Friday, September 27, 2019
Catholic domination in Ireland Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5750 words
Catholic domination in Ireland - Essay Example In general, such a powerful influence is closely associated with the Irish self-government principle ââ¬ËHome Rule as Rome Ruleââ¬â¢3. However, it is often argued that this principle ââ¬Å"ignores the reality of the power of the Catholic Church in Irish society and in relation to the body politic under previous British ruleâ⬠4. Another control tool, implemented by the Church is linked with strict censorship. It was required for protecting traditional moral values. Since censorship of any kind is grounded on prejudices, it influences the shaping of peopleââ¬â¢s morals and manners, and impacts perspectives on the entire concept of the rule of law. ââ¬Å"Censorship can be defined simply as the restriction, by proper authorities, of intellectual, literary, artistic materials in any formatâ⬠5. Moreover, censorship by the Catholic Church is best understood in the context of community. Hence, such concepts as teachings, or social behaviour, which are inconsistent with t he rule of faith, should be censored in order to preserve the life of the community. Hagstrom6 outlines censorship within the church among the believers as ââ¬Ëin-house censorshipââ¬â¢. ... ules for editing materials and ideas of the social life sphere, making ââ¬Å"judgments on ideas, philosophies, behaviours and books that were contrary to Christian faith and moralsâ⬠7. An example of such an early censorship implementation is known as the Index of Forbidden Books, or Index Librorum Probibitorum. This was issued in 1557 by Pope Paul IV, though, it had a historical precedence dated AD 496 ââ¬Å"in a Decree issued by Gelasius, listing heretical and apocryphal books banned by preceding councils and popesâ⬠8 . This Index included a list of titles, which Catholics were not permitted to read and to own without ecclesiastical permission. Harold Gardiner conveys the Catholic Churchââ¬â¢s censorship standards, accepted after achieving the independence, wee closely linked with the notion that church is the cradle of love, which is intended for directing various parts of society towards the common harmony and enrichment9. In accordance with the clerical philosophy, the state is regarded as a ââ¬Ënaturalââ¬â¢ institution, where a human being forms a community with his fellow man, as a part of the social unity. Furthermore, Gardiner10 emphasizes that the human origin as the Godââ¬â¢s offshoot presupposes the necessity for the communal living, hence this need is also God-given, while the endeavour for the individuality leads to coercion, and its further development into tyranny and injustice. Since the government and its authority are ââ¬Ënaturalââ¬â¢, the institutions such as the Censorship Board are also regarded as ââ¬Ënaturalââ¬â¢, ââ¬Å"and as such, legitimate guardians and assessors of the norms towards which one must striveâ⬠11. Hence, ââ¬Å"the statement that authority is natural is a mistaken analysis of how authority in such circumstances functionsâ⬠12 because according to the
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