Foster to snub Pope visit

Posted by Jim on August 18, 2018

 

The DUP is not expected to send any representative to a civic reception
for Pope Francis in Dublin Castle next weekend after Arlene Foster said
she would not attend.

The announcement ends speculation about whether she would accept the
invitation as an ‘outreach gesture’ in response to Sinn Fein’s frequent
meetings with the British royal family.

The DUP has confirmed that the former first minister had officially
declined an invite from the Dublin government to next Saturday’s event,
and did not name a substitute. A spokesman said Mrs Foster would be away
with her family during the papal visit.

It will be the first visit to Ireland by a pope since John Paul II in
1979. Half a million people are expected to attend the Papal Mass in the
capital’s Phoenix Park when Pope Francis visits Ireland to attend the
World Meeting of Families (WMOF).

A further 250,000 people will be attending events at the RDS, Croke Park
and Knock, but he will not be crossing the border.

There are also indications that the Pope will meet victims of clerical
sex abuse at some stage in his itinerary. Abuse survivor Marie Collins,
who last year resigned from the Vatican Child Commission, urged the Pope
has to say what he is going to do about the issue of clerical abuse.

She said she hopes that the Pope will meet abuse survivors when he
visits Ireland next weekend and that they will be able “to challenge him
and demand what is necessary. We’re way past apologies.”

Pope Francis is also likely to comment on the recent vote in Ireland to
lift the ban on abortion in a statement that could prove uncomfortable
for Ireland’s political leaders.

The Pope is also expected to address the plight of Ireland’s homeless.
He is to visit Dublin’s Capuchin Day Centre on Saturday August 25, which
provides around 1,000 hot meals a day, clothing and showers for some of
Dublin’s homeless population.

Spokesman Brian McLoughlin says he hopes the Dublin government will be
shamed into action by the Pope. He says Ireland’s homelessness crisis is
now gathering attention overseas.

“I would say that Ireland’s homelessness problem is so prolific that it
has been brought to the Pope’s attention.

“This is the worst it’s ever been in the history of the state… I hope
the Pope does use the position that he has when he’s in Ireland to
highlight the homelessness problem and push for change that’s urgently
needed.

“The Pope has a huge audience, the world will be watching, he has to
highlight the plights in this country and force the government’s hand.”