HUMBERT SUMMER SCHOOL:IRELAND'S MEDIA is dominated by a secular outlook hostile to religion according to Cardinal Seán Brady.
In a wide-ranging address to the Humbert School, the cardinal also praised the Orange Order for promoting dialogue and condemned recent attacks on Orange halls and appealed to those responsible for the Omagh bombing to give themselves up.
Delivering the Bishop Stock address, in St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral, Killala, Co Mayo yesterday, Cardinal Brady said "the claims and influence of secularism and relativism have gone largely unchallenged in Irish culture and media.
"It could be argued that they enjoy an uncritical acceptance which would never be afforded to religious faith."
He spoke of the need for "a much more honest, respectful and constructive dialogue . . . about values in our society."
He asked: "Like the debate within the European Union, is it fair, is it representative of the views and convictions of the majority of the people here in Ireland, that the media is so dominated by a secular view hostile to or disposed to relegate the value of religion? Is it possible to dream dreams and to imagine an approach to each other built on a shared humanism?
"Is it possible to agree that there are objective values for which we should have serious regard because of their implications for the good of society?"
Cardinal Brady queried "the honesty, for example, in arguing on the one hand that violence, promiscuity and lack of respect in the media has no influence on the attitude, values and behaviour of the young when billions is spent on advertising through the media precisely because of its power to influence attitudes and behaviour?"
But he suggested there were signs of change. "It may be that the still small voice of God is emerging with new appeal in Irish cultural and political debate, albeit as a whisper," he said.
Earlier in his address he said "the Orange Order deserves credit for what I believe are sincere and convincing efforts to promote dialogue and understanding.
"These should be acknowledged and reciprocated. Attacks on Orange halls, such as those which took place last week around Armagh, deserve to be unequivocally condemned.
"They are symptomatic of a sectarian pathology which is evil and has to be continually challenged in our selves and every aspect of social, religious and political life."
He appealed directly "to those who were responsible for the Omagh bombing. Before the innocent children, women and men you massacred I appeal to you to do the right thing before God.
"I appeal to your hearts and human dignity. Give yourselves up to justice in this world before you face judgement in the next. I also appeal to those who have information which could lead to the arrest and conviction of those who made or planted the Omagh bomb. You also have a duty before God to give that information immediately to the police," he said.
"The families of those killed and the surviving victims have suffered enough. Help them to receive justice.
"If you have any humanity left in your heart at all, do all that you can to ease at least a little of their pain," he said.
