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Bishop advocates mercy towards all creatures
04 October 2007 ICABS has welcomed a statement from the Bishop of Killaloe, Willie Walsh, in which he advocates "mercy, kindness and love towards all God's creatures". The bishop was responding to an email from ICABS in which we called for the bishops of Ireland to condemn blood sports. Although Bishop Walsh expressed his view that "such condemnations [by clergy] can be counterproductive", he pointed to the promotion of compassion as being a way forward. "I believe that preaching mercy, kindness and love towards all God's creatures will be more effective in the long run," Bishop Walsh stated. "I fully respect your own approach on the matter," he added.
The ICABS appeal to Ireland's Bishops Your Excellency, Earlier this year, we were delighted to learn that the Conference of Catholic Bishops in the US state of New Mexico came out strongly against the cruel blood sport of cockfighting. "The Bishops recognise that cockfighting is abusive of God's good creation and is not a cultural treasure," they stated prior to a ban being implemented. "Cockfighting promotes violence." The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is respectfully asking the Bishops of Ireland to consider following this good example and openly condemning the blood sports which continue in this country. Hare coursing, carted deer hunting, mink hunting and fox hunting are cruel activities which cause horrendous suffering to animals. They are also contrary to the Catechism which outlines that "it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly" and "Animals are God's creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness." It would be a great help to our campaign if you could join us in calling for a ban on these inhumane and merciless acts of cruelty against God's creatures. ACTION ALERT Please get in touch with your local clergy and ask them to condemn blood sports and/or promote compassion towards all creatures in Ireland. Ask them to have a look at our websites which reveal the reality of blood sport abuse - www.banbloodsports.com and www.youtube.com/icabs About Bishop Willie Walsh Bishop Willie Walsh is a native of Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. He was educated at Corville National School, Roscrea and St. Flannan's College, Ennis. He studied for the priesthood at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth and the Irish College, Rome. He was ordained priest in Rome in 1959. After ordination he completed his studies in canon law at the Lateran University in Rome. On his return to Ireland he taught for a year at Colaiste Einde, Galway and joined the staff of St. Flannan's College, Ennis in 1963. In 1988 he was appointed curate at Ennis Cathedral and became administrator there in 1990. He has been pastorally involved with ACCORD (formerly the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council) since its foundation in the Killaloe diocese. He has worked with Marriage Tribunals at diocesan, regional and national levels. He has pursued a life-long interest in sport and has been involved in coaching hurling teams at colleges, club and county grades. He was ordained Bishop of Killaloe on 2 October 1994.
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