Laura Hussey investigates the recent interview of former UCC Chaplain Fr David Barrins in The Sunday Independent, in which he claims that Catholic students are being silenced by Irish universities.

On Sunday the 9th of October, Claire McCormack published an article for The Sunday Independent’s website titled ‘Catholic fear and loathing in our universities.’ In the article, Ms McCormack analysed the idea that Catholics’ beliefs are disregarded by third level institutions. Fr. David Barrins’ opinions formed the bulk of the article, with the former UCC Chaplain claiming that Irish universities are trying to silence students who have a strong Catholic ethos. University College Cork prominently featured in the article, given that Fr. Barrin’s previous post was with the UCC Chaplaincy. Barins believes that universities like UCC are ‘intolerant’ towards Catholics, especially those who represent the pro-life side of the abortion debate. “It’s discrimination and it keeps people silent by using very evocative terms like homophobic and bigot . . . it’s very hard to fight that because once you’re labelled, it seems to stick,” explained Fr Barrins. In the article in question, Fr. Barrins spoke about what he describes as a generally ‘anti-Catholic’ feeling among Irish universities. He claims that UCC is perpetuating the idea that an ‘anti-Catholic’ or ‘anti-pro-life’ attitude is acceptable.

The Dominican friar focuses in on a number of UCC student-run bodies whom he feels help enforce this ‘anti-Catholic’ ethos in the community. He determined that over the past three years this has especially been the case. One of his criticisms was against the UCC Students’ Union which Fr Barrins’ claimed was disrespectful towards certain Catholic students’ beliefs; he revealed to Ms McCormack that at the last UCC SHAG Week in 2014 a “massive pink penis” was set up outside the Honan Chapel in UCC and “condoms were handed out to people going to Mass”. However, former UCC Students’ Union Deputy President and USI Vice President for Equality and Citizenship Annie Hoey defended the Students’ Union’s work in organising SHAG week. “SHAG Week (Sexual Health and Guidance Week) aims to inform students firstly about how to engage in sexual activity in a safe way, but also how to have fun and enjoy sexual encounters.” explained Hoey.

“Being sexually active is nothing to be ashamed of and the week aims to show that. While the week looks at sexual activity as a fun and healthy activity, it also acknowledges that not everyone is sexually active nor should they feel pressured into engaging in any kind of activity that they don’t want to,” she went on, “consent plays a huge role in the week, and the USI ‘Say Something’ survey shows worrying statistics of harassment, sexual assault and sexual violence on campuses, and how under reported they are.”

She continues to say “SHAG Week is about promoting safe sexual activity, that is fun and consensual, and that no one should ever feel pressured into engaging in any activity that they don’t want to or don’t feel ready for. To smite the positive work the SU does in promoting all of this, by claiming it is anti-Catholic, is unfair. Promoting positive and safe sexual activity is not discriminatory- it is a realistic and practical approach that responds to the needs of many students. There is a lot of work done by UCCSU in terms of promoting mental wellbeing and having a positive relationship with your body, and SHAG Week and being proactive in taking suitable precautions plays an important role in that.”

The Sunday Independent article furthermore notes that Catholic societies, or lack thereof, in universities in Ireland are symptomatic of this growing intolerance for Catholics. Father Barrins mentions that while there are Islamic or Muslim Societies, there are no Catholic societies but only Christian Union; the umbrella society for those who believe in Jesus. However, the article fails to mention the argument that an Islamic Society is just as diverse a label as Christian Union. “The Islamic societies have huge support and that’s great but Catholic students are almost being told what they believe in and who will represent them,” Fr Barrins said to the Irish Independent. Fr Barrins is certain that being Catholic in an increasingly secular environment has become difficult for students and speaking to Holly Ni Cheirligh, former Auditor of the Christian Union society in UCC, she partly agreed with his sentiments, telling Motley she “can see that there has been some hostility towards the Catholic group in UCC,” but was quick to note, “however I don’t see that as a reflection on the attitude towards to Christian Union on campus. I have felt very supported by students, other societies and the Societies Guild as we strive to focus on the love of Jesus and building good relationships with those around us in UCC.”

Barrins also cited the UCC Societies Guild as having “refused” a “Love Life Society” application on the grounds of religious bias. “Love-Life is being discriminated and worse because they are pro-life and there isn’t a single society at UCC that is pro-life,” he said. Amidst this argument at the decision made by the Societies Guild Executive last year, an anonymous student linked to the Love Life group told the Sunday Independent last month that “I feel discriminated against; we’re paying huge fees that partly fund the societies so we feel like we are being robbed to a certain extent. We don’t have freedom of speech or the right to association, it’s an absolute oppression.”

“Love-Life is being discriminated and worse because they are pro-life and there isn’t a single society at UCC that is pro-life”

On the same and equal grounds a Pro-Choice Society would never have been accepted either.

To apply to become a new society in UCC, Motley learned, there are a number of formal steps. A thorough application must be filled out, along with submitting a preliminary budget and a minimum of 100 student signatures. The group of students also have to justify how their society would benefit UCC, contribute to the student experience, as well as explain how the society differs from existing ones. Padraig Rice, former UCC student and UCC Societies Guild President 2013-14 clarified the reason that the application was unsuccessful stating that “the Societies Guild rejects applications for two main reasons. One, if the remit of the Society overlaps with that of an existing Society. Two, if the society is based around one single issue. ‘Love Life’ was rejected on both grounds. The debating and humans rights elements of the application were already cover by Societies such as Philosoph and Amnesty. When these elements were discounted what remained was the anti-abortion campaign. The Societies Guild has a long standing policy of rejecting Societies based around one single campaigning issue. All applications for a Pro-Choice Society were also denied. I reject all accusations of bias or religious intolerance levelled by the former Chaplain.” On the same and equal grounds a Pro-Choice Society would never have been accepted either.

The “Love Life Society” applicants also sought to appeal the decision and attended one of the UCC Societies’ Senates last academic year, in an attempt to obtain the necessary amount of signatures from existing society Auditors, which is necessary to appeal a rejection. At the Senate it was also rejected by majority vote of the Auditors. This is not the first time the failure of a “Love Life Society” application has been questioned in the Irish media. Although the appeals process was unsuccessful in March of last year, it was only last month that The Irish Catholic website spoke about the application and a spokesperson for the Bishop of Cork and Ross asked that UCC intervene. However, it was in the same article that the spokesman for Bishop John Buckley admitted that the diocese “enjoyed very good relations” with UCC. He said “this was manifested through the partnership between Church and university in relation to the Honan Chapel itself, and through the funding by the university, for Catholic chaplaincy” – Catholicism being the only religion in UCC offered both a dedicated place of worship and chaplaincy service. Bishop Buckley confirmed “that he has always been made to feel welcome in UCC by the president, staff and students.” Motley also approached the Chaplaincy director Fr Tom on his thoughts about the attitude towards Catholics in UCC and the allegations of discrimination towards the pro-life society. When asked to comment, the UCC Chaplainc explained that “given that the article interviewed the former Head Chaplain and that there is a new agreement between the Diocese/Honan Trust and UCC under negotiation it would be remiss [of the Chaplaincy] to pass any comment at this time.” Before this issue went to print, the UCC Societies Guild had yet to receive any word this year about a follow up “Love Life Society” application, since that of March 2014.