Channeling the Archbishop

From the letters page of the April 9 edition of the St. John's Telegram, the following exercise in irony by Father John Maddigan of St. John's:

If I were to write a letter to Opposition Leader Gerry Reid, I would tell him to back off. Back off and back Danny Williams in this.

This is no time for you to develop the Stephen Harper syndrome of speaking out of both sides of your mouth. [you mean like Danny Williams did on the Labrador Metis issue? — ed.]

You cannot say, "Don't elect any Tory federal MPs in Newfoundland and Labrador," and at the same time say, "Let's cosy up to the federal Tories in Ottawa." Perhaps you don't say "cosy up," but that is how you sound.

Gerry, you are trying to eat the cake you don't have. If Danny doesn't win this battle, then we will probably still get some goodies from Ottawa but the main meal will be taken off the table.

I have no intention of entering the political arena, but I do make a plea for fairness. It is time for us to make a united stand. The rest of Canada seems to be against us. They are looking for a crack in our armour. Gerry, don't be the one to provide it. We need a united front, a strong shield of faith, a breastplate of righteousness.

This is a good fight to fight. Back off, Gerry. Back Danny. The real Gerry Reid needs to stand up. The last thing we need is another bipolar politician.

Yes, Father, absolutely, the very, very, very last thing we need is another bipolar politician.

This letter follows on an earlier one, from February 19, from another man of the cloth, Father Aidan Devine of Deer Lake:

I am a Catholic priest witnessing the slow death of a beautiful province. The recent Marine Atlantic fare increase is a small item, but extra stress for those who must use the service.

It's a sign of the lack of respect shown for this province, and it's added to previous indicators, such as: the premier having to have all Canadian flags lowered on all provincial buildings to get Ottawa's attention. Our inshore fishery closing in 1992, resulting in rural community death. (Ottawa maintains international trade balances as foreign countries strip away whatever fish are left.) Goose Bay in decline. Gander International Airport downgraded. The Stephenville mill closed with little assistance. The famous Churchill Falls Hydro contract - a Quebec robbery of our resources. The roads for our railway closure, which involved lots of Ottawa promises never met.

Regarding the ferry fare hike, the federal government will hear little outcry because it has beaten this place into submission to the point where we have become completely lethargic and apathetic. We deserve respect but in its place we see communities emptied, families torn apart, the moral fabric of our province destroyed. You don't do that to people you respect. The people of Newfoundland and Labrador are a tired, angry, frustrated people; people who are bitter and demoralized and who see no hope of a future.

Ottawa has no idea what life is like for people living in rural Newfoundland and Labrador in any one of the hundreds of communities that exist(ed) outside the City of St. John's. They are rapidly dying and I fear the federal government could care less.

Next week in The Telegram: a missive from the grave by Archbishop Roche.