Rain-interrupted service

Press, 20 April 1979, Page 14

Rain-interrupted service

Sir, — Father Consedine has the moral right to attack the inequalities caused by world capitalism without criticising others in the same breath. What priest could really believe that the “classical” free enterprise system, even with perfect market competition, will create harmony between nations and classes? Capitalism caused the 1914 war, drove the workers into trade unions, set the conditions for revolution in Russia and initially supported the fascist reaction in Europe. Today’s politicians may not say so, but in practice they accept Marx’s assessment; “Let all do and all go to their hearts content, you will find no Arcadia of free, equal and fraternal producers exchanging their products, like value for like value, in simple peace and justice.” The old type local market-place has gone; monopolies have swallowed up the important independent concerns; only the trivia is left free. — Yours etc., PATRICK NEARYj April 15, 1979.

Sir, — The holiday now over, it would appear opportune gently to remind A. Delhanty (April 18) and others, that, in spite of the alleged “success” of the Palm Sunday in Cathedral Square, Easter, like Christmas has no basic connection with the Christian religion. Both were celebrated thousands of years before St

Paul started his publicity for the Virgin’s Son — by pagan sunworshippers; Easter greeting the new buds while Christmas proclaimed the return to strength of the sun after the shortest day. Both festivals were appropriated by the Christians for their recruiting campaigns and turned into something entirely out of touch with their original meaning. Further; surely the concept of a supreme intelligence capable of creating the limitless universe, choosing this speck of dust we cajl Earth as the venue for the barbaric and futile murder of His only Son, is totally illogical? — Yours, etc., ARTHUR MAY, April 18, 1979.