The credibility of Irish politicians has been damaged following the recent general election, a leading churchman said yesterday.
In a sermon at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin, Archdeacon Gordon Linney said that "whatever the politicians may say about their election manifestoes and the small print, the impression was given that all was well and would continue to be well, despite the well-documented and stated views of many experts to the contrary".
It was "difficult to recall any politician, who specifically mentioned the situation we are now facing of budget cuts/adjustments and job losses, even when challenged. The damage to the credibility of the political establishment is real as the cynicism of people at large deepens, and that is serious," he said.
"For example, when it comes to the Nice Treaty referendum is there not a real danger that a very important decision, affecting not only the future of Ireland but of Europe, might well be influenced by the fact that enough people no longer believe what politicians tell them?"
Dealing specifically with the cutbacks, Archdeacon Linney drew attention to Cardinal Connell's appeal last week to the Government not to hurt the poor.
The cardinal "was speaking on an inner-city stage, where what was preached was also practised. Here was recognition from people, who know that when budgets are trimmed or restricted, the poor and the vulnerable will feel the pain more than anyone else. This is inevitable when health, education and Third World relief are prime targets," the archdeacon said
And while these cuts were being announced "the big issue, that seemed to attract and even entertain, was where money could be found to build a football stadium. This is not to question the value of sport but to raise the issue of our priorities."
He added that "as a people and as churches, we need to create a new climate in Ireland where the values we claim to hold are given real place in the way we conduct our affairs".
Honesty and integrity were "essentials in the foundations of any stable society and they have been too easily compromised in recent years. The good people in politics and other areas of national life, who put country first, can put that to right by their words and deeds but they must be seen and heard," he said.
Such people needed the support and commitment of the wider community "because it is sometimes said that if politicians tell the truth they won't get elected".
Maybe the reality was "that we are not told the truth because we don't want to know the truth, and we don't want to be presented with challenges that are painful and costly", he said.
But there were "no short-cuts when it comes to the real thing," the archdeacon concluded.
