In the hallowed halls of Limerick’s spiritual leadership, a battle cry resounds as Most Rev. Dr O’Dwyer, the esteemed Bishop of Limerick, raises his pen to address the guardians of the faith. In a letter read aloud by Mr Guinane, the clerk, at the meeting of the Limerick Board of Guardians on September 30, the bishop’s words echo with a potent mixture of condemnation and determination.
The letter commences with a gracious acknowledgment of a resolution passed by the Limerick No. 2 District Council and the Board of Guardians. This resolution, a response to Mr Asquith’s alleged interference with the recent Eucharistic Procession in London, elicited heartfelt gratitude from Bishop O’Dwyer. However, the tone swiftly shifts as the bishop unflinchingly denounces the actions of the Prime Minister.
Bishop O’Dwyer, a staunch defender of the Catholic faith, takes Mr Asquith to task for what he perceives as a gross insult to the Catholic religion worldwide. The Bishop’s pen spares no ink as he criticizes Mr Asquith for succumbing to political expediency and aligning with individuals whom the bishop deems as “clamorous bigots.” The Eucharistic Congress, a solemn act of religion, becomes a battleground where Bishop O’Dwyer staunchly defends the honour of Catholics against perceived insults and unwarranted interference.
The bishop’s ire extends beyond political figures to the authorities of the Catholic Church itself. In a bold and unapologetic stance, Bishop O’Dwyer accuses the Pope, Cardinal Vannutelli, the Archbishop of Westminster, and the Archbishop of Dublin of holding the Eucharistic Congress in London to “rub shoulders with aristocrats” rather than in Dublin. The letter paints a picture of a Church divided by perceived ingratitude towards Ireland, further intensifying the bishop’s conviction to defend the sanctity of the Eucharistic Congress.
The narrative takes a political turn as Bishop O’Dwyer condemns members of the Irish Parliamentary Party, notably Mr Dillon, for aligning with Mr Asquith and the English Liberals. The Home Rule movement, once a beacon of hope, is now, in the bishop’s eyes, sinking into the grave due to this alignment. The bishop’s disdain for such alliances is palpable as he predicts a funeral service conducted by Rev. Sylvester Horne and funeral arrangements meticulously handled by Messrs. O’Connor and Dillon.
Yet, amidst the condemnation and predictions of demise, Bishop O’Dwyer proclaims an unwavering belief in the resurrection of the Home Rule cause. The cause, he asserts, will rise again, resilient against the political machinations that seek to bury it.
The letter, a tour de force of conviction and condemnation, concludes with a reflection on the perceived infatuation of some Irish politicians with English Parties. Bishop O’Dwyer challenges the gains, or lack thereof, that Ireland has historically reaped from such alliances, emphasizing the need for Irishmen to prioritize their own people over foreign patrons.
In the final strokes of his pen, Bishop O’Dwyer stands as a sentinel, guarding the sanctity of the Catholic faith and the Home Rule cause. His words, immortalized in the minutes of the Board of Guardians, echo through the corridors of Irish history, marking a chapter where faith, politics, and national identity intersect in the fervent heart of Limerick.
Catholic Times and Catholic Opinion – Friday 09 October 1908
