Joe McVeigh got it exactly right. Now it’s the Catholic hierarchy’s turn

Let me make my position clear at the start: I believe the media in Ireland have been anti-clerical and anti-Catholic Church for several decades now. Yes, that sits in a wider and earlier contest, when the media fawned over every edict of the Church and feared the belt of a crozier if they stepped out of line. But that was then. In recent decades, as I say, they have by and large been happy Catholic Church bashers.

Which makes it amazing that the Church hasn’t detached itself from Allianz insurance. If you read Joe McVeigh’s recent blog here, you’ll know what Allianz is and does. Among the several striking points Joe made was that Allianz has invested some $1 billion in Israeli war bonds, which Israel itself acknowledges is vital to the war against Gaza,to which you now can add Lebanon and Iran.

The GAA also has some conscience -examining to do. Allianz sponsors both hurling and football, which means this’d probably be a good time to ask Jarlath Burns -preferably on Prime Time – when he last went to confession.

As a paid-up member of the Catholic Church, I reckon I’m entitled to call on the Catholic Church to do the right thing and sever all relations with Allianz. I follow Gaelic games, and in fact have shelled out far too much money to GAA+ to get seeing championship games this season. I reckon that entitles me to ask where Jarlath Burns has left his principles. Behind in the classroom, maybe.

The hierarchy of the Catholic Church will claim it takes no side in politics. Which is untrue, as you’d know if you were half-awake at any point during the Troubles.  But that was yesterday – this is now. The bishops should write a pastoral letter explaining how it’s possible to lament the slaughter of Gazan innocents, while at the same time passing money to those who are doing the slaughtering. It’s not a complicated matter – the Catholic Church should divest itself immediately of all links with Allianz. If it did, it might find the Irish media would be as ready with their praise as they’ve been vocal in their criticism for so long.