'IKNOW nothing at all of politics', Pope John Paul II was reported as saying to a group of British journalists shortly after he landed in Ireland last weekend. Nevertheless the Pope, This much Drogheda, displayed all the which have made the Catholic Church one of history's great survivors.
Of course he condemned "terrorism'. The Catholic Church in Ireland condemned the Young Irelanders' rebellion of 1848 the Fenian Rising of 1867, and the Easter Rising of 1916, and it would Have been unrealistic to expect John Paul Il to Equally predictable was the Pope's call to 'all men and women engaged in violence to return to the ways of peace.
But contrary to the impression given British media reports, that was not all the Pope had to say. He emphasised the fact that 'I want to speak to politicians with the same intensity which I have spoken to the men of violence...do not cause or condone or tolerate conditions which give excuse or pretext to men of violence'.
In demanding also the 'victory of justice, John Paul Il commented that it was up to the politicians to 'show that there is a peacetul, political way to justice. You must show peace achieves the works of justice and violence does Echoes In other words, the Pope was saying that the politicians had singularly failed to show that there was a peaceful road to justice. He went on to condemn the 'political vacuum' in the North of Ireland, adding to nose alrcaly American politicians.
Pope said that 'human rights...cannot be set aside...by the state itseif, for any cause, not even for security or in the interests of taw and order'. He also referred to "social and religious discrimination'.
Such remarks brought howls of outrage from Ian Paisley, who interpreted the Pope's words for Birmingham Selly Oak THERE are four resolutions Northern On Labour Party conference agenda, all of them calling for amendment Hempstead's resolution calling British withdrawal, Brent East CLP asks for an end to what it calls the publicised speech political skills this tradition.
by criticisms of British made by on this year's гасиса!
Hemel for as 'giving comfort to the IRA'. This conclusion says more about Paisley's paranoia than about the Pope's remarks, but it is true that the fact that John Paul Il more or less admitted that there was some justice in the cause of the Catholic • minority in the hardly reflects the usual British evaluation of the IRA as 'gangsters' without a political cause.
This is not to imply that the Pope of Rome is somesort of pacifist Irish Republican intent on and unemployment is as high in the Catholic areas as it was during the great depression.
Mr Bell is, ably, very hard on the Labour Party when he attributes blame, but the fact is that the Labour Party has never been consulted on any of the dramatic policy 'U' turns on Ireland during the few years Parliamentary Labour Party. All the vital decisions have been made by the the dangers for time when it Catholic bishops statements.
In lne South of challenging some for the Catholic launched condemnion false condemning freedom, the sexuality.
The Pope's visit movement and is unlikely to be seriously hampered.
'peaceful road' then it may North right down perhaps understandOnly sovereignty Orange Order morality. What it does show is that John Paul Il'sadvisers both in Rome and in Ireland realise Catholic Church of performing like some toy poodle of British The Catholic Church expects to be a force in Ireland long after the last British soldier has left. It would therefore be downright foolish for the Pope not to establish a record now for For what the Pope was up to in Iretand was to look after the interests of the Catholic Church is experiencing difficulty. There is evidence that attendance at mass has dropped in the North of Ireland during the last ten years. At the same time there have even been pickets of the offices and homes staged Northern Catholics in protest at various anti-Republican the growing movement for women's liberation is seriously most cherished Catholic dogmas. In this respect the Pope's remarks in Dublin have an equal importance hierarchy. John Paul II thinly veiled attack divorce and abortion, practices concerning sacredness of the indissolubility of marriage, the true sense of will no doubt help to re-establish some of the lost authority of the Catholic Church in Ireland. But in the long term the developing confidence of the women's determination of Irish Republicans and socialists to drive Britain out And should the Pope continue to stress the worth reminding him of the bit in the bible which goes on about 'first take the beam out of your own eye'. The Catholic Church, from the crusader the American Cardinal ,:Spellman's support for the Vietnam war, has 'blessed' more weapons and called for more "just wars' than there are blades of grass in
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Finally, in an implied reference to the British administration in the North of Ireland, the
You heard what the pope said - so lay down your weapons you fenian sartards
talking for 'justice in Ireland'. Dogmas