Archbishop warns pilgrims against a culture of blame.

An estimated 20,000 pilgrims undertook the traditional Reek Sunday ascent of Croagh Patrick in Co Mayo yesterday.

They braved heavy mist and low cloud on the summit, which made climbing conditions difficult, especially for those who made the pilgrimage early in the day.

Sixteen people were reported to have been injured, most of them from falls suffered on a slippery stretch about three quarters of the way to the peak.  The process of bringing them to safety was hampered by the fact that mist prevented the Aer Corps from assisting.

In his homily,  Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam said that people needed the reassurance of faith in these days of confusion, anxiety and doubt, when many had, “lost faith in the Church, in political promises, in the stable institutions of the past and we are not sure where our solid ground lies.”

Dr Neary went on to say that the message of Jesus, who did not ask people to be “hammers of judgement or seekers of condemnation” was relevant in today’s world.  For example, he said in depicting the Pharisees, Jesus warned against “self-righteousness, hypocrisy, harsh judgement of others and lack of compassion.  As individuals, as Church leaders and members of the Church we acknowledge the powerful temptation to succumb to that mentality -it is so easy to criticise and condemn rather than empower and encourage.” 

But, he said, the essence of faith was “not a grim recognition of our guilt, but the reality and certainty of pardon.  We are all familiar with books and articles which analyse what is wrong with the world, with society, with the Church,” he noted.  “We are frequently the analysts of evils, the diagnosticians of disaster and the truth of past pain is certainly coming to the surface.” 

And this, Dr Neary said, was “good news” and the truth should be embraced even though this can be a painful.  “However, we should also be aware of the dangers contained in what some have called a culture of blame.  We seek out the negligence of doctors, the health service, bankers, the Church or the school.” 

“Maybe this makes it easier to deal with our own shortcomings, the neglect and indifference of others and the tyranny of blind chance.” 

The archbishop said that “even in righteous anger,” the temptations of the Pharisees presented themselves again 200 years after Christ and were as “subtle and powerful” as ever.

“Christ did not encourage us to imprison people by their human failings; instead he taught us the way of forgiveness,” he said.

by Fintan Deere