LETTERS God and nationalism
Sir: Sheridan Gilley raised some interesting points in his letter (27 April). I must say that I was horrified that he should believe me to be 'as much an extremist as ever'. My early experience of Provisionalism has carved an aversion to intolerant bigotry and extremist views that will remain with me until I die.
The rebellion of 1916 clearly established the ethos of what has now become the Irish Republic. It is no coincidence that the East- er Rising occurred at the time of year when the Resurrection is celebrated. The rising was intended to signal the resurrection of the 'Irish Nation'. A learned theologian may dismiss Pearse's attempt to link the two together as absurd, but the powerful impact on the folklore and ethos of Irish national- ism cannot so easily be dismissed. The East- er Rising went some way towards cementing the 'special relationship' between God and militant Irish nationalism. No amount of intellectual verbiage is going to succeed in exorcising that hard reality.
Gilley is correct when he says that many priests and bishops opposed, or quietly ignored, violent Irish nationalism. But I would suggest that the rebellion of 1798 has its popular icon in 'Father Murphy from Boolavogue' and not the pluralist Presbyte- rian, Wolfe Tone. Why this should be so is at least worthy of serious consideration if we are concerned with truth. And let it not be forgotten that it was the late Cardinal O'Fiach who said that Protestants were to blame for 90 per cent of the religious big- otry in Northern Ireland.
I refuse to blame any other person or any outside influence for the murders which I committed. The key to civilised behaviour lies in individuals taking responsibility for their own actions and in seeking to make amends when those actions have grievously wounded others. I was simply pointing to some of the factors which played a part in making my decision to murder appear to me to be morally acceptable at that time.
To the best of my knowledge, no Irish Catholic priest or bishop has ever owned up to helping the Provisional IRA. Some, a good deal more than is commonly sup- posed, have bloody hands. The Irish Catholic hierarchy are undoubtedly aware that this is true. They have done nothing about it. Why?
Sean O'Callaghan
MH Prison, Maghaberry Northern Ireland
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