In his homily, Bishop Smith reflected on the quality of
service which St Oliver Plunkett gave to his Church and country.
“St Oliver was a person and a priest of the utmost
integrity. He sought to live out the vocation he has accepted with fidelity
even unto death. He could have saved his life by compromising and accepting
offers made to him. However these would have compromised the integrity of his
commitment to his vocation and violated his conscience.
“The example of St Oliver is striking in these times when
compromise, following current fashion and media hype are much in vogue. This is
especially so on the issue at present before the Dáil, touching the most
fundamental of all rights, the right to life. A refusal to engage with the
serious issues involved, media distortion and misrepresentation, the imposition
of a party whip that ignores conscience all demean the discussion. Is party
unity more important than a decision to enshrine the taking of the life of the
innocent unborn child in our laws? This decision will, over the decades,
have profound consequences for life and society.
“When St Oliver had difficult decisions to make, he was not
swayed by personal convenience or social pressures, an example that is much
absent in these times when opinion polls take precedence over those fundamental
moral principles that give cohesion and substance to life and to society.”
Above from: Diocese of Meath
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