Madam, – Not everyone in Limerick supports the opening of the pubs on Good Friday. Ireland, and in particular Limerick, is suffering an economic meltdown in every respect. For our city to put pleasure above honour and glory to Our Saviour is disgraceful.
Alcohol is a drug, it has done very little for society when consumed in excess.
Remember, the Lord will punish those who profit out of dishonouring Him.
If the publicans have the benefit of the city as their core objective, let them donate every single cent earn on Good Friday to the Simon Community in Limerick. All actions have consequences.
Scriptures Titus 1:15-16: “To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work.” – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Dave Robbie (March 27th) believes that “as a mark of respect,” towards the Christian faith, alcohol should not be sold on Good Friday. Even leaving aside the fact that respect is meaningless when made compulsory, this is a rather draconian idea. As a non-Muslim, I do not show respect towards Ramadan by not eating between sunrise and sunset. As a non-Jew, non-Hindu and non-Buddhist, I do not show respect towards these religions by modifying my behaviour on their particular feast days.
Rather, I show respect by allowing others to believe whatever they wish to believe, and I expect the same courtesy in return.
On the other hand, I do not respect the idea that one group’s religious ideals should be forced on everybody else, even for one day, in a country that is supposed to be a republic. How soon can this exemption be extended to the rest of the country, on a permanent basis? For the record, I am a non-drinker. – Yours, etc,