Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I was very glad when my colleague, Senator Norris, paid tribute to Pope Francis yesterday regarding what he said in Lampedusa. Pope Francis went to Lampedusa to stand in solidarity with thousands of African boat people and illegal immigrants. In his comments Pope Francis asked who was responsible for the blood of these brothers and sisters and stated the answer was nobody. He stated everybody answers that he or she did not have anything to do with it so it must be someone else. He was warning against this attitude of individualism and the culture of comfort which makes us think only of ourselves.

These words are very wise and it reminds me that whether said by a Christian thinker such as Pope Francis or an atheist dissident such as Sakharov, words which call us to the best in ourselves and urge us to reflect deeply and conscientiously on very important issues should always be welcome in politics and welcomed by politicians. It is absolutely contemptible for any Member of the House or anybody else to seek to exclude the voices of church members or church leaders from these debates. We should be very wary about where such people would take our politics when they seek not to focus on the issues but rather to denigrate those who make arguments with sincerity.

I am reminded that what Pope Francis had to say has very broad application. Another famous voice of conscience was the German Protestant pastor Niemöller, who famously reminded us,

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.

Let us remember these words and never try to exclude such voices from our discussions.