Sir, – The news (“Army apologises over remarks about Higgins”, Home News, January 4th) that the chief-of-staff of the Army contacted Áras an Uachtaráin to “convey the regret of the head chaplain for any embarrassment” that his Christmas Eve homily might have caused the President is bizarre and inexplicable.
Mr Higgins is probably the strongest advocate of intellectual freedom in the history of the State and he would fully understand that the vitality of intellectual freedom thrives on conflicting opinions and passionate dialogue.
Would the chief-of-staff not therefore have been more prudent and measured by not engaging with this issue and conveying the impression that clerical homilies are subject to military censorship? – Yours, etc,
MYLES DUFFY,
Bellevue Avenue,
Glenageary, Co Dublin.
A chara, – Like most soldiers, serving and retired, I share a great reverence and affection for Msgr Eoin Thynne – a warm, gentle, discreet, and thoroughly reliable friend to all who serve. It is unfortunate, too, but not unexpected, that RTÉ's Liveline was so readily available to facilitate anonymous callers having a "pop" at such a good and holy priest.
That the chief-of-staff was obliged to “convey his regret” after that unholy radio show furore is understood by all who ever soldiered. The statement from the press office of the Defence Forces was also a requirement; and, in seeking balance, it has done much to undo the harm caused by the various self-congratulating experts and arbiters. Now, perhaps, a priest, who, for years, has bravely ministered to Ireland’s soldiers in the most dangerous places on Earth, will be allowed to be a priest in Ireland, and even to mention the Gospels? – Is mise,
CATHAL LOFTUS,
(Commandant, retired),
Broadmeadow Green,
Ashbourne, Co Meath.
Sir, – Your report indicates that an Army spokesman has said that Msgr Thynne’s homily was not intended to be a criticism of the President, and those who saw it as such would be putting a “particularly unfair interpretation” on it. Given this, why did the chief-of-staff apologise to the President?
The spokesman also stated that chaplains have no rank. As a former member of the Army who served in the 1970s and 1980s, we were told that chaplains have the rank of captain or commandant. Serving on the Curragh, chaplains socialised in the officers’ mess. They certainly did not socialise in the mess for the privates or the mess for the NCOs.
The Defence Forces website clearly shows the chaplain insignia worn on a peaked hat is aligned with those of other officer ranks. Furthermore the salary for a chaplain is commensurate with that of a captain or commandant. In fact, the salary for the Army head chaplain in 2011 was €68,190. The “padre” rank structure is in line with other western armies, where all chaplains are commissioned officers without executive authority. Why is the Defence Forces different? – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN DELANEY,
Apple Court,
Rock Tavern, New York.
A chara, – How exciting that we seem to have a growing movement determined to emulate those nations where the cult of the “great and glorious” leader is the norm and every mention of his name must be accompanied not only by fawning deference but with actual reverence. I do feel sorry for Msgr Eoin Thynne, though, as there was no advance warning of what they were about. Still, they had to start somewhere, and what better way to begin their attempt to elevate our President to a semi-divine status than a shot across the bows of a representative of another faith? – Is mise,
Rev PATRICK G BURKE,
Castlecomer,
Co Kilkenny.