With the celebration of Jesus’s entry into the world just around the corner, St. Mary’s & Peter’s Church have decided what better time to also remember those infants who so brutally departed this realm, the Tuam babies.
To mark the occasion, 800 light bulbs, each representing the child victims of church instigated infanticide, have been dangled precariously from the front of the church. Just as in their short lives, their futures perpetually hanging in the balance. I caught up with an enthusiastic Fr. Peter File during the week to discuss his latest venture.
“We spared no expense purchasing all those lights,” Fr. File proudly exclaimed, “but thankfully they were still cheaper by the dozen from our friends at Town Hardware Supplies. What better way to symbolise the fragility and vulnerability of an infant’s torso, than with a glass light bulb?”
“Every night I extinguish a ‘life’ with the mere flick of a light switch, just as nonchalantly as my fellow sisters did before me in Tuam. On Christmas Eve, when no remaining bulbs are left illuminated, my fellow parishioners are invited in joining us to violently yank the “dead” bulbs down, where we will joyously dance and crunch the glass/bones beneath our feet. Mazel tov!!!”
“This time, it will not only be the metaphorical boot heel of the Church doing the damage but the entire community. Here is a chance for the faithful to finally share in their complicity for Tuam, it wasn’t just the Church ya know!”
I questioned Fr. File that, like in Tuam, would the “remains” here also be so callously disposed of.
“Of course! It wouldn’t be an authentic reenactment without throwing the pulverised leftovers into my mock-up septic tank in the parochial garden. Unfortunately, it is not built to scale, but, it was the best I could do working from what records weren’t, ahem, lost by The Sisters of Bon Secours.
“As usual, we are seeking much-needed funding to cover the costs of this venture, so we are offering the chance of personalised lights starting at 10 euro each. For this, we can digitally scan an image of your child onto the light bulb for subsequent termination.”
When challenged if members of the public may find this event morally repugnant or grossly inappropriate, Father. File responded:
“Ah, the past is a foreign country and all that, as Jesus said: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” The great thing about the Bible is there is a convenient vague and decontextualised quote for every occasion.”
“You’ll find that Catholics are a most forgiving bunch and more importantly forgetful. You would be surprised how quickly the faithful overlook our checkered history when dazzled with a few cheap lights, and the promise of eternal life. Besides, we have a proud tradition of steamrolling all before us, just try and stop us!”
Father File hopes the event won’t be a once-off, detailing future plans for an enlarged celebration. “As more and more mass burial sites are undoubtedly discovered in the coming years, we hope to expand the event with even more extravagant displays.”
“A giant baby piñata has already been ordered, where I hope to have Archbishop Eamon Martin striking the first killer blow. I guess I’ll have to get the aul toolbox out again to further develop our burial site, or like your man from Jaws says: “We’re gonna need a bigger septic tank.”
