Sir, - I really cannot understand the hostile reaction of many left-wing types to Jorg Haider's recent visit to Rome. For years the liberal-left has been insisting that the Church be more inclusive, open and tolerant, accepting everyone, not turning any away. Yet as soon as someone not congenial to it turns up on the Pope's doorstep, such high ideals quickly fly out the window. The Vatican, we are haughtily told, should have obeyed the dictates of the politically correct Zeitgeist and barred Herr Haider from coming (never mind that the decision to receive a Christmas tree from Carinthia was made three years ago before he was governor of that province).
Reports in The Irish Times (December 18th) that anti-Haider demonstrators were "carrying a huge banner bearing a photograph of the Auschwitz concentration camp, together with the slogan `Never Again'" are also richly ironic. It is usually far-right politicians who are accused of playing on people's fears, and using emotional appeals to stir them up. Yet was this not a brazen example of playing on people's fears, coming from the left-wing demonstrators? At this point we would do well to remember that Simon Wiesenthal stated earlier this year that Mr Haider had never made any anti-Semitic remarks nor been associated with anti-Semitism. We ought also to remember that Mr Haider has apologised for any remarks of his that were taken as being favourable to Nazism.
Such apologies should be accepted in good faith, and the democratically elected governor of a province of an EU country should be able to make a religious visit to Rome without harassment. The far-left demagogues who stirred up these riots have a lot to answer for. - Yours, etc.,
Brian T. Hickey, Taney Rise, Dundrum, Dublin 14.