Youth surrounded by new paganism, Cardinal warns

Young people in Ireland are being surrounded by a "new paganism" which, while outwardly very attractive, is leaving people without any purpose or meaning in life, the former Catholic Primate of Ireland has said.

Cardinal Cahal Daly compared the values in Ireland today to the values of ancient Rome where drinking and sex were so important they were regarded as gods.

During his sermon yesterday at a Seán O'Riada Mass at the O'Carolan Harp Festival in Keadue, Co Roscommon, he said there was a new type of emigration in Ireland which he termed "spiritual emigration". People were emigrating from the Church and from religious practices.

Cardinal Daly, whose father was a native of Keadue, said he had been bishop in the local diocese for 15 years from 1967 when the churches were full, but the young adults who had been forced to emigrate to provide for their families were missing. The situation was the opposite now with immigrants arriving.

He said many churches were once again full of children and elderly people but there were few teenagers. "That is very worrying for parents and grandparents who are trying to hand on the faith and for us the pastors."

The Cardinal said young people were being confronted with many attractive lifestyles which were competing with the Christian lifestyle. "These lifestyles are characterised by money, property, sport naturally, motoring with the emphasis on size, power and vroom, fashion and style, and food and drink. I am reminded of the lifestyles which were very common in the Roman empire."

Cardinal Daly said the gods Venus and Bacchus reflected the importance of sex and drinking in this civilisation. "I am struck by the comparison between these gods and the dominant forces and culture confronting young people and indeed all of us," he added.

Terming it a "new paganism", he said these values were being presented in a way which surpassed in attractiveness even the gods and goddesses of Rome.

The O'Carolan festival was officially opened by MEP and Independent Sligo-Leitrim TD, Ms Marian Harkin. About 350 students, including some from abroad, are attending workshops as well as set dancing and sean nós classes.