The women were involved in a non-violent protest objecting to the Corrib gas pipeline being installed by Shell. They were arrested on a public road last Thursday about 30 minutes after one of them had been taken down from the roof of a tractor hired for Shell’s preparatory work on the Corrib gas pipeline at Aughoose. Apparently they had been video recording the event and their camera was confiscated by the Garda. They were arrested but not charged and taken to Belmullet by car. The video recorder, which was switched on, travelled with 5 Gardai in the second car where it recorded 37 minutes of their conversation. The loose talk, somewhat reminiscent of what was caught on Prime Minister George Brown microphone and which may have cost him the last UK election, was duly recorded on the women’s recorder. No charges were made and the recorder was duly returned with the incriminating tape intact. The tape was made public ensuring that the conversation which contained sexually explicit remarks could now be broadcast by the media. The women, to date, have not made a formal complaint. The 5 Gardai are doing administration duties at Castlebar. What does the Bible make of all this? Words are important. They reflect our thinking. Just as Jesus Christ was called “the Word” He reflected accurately what God the father is like. The Bible puts it, He made Him known”. St John Chapter 1 verses 1-18. Jesus went as far as to say that we would be judged by our words. “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” St Matthew Chapter 12 Verses 36/7. Our problem is partly caused by what the old-timers called “the lust for the laugh”. St Paul, writing to the church at Ephesus, puts it like this; “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving”. (Chapter 5 verse 4). St James in his letter recognised the problem we have in taming the tongue – “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so”. Jesus sharpened the focus when describing where the problem comes from; “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person”. St Matthew Chapter 15 verses 18/20. The remedy is not to try to clean up the mess yourself. That would be like looking in the mirror and seeing your face was dirty trying to clean it with the mirror instead of using soap. The Bible, like the mirror, shows our need and says the remedy is not found in our efforts but in the blood of Jesus. As St John put it; “the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin” 1John chapter 1 verse 7. When God shows you your need turn to Jesus the only one who can save you for time and eternity.