A Letterkenny-based priest has said that the family unit is being threatened by society in many ways, sharing Enoch Burke as the example of people being punished for taking a stance.
Fr Damien Nejad told the congregation at St Eunan’s Cathedral this morning that ‘woke culture’ is being imposed whether people like it or not.
Fr Nejad was speaking on the Feast of the Holy Family when he said that families are being harmed by a mixture of ideas from capitalism and communism.
Children are being exposed to such ideas from an early age, he said.
On the controversial new Religious Education Curriculum in schools, he said: “It may seem harmless on the surface but parents of children in primary schools are concerned of what their children could be exposed to at such a young age.
Fr Nejad said the curriculum changes are “essentially designed to undermine the nature of a family that is based on traditional marriage.”
“They even undermine gender differences which is a fundamental aspect of God’s creation,” he said.
“Beginning with the sexual revolution in the 1960s, we have now moved to a point where the woke culture has really taken hold of much of society, including the film industry.
“If you want to highlight these issues it is difficult because they are being imposed whether people like it or not.”
Fr Nejad claimed many may sympathise with Enoch Burke, the Westmeath schoolteacher at the centre of a row over a transgender student.
“He stood resolutely by what he believes in,” said Fr Nejad.
“We might not agree with his approach but we cannot fault his conviction and it’s amazing how he had even been to prison and he still wouldn’t back down.
“It’s concerning how he has spent so much time in prison for a position which many of us will sympathise with.”
Fr Nejad stressed the importance of families praying together and upholding “traditional Catholic values” in a world which presents many challenges to them.
“The family that prays together, stays together,” Fr Nejad told parishioners.
He pointed to the high cost of living, high levels of tax and changes in mindset and values all impacting families.
“TV shows have a big role to play in changing people’s mindset and values,” he said.
“Even in the world of employment, a big feature is to get women out to work, making childcare a serious option.
“Everything is designed to make it less affordable, more difficult for families to bring up children,” he said.
Fr Nejad added that: “Today, we may not have full blown communism as seen in other countries throughout the world.
“However we do have something which is like a mixture of ideas from capitalism and communism This is probably more dangerous as it can be hard to detect what is actually happening.”
