Many of us left that meeting sad and frustrated. It was so unlike what I understood to be the culture of the Church of Ireland. Prior to that my experience of my church had been one where people were listened to, respected and where issues were openly discussed. This was different. I wonder what has happened to the church in the last short number of years?
It appears that the Church of Ireland, instead of being a church of the people, has become a hierarchical corporation where decisions are made without regard to the views of members of the church. – Yours, etc,
JENNIFER HANLON,
Tullyard,
Glenties, Co Donegal.