Catholic Info
Traditional Catholic Faith => Catholic Living in the Modern World => Topic started by: John Grace on August 16, 2013, 04:49:15 PM
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Probably those in Ireland will be aware of 'Eclipsed' a play first staged in 1992 and about the Magdalen Homes.
In Galway at the moment certain people are busy agitating and pushing their anti-Catholic agenda.
The Magdalen homes and the death of an Indian woman continue to be used to attack Catholics.
As I mentioned on a previous thread the Sisters of Mercy have leased their convent to COPE an organisation that cares for women experiencing violence.
'Eclipsed' was written by a former novice of the Sisters of Mercy. As a novice she spent a short period of time in the Magdalen Home in Galway.
In the coming days 'Eclipsed' will be staged again.
Regarding abortion, the Galway Rape Crisis Centre rent a house on Sister of Mercy land at the old laundry site.
In the newspapers it was mentioned a speaker from their centre would speak at a pro-abortion event. The person is no longer involved in the rape crisis centre and they didn't send a speaker to the event.
I was speaking to a girl about this. She was pleased the Rape Crisis Centre cancelled a speaker and the person mentioned is no longer their directoress.
A few weeks ago I was speaking to a woman, who works in the Rape Crisis Centre and I was surprised she agreed with me in relation to opposing a "memorial" to the women who stayed with the Mercy Order.
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http://www.sistersofmercy.ie/zambia/pdf/200713_statement_re_magdalen_laundries.pdf
Statement from the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy
20 July 2013
On 26 June last the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy welcomed the publication of the Report of
Mr Justice John Quirke on the establishment of an ex gratia scheme for the benefit of those women
who were admitted to and worked in the Magdalene Laundries. The Congregation pledged its
cooperation with all recommendations of the Report which touched on our involvement in such a
scheme. We would like to renew our invitation to anyone who may have spent time in our care, to
come and meet with us, if they so wish.
In advance of the announcement by the Government that it will fulfil the recommendations of Mr
Justice Quirke, our Congregation had given its commitment to Minister Shatter that it would cooperate
in the manner envisaged by Mr Justice Quirke. We clarified that we would not contribute financially to
the State Scheme. We reminded Minister Shatter that our Congregation has provided care to women
who spent time with us in many different contexts throughout our history and that we will continue to
do so in ways that accord with our mission.
As taxpayers who donate their net salaries/pensions to our charitable funds, our Sisters share in the
burden of all citizens in responding to women for whom, in past decades, admission to Magdalene
Laundries was seen as appropriate refuge.
A national newspaper, on Thursday last, reported incorrectly on the amount that our Congregation
has contributed to the Statutory Fund for former residents of child care institutions. Since 2009 our
Congregation has contributed in excess of €21.7 million in cash to the State towards the Statutory
Fund, a far different sum to that of €1.6 million stated by the newspaper.
The €21.7m cash already paid is part of a larger contribution offered by our Congregation and valued
in December 2009 at in excess of €127.5 million. The Congregation has been steadfast in its efforts to
bring about the complete implementation of its contribution to the State. We urge Government to
ensure that unnecessary delays in the implementation of this contribution are avoided to the greatest
extent possible
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http://www.catholicleague.org/myths-of-the-magdalene-laundries/
Patricia Burke Brogan backs up Smith’s observations. A former novice who wrote a play on this subject, “Eclipsed,” she admits she never witnessed any physical beatings. Speaking specifically about Mullan’s movie, she said, “I could not stand it. Some of the parts were really over-the-top. The nuns were monsters.” It is not shocking to learn that when Mullan is asked to respond to those who challenge his account, he refuses to offer a specific rebuttal; he simply replies that his movie understated the horrible conditions.