Madam, – Robin Bury, the Reform Group (December 12th) claims that the Angelus bell on RTÉ should be removed or replaced.
I, for one, would miss it very much, because it puts my mind into proper perspective after a troublesome or weary day. Prayer, no matter how short, is the most powerful source of energy.
Would the Reform Group not consider removing the violence on numerous television programmes which is ruining the minds of viewers? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Robin Bury (December 12th) argued that the Angelus should be removed from the RTÉ schedule. He states that it should be stopped because our State has signed up to the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and so should remain neutral in such matters.
In reply, I ask, what about the rights of the majority who believe that is an important and beneficial part of our day and wish it to continue?
The Angelus is simply a pause for prayer and reflection. It is indeed a Catholic prayer but surely people of all religions can use this brief moment to reflect and pray in their own way?
This surely cannot threaten any mature person’s sensibilities.
The idea that we should stop broadcasting it because no other public service broadcaster relays it is a spurious argument.
Why can we not be unique and have the Angelus? We should not follow every trend.
For believers, this minute of calm reflection on the good news of our faith is clearly beneficial, coming as it does before the news – which doesn’t cheer any of us up in these difficult times. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – It was refreshing to read Aidan Comerford (December 19th) propose that a minute of silence might follow the Angelus so that non-believers could “remind believers what we think about God”.
Most of the time, atheists in Ireland seem very keen to maintain their dogma that belief that there is no God magically does not amount to a faith proposition.
I for one would welcome another minute of silence on the airwaves during rush hour and would appreciate the clarity brought to public discourse by atheists admitting that they do in fact leap into faith when they state that they believe there is no God. – Yours, etc,