RITE AND REASON:ON ASH Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, which emphasises self-examination and repentance, the members of the newly elected Dáil started their first day with a service in the historic Church of Ireland St Ann's Church, close to Leinster House. Even if it was deliberately symbolic, is it proper that the Dáil should so explicitly recognise the Christian heritage of Ireland in this way?
I must declare an interest in this question, for I was one of those taking part, and it was both a delight and privilege to do so.
If confession is good for the soul (especially during Lent), then let me confess that I am not a fan of “civic religion” or religious observance simply because it has been the done thing in times past. Yet I am committed to a coherent and dynamic Christian faith that engages with the real world of politics, economics, ethics and all the major areas of public policy.
And herein lies my ambiguity. Virtually the whole of the political leadership of Ireland was at the service, even though quite a few might be content to describe themselves as agnostic, or even atheist. Does this represent corporate hypocrisy by both church and State, or is it something really quite valuable that should be encouraged, or even developed further?
Any debate must acknowledge that the proper relationship between the church and the State has never been settled throughout history. Every possible relationship has been explored, so we are unlikely to reach an easy consensus in this increasingly diverse and secularised society.
Yet a few things might be generally agreed. Firstly, whilst power may be given, it is only for a short time. To govern is a great privilege, and checks and balances are needed to ensure that those who govern do not act above their station, and become democratic despots.
Secondly, the wisdom and energy in wider society must be harnessed if we are to have good public policy and government. Wisdom is not to be found in political advisers or party manifestos alone.
Our Christian heritage is part of that wisdom – indeed, it is foundational to it.
Within a few days of that church service, the whole island was honouring our patron saint, who was not a politician or an economist or a banker, or a sociologist. He was a humble and devout Christian man who changed Ireland – and helped it become known across the world as a place of both saints and scholars.
The anger and disillusionment of the Irish people is surely due, at least in part, to our having been led to the worship of a new god (yet, ironically, a very old one) of mythical wealth, dishonourable debt and highly ambiguous ethics.
And, it has to be said (again) that St Patrick’s Christian and thoroughly biblical heritage was often ditched by the church at large in favour of status, power and a much too cosy coexistence with the State.
Yet surely few of us want an ethical free-for-all – where anything goes and where the big concepts of what is true, right and good are subordinated to what the most articulate or powerful voices will accept.
So I suggest that the church service which opened this session of the Dáil could well be developed further into something of lasting worth, provided that it express what might be called “two-way listening”.
This involves the powers that be “listening” to the ethical and even prophetic voices of God’s people as public policy is formulated and put into practice, while God’s people “listen” carefully to the needs of people and government, and seek to help pastor the nation, drawing their wisdom from God himself and the scriptures, and resisting every enticement to political or social power and status.
It is surely of some significance that there is no pressure to ditch our patron saint, or what he stood for and proclaimed.
One of the striking themes in Patrick’s Confession is the need for great personal integrity. Surely church, State and people can unite in putting this fundamental Christian principle into action in the totality of life on this island.
That theme was at the heart of the Dáil service, and the public expression of it ought not to be discarded lightly.
The Rt Rev Dr Norman Hamilton is moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland hamilton@btinternet.com