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Post by maolsheachlann on Sept 10, 2013 14:25:18 GMT
Does anyone know where I can get the text of this pastoral letter, in which (as far as I understand) the bishops condemned anti-government violence?
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Post by hibernicus on Sept 11, 2013 21:43:03 GMT
Try a book called ORACLES OF GOD: THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND IRISH POLITICS 1922-37 (UCD Press, 2000) by Patrick Murray. It may reproduce the pastoral - it certainly discusses it.
Failing that, see if you can get access to a library file or microfilm of the IRISH INDEPENDENT of that date - the INDEPENDENT used to print bishops' pastorals in full.
One of the controversial features of the pastoral was that it included a condemnation of "unauthorised murders" which was interpreted by republicans as giving carte blanche for government reprisals. The pastoral's central argument is that the Free State government was the legitimate government and hence rebellion against it was unjustified - this is one reason why de Valera set up a rival republican government even though it barely functioned (because it allowed republicans to claim that they were acting in the name of a government rather than just being anarchists).
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Post by maolsheachlann on Sept 12, 2013 8:26:09 GMT
Thanks, Hibernicus, I will try that.
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Post by maolsheachlann on Sept 12, 2013 13:46:13 GMT
The pastoral letter is included as an appendix to the book. Many thanks again.
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