Following the violent death of a 23-year-old schoolteacher in a midlands town, two Irish bishops have questioned societal attitudes toward women and reiterated Pope Francis’ contention that violence against women is an insult to God.
On Jan. 18, the funeral of Ashling Murphy took place in the small rural parish of St. Brigid in Mountbolus, County Offaly. Irish President Michael Higgins, Prime Minister Micheál Martin and other government officials, civic and religious leaders attended.
They were there to express the grief and outrage of the nation over the killing of the talented musician, sportswoman and devoted teacher in broad daylight while she was jogging along a canal bank in Tullamore on the afternoon of Jan. 12.
Thousands of people stood along the funeral route to express solidarity with Murphy’s grieving family. Vigils were held across Ireland, Britain and beyond over the weekend, to remember Murphy and all the women who have died through gender-based violence in recent years. Since 1996, 244 women have been killed violently in Ireland, according to Women’s Aid.
Before the final Prayer of Commendation at the funeral, Bishop Tom Deenihan of Meath told mourners, “A walk on a mild and sunny afternoon in January should be a happy event, promising the brighter and warmer days of spring and summer.”
Instead, a “depraved act of violence which deprived a kind, talented, loved and admired young woman of her life” had united the country in grief.
We cannot allow such violence and disregard for both human life and bodily integrity to take root in our time and culture
He said the crime asked questions of “our attitudes toward women, and it has questioned our values and our morality.”
“We cannot allow such violence and disregard for both human life and bodily integrity to take root in our time and culture,” he said.
Quoting from Pope Francis’ homily for New Year’s Day on violence against women, Bishop Deenihan added, “We all know that no individual should die like Ashling, and no family should suffer like Ashling’s.”
Father Michael Meade, parish priest of Kilcormac & Killoughey, who was chief celebrant at the funeral Mass and is a close friend of the Murphy family, appealed, “Let us not be afraid to make change a reality.”
Thank you. You are now signed up to Daily newsletter
In Limerick, Bishop Brendan Leahy said society owed it to Murphy’s memory “to ensure her journey did not end on Wednesday but rather marked a new and better beginning for how women are treated, how they are respected and, indeed, protected.”
He said the message “that violence against women is unacceptable” needed to be shouted from the rooftops across all organizations and communities.
Addressing the congregation in the parish of Killeedy, he said, “Let’s acknowledge to one another just how vital it is to promote a culture that is clearly and unambiguously opposed to violence, especially violence against women.”
Support UCA News…
….As we enter the first months of 2022, we are asking readers like you to help us keep UCA News free.
For the last 40 years, UCA News has remained the most trusted and independent Catholic news and information service from Asia. Every week, we publish nearly 100 news reports, feature stories, commentaries, podcasts and video broadcasts that are exclusive and in-depth, and developed from a view of the world and the Church through informed Catholic eyes.
Our journalistic standards are as high as any in the quality press; our focus is particularly on a fast-growing part of the world – Asia – where, in some countries the Church is growing faster than pastoral resources can respond to – South Korea, Vietnam and India to name just three.
And UCA News has the advantage of having in its ranks local reporters who cover 23 countries in south, southeast, and east Asia. We report the stories of local people and their experiences in a way that Western news outlets simply don’t have the resources to reach. And we report on the emerging life of new Churches in old lands where being a Catholic can at times be very dangerous.
With dwindling support from funding partners in Europe and the USA, we need to call on the support of those who benefit from our work.
Click here to find out the ways you can support UCA News. You can make a difference for as little as US$5…
Credit: Source link
