Sir, - Just over a year ago the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Desmond Connell, was reported as saying that the real reason for our celebration of the millennium should not be lost, that "it is vital that it does not become a purely secular celebration, a sort of inflated New Year". He suggested the erection of a sculpture of Blessed Margaret Ball and Blessed Francis Taylor. "They were both Mayoress and Mayor of Dublin and they are important witnesses to religious commitment and conviction," he said. Now the Archbishop is calling for a statue of Christ to mark the 2000 years of Christianity.
Supporting the Archbishop in a letter to The Irish Times (April 19th), John O'Halloran tells us that God has been good to us in Ireland, that a fine statue of Christ the King would be a fitting way to mark the millennium and to publicly express our appreciation for the many benefits which we have received.
On the same page there is a letter from Grace Fayne on the plight of the 21,000 Travellers in Ireland. She writes: "As we approach the millennium celebrating Christ's coming into the world and 2000 years of Christianity, we know that from his words and his works that Jesus exercised a preference for the poor." And elsewhere we read that an estimated one-third of the children of Ireland are living in poverty.
It seems to me that the archbishop's thinking may be just a little bit muddled. Do we really need - or even want - more monuments? If the real reason for our celebration of the millennium is not to be lost, surely what is needed is to begin to correct the appallingly unjust social conditions in this country? We have the resources. If not now, when? - Yours, etc.,
Myles Crowe Old Brewery Lane, Clonakilty, West Cork.