South Dakota Covid Cases Collapse After ... Wed Jan 27, 2021 20:59 | Marko Marjanović
Canadian Mom Fined $880 for Letting Gran... Wed Jan 27, 2021 19:55 | Lenore Skenazy
Triple-Masker Looks Down on People Who O... Wed Jan 27, 2021 18:56 | The Babylon Bee
Israel Pretends It May Attack Iran, IDF ... Wed Jan 27, 2021 17:50 | The Times of Israel
Reflecting the Authoritarian Climate, Im... Wed Jan 27, 2021 16:51 | Glenn Greenwald Anti-Empire >>
A bird's eye view of the vineyard
Dress Rehearsal Of Color Revolution In Russia Wed Jan 27, 2021 15:38 | amarynth South Front Anti-government protests under the pretext of the detention of the notorious Russian opposition leader Navalny took place in various cities across the country. They were characterized by underwhelming
American Prospect Wed Jan 27, 2021 11:34 | amarynth by Sushi for the Saker Blog If you wish to understand the concerns of those who attended the 1/6 Save America rally, you can learn much by watching the first
Russian President Putin Delivers Speech at Virtual World Economic Forum Wed Jan 27, 2021 11:34 | amarynth This is the live stream video. The transcript is now being posted as it becomes available. Update: Transcript complete. President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Schwab, dear Klaus, Colleagues, I have
Democrats? ?divide and conquer? Senate show trial may jeopardize duopoly Wed Jan 27, 2021 10:42 | amarynth by Ramin Mazaheri and PressTV Much ink could be spilled about the upcoming, and second, Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump, but that would be a waste of ink –
Moveable Feast Cafe 2021/01/26 ? Open Thread Tue Jan 26, 2021 20:30 | Herb Swanson 2021/01/26 20:30:02Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of The Saker >>
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005
Mainstream media: Failing to speak truth to power
David Quinn’s selective tolerance Anthony
A Woulfe in judges clothing Anthony
Sarah McInerney and political impartiality Anthony
Did RTE journalists collude against Sinn Fein? Anthony Public Inquiry >>
The Party and the Ballot Box Sun Jul 14, 2019 22:24 | Gavin Mendel-Gleason
On The Decline and Fall of The American Empire and Socialism Sat Jan 26, 2019 01:52 | S. Duncan
What is Dogmatism and Why Does It Matter? Wed Mar 21, 2018 08:10 | Sylvia Smith
The Case of Comrade Dallas Mon Mar 19, 2018 19:44 | Sylvia Smith
Review: Do Religions Evolve? Mon Aug 14, 2017 19:54 | Dara McHugh Spirit of Contradiction >>
|
Irish Capitalism, The Catholic Church and violence agains women and children.
international |
gender and sexuality |
opinion/analysis
Tuesday October 21, 2014 22:43 by john throne - Facts For Working People

It is institutions. And ideas.
The degrees of violence against women and children and the slave labor inflicted on Irish women in the laundries are not caused by some flaw in the Irish character but by the nature of Irish capitalism and its relationship to the anti women dictatorial Catholic church. Irish capitalism had the misfortune to be situated close to one of the most powerful capitalist powers in the world. In fact for a century the most powerful. I am talking about British capitalism and then British imperialism. The result was that Irish capitalism was not able to develop as a healthy and strong entity. It could not carry out its tasks. (See Trotsky on the Theory of the Permanent Revolution). But events transpired that led again and again to uprisings and struggles of sections of the Irish masses. In the 1916/1920 period this led to a truncated form of independence for the 26 counties. The struggle that had led to this was fought by Irish workers, small farmers and intellectuals. Irish capitalism was missing in action. As the struggle developed and negotiations to end the struggle developed the attitude of the capitalist class was summed up in the phrase: "Labor must wait." To their shame the labor leaders adopted this position and sabotaged the workers movement. The result was that Irish capitalism in spite of its role came to preside over the new 26 county state. However in doing so it was in a very weak and vulnerable position. It needed allies. The result was it reached out to the Catholic church and made a deal. This deal was that Irish capitalism would have its way with the economy and the Catholic church would run the schools, the hospitals, be allowed to "discipline" the youth, and decide on all the moral issues. It would also get the state declared a Catholic state. This fueled the fires of Loyalism in the North but that is another story.
So today when the monstrous crimes of the Catholic church are being exposed, when the terrible abuse of women and children are being dragged out of the hidden shadows in which they were placed, we have to ask the question who was and is to blame. The answer is simple. It is the weak Irish capitalist class and its ally the anti woman, dictatorial Catholic church. It is important to keep the focus on both these culprits. If we do not then we let irish capitalism off the hook. And we must not let Irish capitalism off the hook. Irish capitalism is trying to focus on on SF in the present discussion over the abuse of women. This must not be allowed to happen. We must not let FF and FG and the capitalist class attack SF when in fact they themselves were and are much more central to the abuse and crimes of the Catholic church in Ireland. And, and here is the point in this SF abuse case, between them they created the backward brutal culture in which the special oppression of women and children and the abuse of women and children took place.
Put the finger on the forces who are to blame. Irish capitalism, their political parties and institutions, and this includes Sinn Fein one of Irish capitalism's political parties, the Catholic church and all its institutions, these are all to blame.
What about the membership of the Catholic church. What responsibility do they have? The hierarchy have the most responsibility. This is without doubt. They spewed out the propaganda and lies and culture and intimidation and terror that kept the membership in the pews and paying the weekly dues. But again to the responsibility of the membership. There is no excuse any longer for anybody saying they do not know what has been been going on, for anybody saying what kind of an organization the Catholic church. This organization is corrupt and undemocratic and anti women. It is in fact anti life in the sense that life is for all that is healthy and progressive and full of joy. Those who are in the Catholic church should leave it. Those who cannot do so should seriously question why they cannot. Those who cannot should organize an opposition within it.
But those who seek to do so should be clear. When the liberation theology priests and members tried to organize an opposition within it in the 1960's and 1970's the leaders of the Catholic church worked with US imperialism, its military dictatorships, its armed gangs and thugs and killers in Latin America to wipe out and murder that opposition. The leaders of the Catholic church, that dictatorial organization, that the main church of capitalism, will not give up its wealth and power without the most vicious struggle.
In taking up Sinn Fein for the manner in which it has acted in the MS. Cahil case, we have to also take up Irish capitalism and all its parties and its ally the Catholic church. John Throne.
|
View Comments Titles Only
save preference
Comments (1 of 1)
Jump To Comment: 1Glad to see that on reflection this time you have attempted to pen a somewhat more balanced article
about the abuse of women in organisations,
I'd just like to note that FG/FF, despite all their screeching about SF in the Marie Cahill debacle,
have both cut funds to the rape crisis centres
This particular fact clearly shows how little the right wing mainstream parties really care about the rape and abuse of women.