Volume 1 (1999/2000)
Issue
1 (March 1999)
Issue
2 (Nov. 1999)
Issue 3 (Dec. 1999)
Issue 4 (Feb. 2000)
Issue 5 (March 2000)
Issue 6 (April 2000)
Issue
7 (May 2000)
Volume 2 (2000/2001)
Issue 1 (Sept. 2000)
Issue 2 (Oct. 2000)
Issue 3 (Jan. 2001)
Issue 4 (March 2001)
Issue 5 (April 2001)
Issue 6 (May 2001)
Volume 3 (2001)
Issue 1 (Sept. 2001)
Issue 2 (Nov. 2001)
Categories
Sport: 1
2 3
Lifestyles: 1 2
3
Commentary: 1 2
3
Review: 1 2
3
Writing: 1 2
3
Event: 1 2
3
Probing the Bishop
Four students from Cork interview Bishop Buckley on a variety of interesting topics
Catherine Howard (Regina Mundi)
Paul Kelleher (St. Aidans)
Patricia Goggin (St. Vincents)
Patrick Fitzgibbon (North Mon)
Interviewing Bishop Buckley were from
left:
Catherine Howard (Regina Mundi), Paul Kelleher (St. Aidans),
Patricia Goggin (St. Vincents) and Patrick Fitzgibbon (North Mon)
What, if any efforts is the church making to promote the suspension
of third world debt?
Well you know always on occasions of a jubilee over the centuries debts
were repealed. Recently I was down in South America, we have some priests
out there and there is a huge debt in all of these countries. Now they're
all campaigning for Jubilee 2000. During a meeting of Prime Ministers
in Europe before the summer there was a big gathering of bishops from
all over Europe including Ireland to join people making representation
to the Prime Ministers about the debt. The Pope has mentioned this frequently,
that these poor countries be offered a special dispensation as we move
into a new millennium.
What are you doing yourself to help?
Well I have signed documents and have sent those on to the government,
but whether or not they will take notice I do not know.
What is your personal opinion of some of the more controversial issues
the church has had to deal with in recent years?
Yes, my personal opinion is that I am saddened by many of the more controversial
issues such as child abuse particularly by religious and priests. I suppose
the whole question of child abuse permeates all society, all professions
have been involved in one way or another but for the church to be involved
- priests are in a special position of trust and we expect the highest
standard of behaviour and so on from those in whom such a trust is imposed.
So it's very sad indeed that they have given such bad example. But action
has been taken and its better now that this is coming out into the open.
The church teaching on moral issues is often unpalatable to young
people. They find them old fashioned and not realistic for life today.
Do you think the church stance on contraception and divorce has contributed
to a decrease in religious practice?
I doubt if we would have contributed to the decrease but certainly you
know there would be strong opinions on the church's teaching. It's important
to bear in mind that it's not the teaching of the church but the teaching
of Christ. He said 'what God has joined together let not man put asunder'
- and therefore that's his teaching on marriage and no power on earth,
not even the Pope can change that and the church must give that teaching
no matter what the reaction.
You know on these marital issues obviously some people won't agree with
it. Some will - some won't but the church must continue to preach what
the Lord asks them to do.
The power of the hierarchy has diminished in recent decades, has this
been a good thing for the church and country?
Yes, that's a very good question. I think the hierarchy, the bishops should
never be identified or associated with power.
All they have is just the example of the Lord to encourage people to tell
them what the Lord did on earth and to encourage them to live good lives.
You have no power or authority and you shouldn't have other than this.
All we can say is - listen, this is the teaching of the Lord, your are
free to accept it, you are free to reject it. Commentators would say the
Church is very powerful, I have yet to see that power.
Has this lessening of the Church's, so called, power led to the declining
numbers attending church or are their other reasons?
I don't think that the perception of the church as all-powerful would
have affected that many because it had no real basis in reality - it shouldn't
have. But I think the major reason now for decline is materialism, secularism.
In society, people are a lot more wealthy today than they were 20 or 30
years ago. Ever since the time of the Old Testament when the number of
fleshpots increased, the number of people that fell away from the Lord
increased. As wealth accumulates people fall away. They become immersed
in money and wealth, and greed and individualism. That's a feature of
life over the centuries.
The rate of suicide has gone up alarmingly, especially among the young
males in our society. What is your view on this situation?
Yes, that's very sad - there are very complex reasons for it. I have attended
the funerals of so many young people here in the city. The late Dr. Michael
Kelleher who was an eminent Psychologist here in Cork attributed the main
cause to be a breakdown in community life. People are becoming more selfish,
more individualistic. When I was growing up in West Cork we all knew each
other in Inchigeela. There was a great community spirit. Everyone was
working together, no one felt that he was out of it. Today if you don't
make the grade, if you don't have a big car, if you don't have university
qualifications, a big house and all the rest of it, you might feel left
out.
Are you increasingly worried about the decline of marriage and the
amount of marriage breakdown?
Yes, indeed it's very sad - marriage breakdown in Ireland today is increasing.
I feel it is connected with the whole question of materialism and wealth.
It's very sad for families and for individuals. And the church would obviously
be very concerned about that. Two or three years ago the church in Ireland
published a beautiful letter entitled 'Love is for Life' on the whole
question of the permanence and stability of marriage. It is a great sacrament.
It's for life and no other union should be encouraged.
Do you think marriage breakdown is perhaps leaving many young Irish
males with no role models and that that could be contributing to the suicide?
That probably is a factor also. That's the whole question of breakdown
in society, breakdown of family life, lack of, as you say, exemplars,
people who could provide example and inspiration for people, especially
young people. That would be a factor indeed.
Many people believe that the issues like contraception and abortion
affect the lives of women more directly than men. However the church's
views on this have been decided by male celibate clergy. Do you think
that this factor weakens the relationship to women?
Yes, that's a good question indeed. I have constantly spoken, and others
also have spoken on the importance of the role of women in the church.
Now in this country it was the mothers who handed the faith down through
the generations and women should be recognized for their gifts and for
their talents. At the Last Supper Jesus ordained only men and this has
been the constant position of the church down through the centuries and
it is not a question of power or rights. Women have probably done more
for the Church than any other group.
The hierarchy in the church ultimately makes the church laws. However
fifty percent of the population is not represented in this. If you were
the Pope would you like to change this?
I would encourage women to become more involved at every level in the
work of the church. We have commissions here in these dioceses and the
women play a very important role in the work of these commissions.
What are your thoughts on the clergy being able to marry?
Well again going back to the scriptures, St. Peter was married, others
were not. Celibacy was introduced into the church around the 8th or 9th
century. People who are celibate have more time for their work of preaching
the gospel. They do not have the responsibility of a family.
Methodist Ministers are allowed to marry and a Methodist minister
actually came to our school a few weeks ago to talk to us. He was great.
Do priests who are married have a lesser faith than those who are not?
I do not think so. As I have said the main reason for the introduction
of celibacy was to give the priest more time to be available to his people.
More time for prayer. Christ himself was celibate and at the end of the
day we follow the example of Christ. I'm not decrying other denominations
who have ministers who are married and who are doing such great work.
I hear what you're saying but wouldn't a priest with children be a
good deal better with young people?
He would have experience of family life from his own upbringing. We all
come from families. I come from a family in West Cork and I know exactly
all the problems and difficulties that families have. I grew up in a family.
Other religions have quite different views to most Catholics on marriage
etc. Do you welcome increased interaction with other religions?
Indeed, yes, here in Cork there's a great relationship between us all.
We come together during the year to pray and to meet and discuss things.
So hopefully that is happening elsewhere too. It's known as ecumenism
- bringing people together.
We understand you work hard to develop a good relationship with the
elderly through the S.H.A.R.E. project. Do you feel the elderly have an
important part to play in society?
That's very good. I've been active with S.H.A.R.E. over the years and
the great work done especially by their founder Br. Jerome who died last
year. He did marvelous work through S.H.A.R.E. He established it and then
all the young people have become involved and I see the great work they're
doing, providing accommodation and giving the elderly a few happy years
at the end of their lives. And you had a question there about older people;
they have a great contribution to make to society. They're full of wisdom,
full of experience and profoundly spiritual and young people especially
have an enormous amount to learn from these older people. Young people
benefit from old people and the older people say that they love meeting
the young people and it shows the interdependence of all of us in bridging
of the generation gap.
You're
well known for your great love of sport. Do you have any unfulfilled dreams?
My one unfilled dream is that I never won in All Ireland Senior Road Bowling
Championship! I have been involved over the years in sport, since I was
a very young boy. I took up bowling when I was going to National School.
I had a great teacher - a local man from Inchigeela, Seamus O Leary; he
was passionately interested in Road Bowling. I remember after the religion
class he'd take us out in the street throwing the bowl. We thought bowling
was part of the religion class! - I still do. I also played football and
hurling. I played with Sarsfields senior hurlers in Glanmire. I follow
all sport.
And finally, at the dawn of the new millennium what things would you
like to see eradicated or disappear in the new millennium?
First of all the whole issue of drugs is having a disastrous effect on
the people. The level of drug abuse has risen to quite alarming proportions.
Hopefully now there are so many people concerned about it they will make
inroads into the drug pushers. Many of them have been brought before the
courts, and that is only right because we're living with the damage they're
doing to young people.
Number two I would also hope that despite all our materialism and so on
that people would realise, both young and old, that life here is to be
enjoyed, but that there is another life too.
You mentioned drugs there in your last answer. Do you feel that its
due to the lack of facilities in Cork County or are there other reasons?
Well I suppose they don't have the facilities here for dealing with the
problem and dealing with people who are taking drugs, but that's improving
now. We are making facilities available. More importantly I think they
are attacking it indirectly. The Minister for Education is being very
generous with grants for schools and sporting facilities. That is the
way to deal with it also in the long term - provide alternative enjoyment
for young people, that's the great antidote in resisting the pressure
to get involved in those less desirable activities.