Emergency Needs Payments
By Primal Sneeze ~ May 3rd, 2009. Filed under: Politicians, Religion.
More cash-strapped families than ever are turning to the government for financial assistance to cover the cost of the rite read the strapline to an article entitled Parents seek state alms for communion in today’s Sunday Times.
More than 8,000 families have claimed €2.27m in emergency-needs payments this year — an average of €284 — to pay for dresses and suits for their children, a sharp rise on previous years. The scheme is funded by the Department of Social and Family Affairs.
A joke, I though. A witty colour-piece.
But is wasn’t a joke.
Hot on the heels of learning how Minister Mary Hanafin’s Department for Social and Family Affairs are pumping money into Catholic counselling agencies we hear that State is also funding that particular religion’s ceremonies.
I somehow think it unlikely that a young Jewish girl’s family would receive State financial support when she becomes a Bat Mitzvah or that adherents of Hinduism would celebrate their baby’s Annaprashan with a State sponsored party.
As is evident from last week’s announcement of the Defamation (blasphemy) Bill this country is far from being secular.
Secular? No. Circular perhaps – everything comes back to religion – one religion.
Bloody hell!! Only in Ireland….. *sigh*
I couldn’t go to Punchestown last week. Overdue payments from clients meant the coffers were low.
I should have applied for an emergency needs payment … the first race was the Fr. Breen Memorial. That’s count wouldn’t it.
Secular? No. Circular? No. Scapular. Yes!
Scapular
I love that! And I may steal it (use again) from you
Mad, the country’s mad.
It would seem so.
I thought it was a joke at first – no messing – but I’ve since spoken to a couple who have received payments.
Yes – I was wondering was it only me thought that this was totally inappropriate – I wonder is it infact unconstitutional? I think it probably is. Any thoughts on that angle Mr Sneeze?
Unconstitutional?
Does this (or any government to date) care about the constitution?
They are bringing in a blasphemy bill because they “are forced to” by a line in the constitution – “house keeping”, mar dhea – yet other alterations to it have not yet become law.
These rites had degenerated from a sacrament into a race to keep up with the Joneses.
http://www.photopol.com/signs/communing.html
My philosophy has always been not to keep up with the Joneses – I drag them down to my level.
Seconded.
Suits and Dresses and other extravagances have nothing to do with the sacrament.
Some parishes and schools, my children’s included, have tried to side step the fashion show by distributing white, one type fits all, albs. As is commonly done abroad.
And encouraging people to overspend is a perverse use of government money; particularly from the same department that has cut the Christmas bonus for pensioners.
But then, the current regime has thrived on encouraging us into personal debt.
I have very good friends who are not catholic. Yet, ironically, communion-time cost them a fortune.
Their daughter was so upset at missing out on the pampering, partying and general kitsch that they took her to Disneyland in lieu.
In my day 195? you wore your school uniform (handed down in my case) with some kind of white device attached to your lapel and you were good to go. Then you halloweened around to every relative, friends parents and soft hearted semi-stranger who you thought would be good for a couple of bob for the day that was in it.Made a fortune, at least fifteen and six. Jesus, you could get a lot for fifteen and six in those days.
Fifteen and six would have paid for a limo. If there had been such a thing.
@Primal Sneeze – It’s a rite of passage as well as a religious rite. But secular society hasn’t come up with alternatives yet. The East Germans used to have the equivalent of a secular confirmation (Jugendweihe – youth dedication). As far as Iknow, the Humanist Society there has adopted that one. The Romans gave young fellas a toga. And so on.
But, like many other things, it has become a commercialised debtfest rather than having any social or pious meaning for many.
That’s life.
There are many secular rites of passage: first shave, first wet dream and so on. Perhaps we should look at some of these.
Of course we’d need ones for the boys too.
People who liked this post also read on the bus.
how did y’all know this, sugar? damn, honey, this is almost as good as y’alls greeting before!
xoxoxo
(by the by, if i move to ireland would i qualify for emergency lapsed catholic aid?)
Yes you would. I’d play down the lapsed bit though.