Might it be only a matter of time before a sizable section of the Irish electorate wakes up to what is really going on under the surface in the political and media seconded onslaught on the universal Catholic Church? There are signs that it may not be much longer before they see through how the Irish Labour Party’s  the Labour atheist liberals are steamrolling the blustering but ultimately lightweight Enda Kenny into a secularist cul-de-sac which is an alien place for most of his party faithful.

The Labour Party’s unscrupulous exploitation of the victimhood of those who suffered sexual abuse and the constant use of the “safe place for children” mantra will surely soon begin to wear thin. The lady doth protest too much and the reality of compassion fatigue will set in – as it has for many already. When it does, the nakedness of the secularists’ venom will become clear and we will all be able to deal with the real issue here – the battle for the hearts and mind of the people of Ireland.

As matters stand just now every effort to expose this real agenda is confronted with a nauseating and hypocritical cry of horror that the abuse of children is being heartlessly ignored – for any number of ulterior and unworthy motives.

If and when people who have a real faith-based loyalty to the Catholic Church, the Church which the majority of Irish people still believe was founded by Jesus Christ himself and on which they believe the ultimate good of their society and their eternal salvation depends, begin to see what is really going on here then there may be a political reckoning for the resurgent Labour Party and their fellow-travellers which they did not… well, reckon on.

Paul Cullen, writing in The Irish Times on Tuesday  http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0906/1224303590313.html

hinted at the way this whole affair might be unfolding politically. His observations suggested something of the inexorable law of unintended consequesnces which might be unfolding for Mr. Kenny.

The Vatican’s response of last Saturday, he says, “by dint of its detailed rebuttal of the accusations hurled by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny and the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Eamon Gilmore, over the summer, puts the ball firmly back in their court. It demands of that they substantiate the claims they have made against the spiritual leaders of the country’s dominant faith.”

Eamon Gilmore tells us he has no interest in being drawn into a prolonged bout of nit-picking with the Vatican over “this phrase and that”. “As the leader of a secular, left-wing party, he can probably afford to adopt this stance, safe in the knowledge that it will play well with his natural support base”, Cullen thinks.

The Taoiseach, he says, faces a different challenge, both personal and political. “He is a committed, Mass-going Catholic, and this fact lent his criticisms of last July particular pungency. He is also the leader of a traditional, right-of-centre political party with long historical ties to the church. As such, he can’t just brush off the implied criticism of his position contained in the Vatican’s response. He must also pay heed to the words of Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin, almost a lone voice in his church in criticising his colleagues’ response to abuse.”

There is enormous respect for Archbishop Martin and that he would now be calling for some accountability from Mr. Kenny is significant and something that will be noticed.

What might be coming down the tracks for Irish politicians was predicted for their counterparts across the Irish Sea this week in London’s Daily Telegraph. This was in the context of the handling by politicians there of the effort to ameliorate some of the rather horrific consequences of Britain’s abortion laws. It seems that the Conservative leadership have got cold feet about some amendments to legislation which would have this effect. They have been “got at” by the abortion lobby and are putting pressure on back-bench Tories who were favouring the amendment.

Christina Odone commented in the Telegraph: “This kind of bullying, once the preserve of the Labour Party, is surfacing among Tories under a PM who feels insecure about “ethical” issues. As a former (and according to his then tutor Vernon Bogdanor, brilliant) PPE student, Dave knows his rights from his wrongs. The problem is, he also knows that the liberal establishment he curries favour with (those hacks and TV producers, think-tankers and PR professionals he’s partied with since his 30s) abhor any hint of a conservative morality”

She then sounds a warning note, which members of the Irish parliament might do well to take note of: “But beware, Members of Parliament, of following pied piper Dave over the cliff. As the ever-splendid Ann Widdecombe has warned, a vote against the amendments may well cost you your post. The reason? Three little words: Dr Evan Harris. The former Tory minister points out how Dr Harris, who enjoyed a comfortable majority (7683) as Lib Dem MP in Oxford West and Abingdon, had irked, with his secularist agenda, Christians in his constituency. During the election, Church groups lobbied against him. And they won: to the shock horror of the liberal establishment who revere Dr Harris for his right-on atheist fundamentalism, the good doctor bit the dust; Nicola Blackman, a young Tory, took the seat with a 17 majority.

“That’s quite a turnaround. And it should send a shiver of fear down every MP’s spine today: you mess with people of conscience at your peril.” http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/cristinaodone/100103496/abortion-vote-the-fate-of-dr-evan-harris-should-be-a-warning-to-mps-who-ignore-their-christian-voters/

Perhaps it is time for Irish parliamentarians to take stock of the real value of their political capital and not take their electorate too much for granted, playing fast and loose as they have been with their emotions – and their consciences.