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WHY IS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH CONTINUING TO CELEBRATE SACRAMENTS AND CEREMONIES FOR LAPSED CATHOLICS?

The RCC says it’s a mortal sin not to attend Mass on a Sunday.

And yet it will celebrate the Funeral Mass of somebody who never attended Mass?

The RCC says that anybody who has an abortion or assists in an abortion is automatically excommunicated and banned from Holy Communion.

Yet it will celebrate ceremonies, weddings and funerals for such people.

The RCC celebrates the baptism of children whose parents never go to Mass and who lie during the ceremony when they promise to bring their children up as practicing Catholics.

The Sunday, after many Holy Communions and Confirmations, most of the children communicated and confirmed will not be at Mass.

In fact, I would say that the majority of teachers in many Catholic schools no longer attend Mass or practice the RC religion

So why is the RC church not putting their teachings and doctrines into practice ?

Is it simply to keep bums on seats?

Is ot to keep money coming in?

Is it for the baptism, marriage and funeral stipends?

Is it because the priests and bishops don’t believe what they are preaching themselves?

It it because he bishops and priests don’t care?

ANOTHER KOOL YOUNG RC PRIEST

What do readers think?

214 replies on “WHY IS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH CONTINUING TO CELEBRATE SACRAMENTS AND CEREMONIES FOR LAPSED CATHOLICS?”

How many people (younger people) who get married in the RC church are in any way active in the church or regularly go to mass?????

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I’d go to mass EVERY day if a priest as HOT as Fr David was saying it. That’s what the church needs to do to attract the young, ordain more FIT young guys, and get rid of priests over 35. If it did, I’d be in the front pew in my most fetching track bottoms and trainers.
We want EYECANDY in our churches, not Jesus on a cross.

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@ 11:43pm

Disgusting, where you’re going you’ll be HOT alright, the fact that you think track bottoms and trainers are fetching says it all they are as NAFF as you.

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Absolute filth. Disgusted this has been published Get a bar of carboiic soap and wash your mouth out.
Garngad Lad

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Garngad Lad at 10.17. Did you make a Freudian slip?

Carbolic soap makes a great lubricant.

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Albeit I am not herein ignoring 11:43’s comment,, I suggest we do ignore such comments. I’m not bothered about gay or any other form of consenting sexuality, but “there’s a time and a place “, and this blog is neither. Ignoring tends to extinguish the fuel for publicity.

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9.43
What has upset Bela Rob Govan? He must be a fabric queen. Doesn’t like polyester either.

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Jesus was gay, too, 9.43. The Bible tells us that Jesus loved John in a particular way. And John lay on Jesus’s breast at the Last Supper. How cute was that?

I’m the young gay person who commented earlier and you’ve no right to tell me that I am going to hell.

All those crucifixes in our churches really put me off. So gory and passé. Really depressing.

Jesus had a gay side and we should express that in our churches. One way I already mentioned… by the Church ordaining only fit men, and no one but no one over the age of 35.

It would help too if communion wafers had rainbow colours. Think how many young gay men would be drawn into the church instead of the Metropolitan one. You people are all stuffy and have no imagination.

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Hi the young gay man at 2.42.

I’m Ciaran. I’m gay too. My comment is on farther down the page.

I liked Fr David too, he’s lovely! If only we had more priests like him, our churches would be fuller and more joyful.

I like your ideas for bringing more young gay men into the church, but those old stuffed shirts who had a go at you won’t listen.

I think the best way of doing what you said would be for the church to allow gay marriage, to make it a sacrament, like it is for the straight ones. Do you think it will ever happen? Jesus and John would approve. In fact, it would be good for gay equality in the church if the relationship between Jesus and John became, like, our mascot. A nice monogram of the two Js (Get it? Jesus and John)

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Hi, Ciaran. My name starts with a C too. Cahal.
I don’t think the Church will ever marry gay couples, it’s too ant-gay. At least, there’s no chance of it for as long as the Church denys that Jesus was gay. It’s silly to do so, isn’t it? I mean what’s all that with Jesus and John about. I like your idea of the monogrammed two Js, Jesus and John
It’s good that Bishop Pat is marrying gay couples. At least we know where we can go when our big day comes along. I’m still single, though. Had a boyfriend online for a while, but he wasn’t who he said he was. I got catfished.

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11:43 there are a few middle aged confirmed bachelors in portlaoise who do just that but wasn’t always the same, them and women of a certain age

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Father Padraig Greene, I wonder can the Diocese of Elphin tell the Blog if he is still alive and if so, his whereabouts? Please google his name. He had an extensive network, a great friend of Fr. John O Leary RIP Armagh. As a very young priest, a priest of Elphin informed me that the diocese of Elphin had put a private eye on him ( his Dublin movements). I told that priest ” if you tell me another word I shall phone him.” He had many USA interests. His story is expansive.
(2) Where is Father Tommy Brennan of Ferns….with all Commiskeys secrets and travels?
( 3) How is Mons. Liam Bergin in Boston College? Long before Putin. Bergin was extremely nasty to Ukraine. The irish College Terror Squad that the “Visitation” slowed down !!
The sacraments for any of the above you can consider as celebrated or extended to Lapsed Catholics!!

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10.57: Mulvihill, are you still on the kites…you a flying high all day!! Trust the secret. Sweet Smarties?

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Why does Helen hate men so much? A fair question. No offence, but is he a lesbian?
I’ve heard that lesbians naturally hate men. Maybe this accounts for her scathing criticism of priests.
Pat, why do you publish this woman’s hate speech? It’s probably against the law.
If you keep publishing her posts, I’m going to report you to the Gaurds.

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11.10, what? So men and women have… different ways of thinking? Are you serious, or sexist?

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11.10 pm
Yes you can tell the writing style of a man v woman and yes men and women do think in different ways.

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Pat, do you not see the hypocrisy and contradiction of your comments? If any priest or Bishop publicly denied a lapsed Catholic the grace of the sacrament you’d be inviting the same lapsed Catholic to the Oratory to offer the sacraments. You’d massacre priests and bishops with condemnation. Seriously, isn’t this your ministry – to catch the lapsed and disaffected? Be honest about your response. Parents request Baptism and the sacraments for their children. Isnt that very worthwhile and commendable? We use our preparation meetings to engage with parents. We should never underestimate the opportunity of cathechising at such moments. We are living in very changed and changing times and we do need to be very caring, sensitive, affirming and encouraging when parents come and request the sacraments. I think it’s wrong to make a judgment about the “faith” of parents who ask for the sacraments. Your cynicism re: money is very telling, more about you than anyone else. Haven’t you been known for traipsing the countryside carrying out all kinds of Roman Catholic Rituals – for a good price too!! Now Pat… pot, kettle, black…

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10.10: Typical, dishonest, a la carte Catholicism. Such an inability to see your double standards and inconsistencies. You just haven’t a clue since you left the Catholic Church. You make it up each morning. You are dishonest and conniving with vulnerable adults whom you fish for financial benefit by offering them your sacraments. Whiffs of glaring hypicrisy. At least I never refuse anyone who seeks my help not do I judge them nor smash people into the ground.

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11:03,
True, let he who has not lapsed cast the first stone. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist!)
The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Lapsed Catholics or Bouncy Castle Catholics, these Secular Catholics are living hypocritical lives. Like Sinn Féin – Dáil Éireann, they wait to see which way the wind is blowing and they are easily swayed.

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Isn’t Pat’s blog issue laughable. He, who condemns all before him, provides celebrations and liturgies for all and sundry, irrespective of their faith or morals or spirituality. You couldn’t make it up. The glaring contradictions in Pat’s topic are mind boggling. Pat, explain.

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10.11: My previous point stand true. It highlights your double standards and hypicrisy. You are happy to accept all and sundry for rituals whuch are Roman Catholic…and for a hefty stipend. I know…!!

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My wedding fees are £ 300 when people can afford it. If they can’t, we accommodate that. It’s my only source of income. Nobody hives me a priests annual salary.

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By Post Author

3.57: Pat, you are more financially secure than most priests. Come off It! You charge 100€/£ than most parishes.With the huge amount of weddings you do quite well. And, you also get a stipend for baptisms, house masses (?), sick calls and funerals.You also have a supporting, working partner. Think you are doing very well.

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I do not have the £ 20,000 salary you have. I do nearly no baptisms. I do no house Masses. I have one funeral a year. My partner is in the start up phase of his business.

I am not complaining but I am not a well off man.

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By Post Author

This Fr Moses – good looking, can talk the talk, slim and charismatic. But for how long ? Sorry, but somebody like that who puts themselves out there so publicly is courting trouble. It will come along and find him. Come back in a few years and see where he is then. I much prefer the simply kind of plain Joe who just gets on with the job, rather than making it all about him – even if they claim they are doing it for Jesus. Bullhit !

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OMG! Literally don’t trigger my hormones Pat. Fr David is soooo HOT! Gorgeous, talented, hip, and with a b*tt to oogle.😍
Save all the Jesus stuff, Fr David. You are muuuuuch more interesting.😉
I know who’ll be in my dreams tonight. 😎

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All priests have a girlfriend in their past who they sadly had to give up for their vocation. Otherwise they’d be at it like rabbits turning out good Catholic children.
So there’s hope for you yet, dear

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Fr David will make an excellent priest: self-publicising, self-aggrandising, highly self-regarding, self-rewarding (look at his nice lifestyle, including expensive wheels, all very wonderful for someone who doesn’t work for a living), and self-UNdenying.
This hedonist will fit right in with the institutional church. A wonderful poster boy!

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I agree Bryan. This guy’s faith is wafer thin.

Take away his comfort zone (his very comfortable lifestyle) and you take away his safety net.

He would fall apart.

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+Pat: surely your questions at end of the blog are rhetorical?
IF: —-It keeps:
bums on seats;
the money coming in;
the stipends coming in:………The RCC clergy will continue to keep “the show on the road.”
And, since their behaviour suggests that very many clerics seem not to believe in moral probity or clerical celibacy, why should the laity think that their clergy themselves believe the hotchpotch of gobbledygook religious mythology they spout?
By their actions you will know them.
MMM

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Not going to Mass on Sunday is a sin, a mortal sin, but there are a portion who keep a thread of attendance which is sparse but has some regularity, maybe a Sunday or two over some months.. A well conducted wedding or funeral can be a means of evangelisation. However, the modern way of all comers going to Communion is not a good thing. A man I know who recently died, a window fitter, said the old men of his time only got Communion at Easter, which was the Catholic minimum, and I suspect these old working men had better Catholic formation in one of their rough fingertips than a thousand modern Catholics. Unworthy reception of Communion is an extraordinary sin and now ubiquitous sin. St Pius X tried to encourage a much wider reception, but unlike Leo XIII whose full prayer to St Michael the Archangel is a realistic prophecy of future apostasy, perhaps Pius was too optimistic. At least COVID reminded some of Spiritual Communion.
Perhaps the answer +Pat is that priests should remind people, or tell people for the first time since childhood, of what it means to receive Communion worthily. It can be done gently and subtly.

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Symmahus at 12.02pm
Are you a trad? Just wondering that’s all.
Re issue of mass, before jesus time, there was no mass. Now after institution of st supper, there was mass. But there was no mention of mortal sin in respect of missing mass in the scripture.
Met a deaf guy from Poland as he’s living here with his GF. He was telling us a story re jpii. John Paul 2nd met some deaf people in krakow. They asked him that they cant hear the mass. Jpii said to them that they don’t need to go to mass cos everything goes over their head.

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@12:02 Hi @Deaf Guy, yes, I suppose. The teaching that missing Mass is a sin is of such long standing. Commandment no. 3 exhorts us: Remember to keep holy the LORD’S Day. (Exodus 20:8-11; Deut 5:12-15). Missing Mass shows forgetfulness of that, as it is the highest prayer of the Church, and our first duty is to adore and worship God.
We are not a sort of Protestant who pretends his faith is sola scriptura, when Calvinism is essentially Jean Calvin focussing on St Augustine, and all Prot denominations are just focussing on one or other part of tradition. The body of Teaching is built over many centuries, but plainly draws on the 3rd Commandment.
If JP2 said that, then it was foolish of him, but obviously nothing compared to protecting Maciel and others like him. God will surely be merciful to men given bad teaching. It needs to be emphasised progress of the Mass, particularly the traditional Mass, can be judged by the various fixed gestures and positions, liturgical actions, a priest takes or carries out. A hand missal will often illustrate it. Oftentimes nowadays, there can be a screen projecting text, somewhere around the sanctuary, although sometimes it can be done very intrusively.
I know a man who’s mostly deaf, whom I mentioned before, sadly a widower now, who lip reads (one ground for him preferring the New Mass) as he never learned sign language in the ordinary schools (his mother refused to institutionalise him by sending him to, say, St Josephs’, Cabra). He never misses Mass unless very ill, which happens at times. I’m sure you never do either, as far as is possible.
I hope this isn’t too long, and hangs together well enough. I’m typing in a small response box. God bless you.

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Symmachus at 8pm
Thanks for your explanations. Fair play to that widower mother for not sending him to Cabra cos no psychological damage. I wouldn’t send any deaf child there now cos of my memories there. The odds of it happening re abuse is greater than state schools or day schools themselves whereby you can check your child there on most days. But whereas in Catholic boarding schools, its almost nigh impossible. Cbs people fooled some TD’s especially Woods and other FG cosgrave and one other that I can’t rem by showing them around in fairly limited areas(seluded) rather than exposed areas where they could see it fully for themselves.
Re commandment no 3, yes it preceded (before christ) before mass was institutionlised on last supper Thursday. I have had some reservations re mass on Sundays cos it didn’t happen before jesus was born. Then presto, mass came along and became mandatory. Thats where it posed a problem for me when looking at it objectively. Although I did experience some healing from new mass which is NO mass. rather than TLM.
Interesting re calvinism which I didn’t know given almost non exist RC teaching from deaf schools in Dublin. Although I have heard Calvin’s name in religious articles or newspapers articles without any background understanding. Luther was decent man cos he did raise the matter re indulgences and money etc. That’s where I first saw the cracks start to appear in rcc.
Re JPII, I believed that Polish deaf guy’s story as he was telling us his story in Poland during the communist govt time. It was very tough for him. Yes re him and Marciel which greatly reduced or demolished rcc’s credibility hugely cos money took precedence over the abuses in legionnaires of christ in the eyes of public. I don’t call him John Paul the great as some RC people out there did.
Yes TLM is interesting cos of signs such as fixed gestures or certain positions or a certain page from the book which I know what stage are we in etc. I don’t carry a missal, just mainly observing certain rituals going through such as position or gestures or a page with diagram in book etc.

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What new to say?
Fr David, a moral weakling and coward, KNOWS the morally corrupt nature of the institution he elected to serve. He, therefore, is culpable for what he did at his ordination: promising to serve an institution mired in moral filth. Jesus could not (did not) approve the institution David freely chose to serve.

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A mortal sin is not missing mass on a Sunday, nor eating meat on a Friday, but the WILFUL and INTENTIONAL breaking the laws of the Church with full knowledge and intent. Rev. Buckley, you know this but use this Blog to spread false knowledge.

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The problem with the RCC from personal experience is that the Curia do not listen to the folk at the grassroots. As an Anglican, the cooperation between Anglican and Catholic laity is moving closer especially in the North East as RC churches are still following strict covid rules and Masses are stripped back with little reverence, Clergy are getting older with fewer young clergy coming through. Where I am RC laity are happy to receive from lay-led Anglican services and even from female Anglican clergy who celebrate. I gather from experience that the sacraments matter and many lay RC are willing to accept the validity of Anglican orders to partake in the eucharist that the RCC is unable to provide without an appointment.

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I suspect the motivation for this is different for each sacrament or life stage.
I also suspect there would be more merit seen in a funeral than in the First Communion circus.

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I’m in the U.S., but also lived in Galway, Ireland, and in Managua, Nicaragua. In Nic., I volunteered with the Franciscans in refugee camps during the Contra conflict. No where and not at any time have I read such hatred aimed at the RC. In the U.S, the answer is simple. Go to an Episcopal Church or start your own. I hope you find something constructive to do besides complaining. I will pray for you to find peace.

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Lapsed works for the clergy – they perform weddings, baptisms and holy communion- get their little wedge for doing so – money makes the world go around.
The practising faithful don’t work for the clergy other than those who do things to help him: sacristan, money collectors, etc. The clergy take the piss privately out of Catholics who take their faith even remotely seriously- in the UK they call them ‘screaming Catholics’ they pray, read the Bible, holy days of obligation and might let Father know if they don’t like something.
But honest to God lapsed, practising who gives a shiny shit because the clergy don’t.

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Thanks for a superb summary of the state of the Church in many dioceses, at least in English speaking countries. In France I hear some areas are so short of priests that they can barely even bury the old timers who honestly requested a Catholic funeral. So the lapsed might have to wait in line.
The non-faith of many priests has recently been discussed on line and I quoted the case of ex-Father Richard Barton from Clifton diocese. He was honest enough to admit that one reason he left the priesthood was that he was financially independent. Otherwise, would he still be faking it in a parish somewhere in Gloucestershire?
https://newhumanist.org.uk/articles/5119/leaving-the-priesthood-a-personal-story
Whether the Bishop of Clifton actually believed anything might be doubted – he did not seem bothered by Richard’s boyfriend.
Ex-Bishop Kieran Conry of Arundel and Brighton is another suspect. Apart from the string of Mrs Conrys which lead to his resignation, one commentator noted his very casual celebration of Mass, elevating the Host with one hand.
But we proles are totally stuffed in these matters. Who is going to quiz his PP or Bishop about the state of his faith?

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Thanks William for that link to “Leaving the Priesthood, a Personal Story .”
On reading of his subsequent movement from conformist religion to humanism, I could identify with my own similar path. Indeed the shackles of faith beliefs imprison any clarity of thought. Once set aside they are seen as the shibboleth they are.
I asked “Ex Priest” a few days ago if his religious beliefs have altered since leaving. Maybe I missed if if he replied, but I’m interested in any other perspectives from those who have left either the clerical life, or the practice of religion itself.
MMM

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MMM at 1.15 – The reason you did not get a reply few days ago from “Ex-Priest” is because he/she is not a priest or an ex-priest. Hope this explains it for you. There are a lot of trolls with pseudonyms daily on this blog so it can be very confusing at times.

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I think jurisdiction over the Caymans and Turks & Caicos should be taken away from Detroit and Newark and placed under the Prefect of Falklands because they are HM Territories. Likewise I expect the ordinaries of Portsmouth and Liverpool (Worlock’s patches) would be glad to be rid of Jersey and the IOM to the same Prefect.

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The biggest piss takers of all are Catholic teachers – ha ha ha they think their kidding everyone but their kidding no one – and RE teachers or heads of RE the worst – piss take, atheism, contempt for the clergy (who can blame them) – Catholic education is a myth and illusion and parents buy into because of their lust for certitude and wanting ‘the best start’ for their kids etc but check out recent Ofsted report for Ampleforth which is like every Catholic school in the world – a myth and illusion, dig deeper Catholic teachers despise Catholicism – for Gods sake Birminghams Education Chief Quigley just got 11 years for child abuse and cruelty and what your telling me that his close colleagues in Education didn’t know?!!!

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No, 8:19 the biggest piss takers of all will always be the clergy. Teachers don’t pass a bag round and expect cash.

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8:19 As the connections between the Catholic teachers in our RC Diocese and clergy are now blatantly incestuous, our grandchildren and their peers are mainly attending non Catholic schools.

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Is it only women who have had an failed ivf treatment or an abortion through a crisis pregnancy that are automatically excommunicated.? Such hypocrisy again. Did the bishops automatically ex communicate themselves in 2002 in the proposed abortion amendment when they encouraged voters to ignore the embryo before implantation. Dana was the only one who held onto her beliefs and said that the embryo before implantation was life and a soul on its way to a full life. What about people using artificial contraceptives and the souls they are denying life to. ? Are they excommunicated automatically? Let’s pick on those in crisis pregnancies who end up making dreadful decisions. Also why are the bishops not in uproar over emiritus pope benedict and in his lie over a meeting he attended in moving on abusive priests and the damage such actions caused to victims. How many victims committed suicide and whose death was brought on by such actions of moving abusive priests. Are these covers ups not a reason for automatic excommunication?

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HWGA@ 8.27: Your first two sentences raise the issue of the moral hypocrisy and duplicity of the RCC towards sexuality, especially female. I quoted Tim Pat Coogan’s analysis yesterday @ 10:53: ” …..the fetid Irish Catholic impulse to control Irish female sexuality ”
That section of Coogan’s book, (1916: The Mornings After) certainly puts the failings of Irish Catholicism in perspective, and it applies, in my view, to Christianity in general, and as Coogan says, the other monotheistic religions too: power and control of clerical over females by the abusive dictates of religion.
MMM

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“This dramatic shift in Ireland’s value system poses a few critical questions. How did Dún Laoghaire’s liberal attitude, once regarded as an outlier, become mainstream? How did we move from Moving Statue Catholicism, cowed by rules, vindictiveness, superstition and fear, to Bouncy Castle Catholicism – still culturally Catholic, loving the big day out, but morally pragmatic, embracing all-comers and energised by ambiguity, acceptance, facts and hope? And how did this cultural transformation affect the economy?
…
This new deal allows a person to vote enthusiastically for repeal on Friday, May 25th, and get up the following morning on Saturday, May 26th, the last day of Communion season, and sit proudly in Mass overseeing their daughter’s entrance into the Catholic Communion. Ireland, so often a place of extremes, has blended into a centre. Differences that we thought were set in stone have faded away.”
– David McWilliams (Irish economist)

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Not gonna lie, I have been hoping Pat would appear on Church Militant just to see what it would do to Voris’s toupee.

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They haven’t noticed that Pat was excommunicated and call him a liberal Catholic bishop! You couldn’t make it up!

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Marriages and funerals should only be held for people who actually attend mass and are active Catholics. Baptisms should only be for children whose parents are married and active Catholics. When you ask a mother why they are getting their 5th child by a 5th different man out of wedlock baptised, “Cus everyone does it” “for a party”. This is not acceptable. Priests get a lot of stick on this blog, but it is the laymen who are the biggest hypocrites in society.

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9.51: Dan, you raise good points. We all know as priests and as a church that sacramental moments are now social/party moments. There’s a little bit of faith, prayer and cathechising taking place but we know that within a day or two of the First Communions and Confirmations, we will rarely see children again in the Church except for the thank you mass, parish party and graduation ceremony/mass. Its a reflection of the huge religious changes which have occured over the past 35 years. We are trying to connect in a meaningful way through various programmes. To be honest, I believe that the sooner we remove sacramental preparations from the school programme, the better will be the integrity and reverence for the sacraments. Schools often use the moments as a showcase for “doing” the best and they are good. We are at the juncture of seriously rethinking the celebration of all sacraments. However, I would never be unkind, provocative or judgmental about any person’s desire for the sacraments..If I “denied” any sacrament to any person, the first person to come chasing me to challenge me is Pat. He will go anywhere to celebrate the sacraments, more recently promising to go to Wales/Scotland to confirm someone because her mother was unwilling to take part in a school/parish programme which asked for a faith commitment in preparation for the sacrament. Pat was very wiling to travel, yet he’s complaining that parishes are doing nothing! When we do something worthwhile, it’s never adequate. Can’t see the logic of his reasoning.

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9:51am The priest is a bigger hypocrite for repeatedly engaging with this social farce but it’s all part of RCC’s longer term goal in retaining control of schools.
It’s all a 2 faced racket from the cradle to the grave.

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Mass and funerals and weddings and baptisms should only be celebrated – and stipends and offerings only taken – by priests who are faithful and true and decent and non judgemental and Christian and gentle – if the folk coming are to be so harshly judged what about the clerical hypocrites running Curial offices and marriage tribunals and parishes and pontificating about folks lives and standards and up to no good themselves in their cliques and daisy chains – make u 🤮 to your stomach

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Daniel son, is that why you sleep with so many married men. The sacrament of their marriage means nothing to you. Despicable

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A blog that’s all over the place. Recently a commenter spoke about her anxiety about having to attend a number of preparation meetings for her daughter’s confrmation. Her daughter would receive a stamp for each meeting attended – 12 I think (which I thought excessive). The purpose of stamping the cards is is to give the ferling of going on a pilgrimage and as such it was good. However, many parishes run first holy communion and confirmation meetings and programmes with pupils in the school and parish which are carried out by trained lay people. Part of the meetings include the presence of Parents – about 2 while a further 4 are specifically for children. These were moments to reconnect with parents and families and renew a faith that perhaps was/is lapsed. I have always found parents overall to be very appreciative of our parish programmes. For me, the gatherings were super but the monthly mass was even better, all prepared by the children and parents along with the Ministry Groups. Surely this is useful and worthwhile. I care about the sacramental preparations. Most priests care. If I was s cynical person, which I’m not, I’d write the kind of tirade Pat has written. We are being challenged all the time to be with and accompany those who choose to have faith and those who have an openness to faith. Simetimes we just have to make the best of what We have and are given and trust that we will touch people at the level of the heart. Let’s encourage the many initiatives taking place in schools and parishes. Seeing things through the lens of being at a distance and non involvement creates only cynicism and untruths.

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If I was a priest I would refuse to perform a confirmation on any child whose parents are separated and if neither contributes to their church physically nor financially. Or what is the point? What is the point in performing all these ceremonies when they are meaningless to the people that are involved?! It’s a tick exercise for these stupid lay people that couldn’t tell you the difference between Jesus Christ and David Beckham.
Pat these lay people really annoy me. It’s the same people who should not have the right to vote. Hence why we had Brexit. Stupid people being allowed a ‘democratic’ vote. Voting should be for people who can tell the difference between Naomi Campbell and Naomi Long.

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Dan, I hate to break it to you but if you were a priest, your parishioners couldn’t tell the difference between Jesus and David Beckham, have an encounter with their parish priest and still don’t know the difference, then that’s you not them.
What did you think priests do all day? Rogering in saunas?

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Anonymous 9:52 has commented very sensibly and very well. I think the child falling short of 12 stamps was being offered the sacrament if denied by her parish?
While there is a contradiction, the blog story is offering the opportunity to discuss an important topic and has provided you with the platform for your comment.

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I’ve been following the news for years and have decided to follow the example of our church’s pastors and bishops. Hypocrisy and a leg over it is, then.

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The EU were supposed to be ending DST for good. We wait and we wait for this logical change.
The clocks went back a month after the Autumn Equinox. The clocks could go forward a few weeks before the Spring Equinox.

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That little video really wasn’t about Jesus (which is what priesthood is allegedly about), it was about a man called David, who likes the good things in life, but who doesn’t actually work for them. Instead, others work for them, and, bizarrely, they don’t seem to mind.

I’m sure there’s a master’s thesis in psychology there somewhere.

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He’s definitely something, though not what I suspect he thinks he is.
In all seriousness, I can never get my head around the fact that Catholics (I’m an agnostic) work to support priests financially, yet don’t seem to mind that priests have far better lifestyles than most of them. Add to this the sexual abuse of children by priests and it’s cover-up by other priests, and this ‘toleration’ seems, to me, to be bordering on a psychosis.
Bizarre. Utterly bizarre.

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12.08

My goodness, Helen! That checklist for a cult is practically a template of the Catholic Church!!

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12.08: Utter nonsense, Helen. Stop being facetious and telling porkies. And, have the courtesy of answering legitimate questions put to you.

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Helen at 12. 08pm
This fits that description of rcc so neatly and apt. I found myself saying it’s rcc when I read it all along the lines.

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12.22
12.08 is not Helen, but I am.
As for answering ‘legitimate questions’, I’ll be the arbiter of what constitutes such questions and whether or not I should answer them.

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Who is Helen? Reveal yourself. Put your email address in with your comments so Pat can distinguish you.

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12.48: Helen, if you are so dishonest about not answering legitimate questions put to you, there are two words for you: MORAL COWARD. Simple as. So, go and rant somewhere else.

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Since lockdown many parishioners, including Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, have disappeared.
In my parish there are still several hundred at the main Sunday Masses. However, the celebrant has to distribute the Body of Christ alone, as there are no lay ministers left. It doesn’t help when the PP (non-celebrant) lurks in the sacristy, instead of coming out to assist with distribution.
Why are new ministers not being recruited? At least the poor celebrant doesn’t have to do all the readings etc, as a few readers remain.

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Our parish priest is a Brit loving sympathiser that will celebrate the queens jubilee with the hearty farmer that likes to wear a mankini in Gran Canaria

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2:31pm Our parish priest should not have access to student files in our local schools but he does.

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I am certain that the majority of contributions on the blog are made from
people who are unemployed and retired and who are in receipt of PIP allowance.

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Helen and Dan are so angry because their priest ‘friends’ will not leave service to give them their full attention. Therefore they blame laymen and come on here for a rant.

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Who does Dan think he is? You don’t decide who should vote and who should not. A fair point but so badly put across. I do not like the idea of my neighbours ‘Chardonnay’ or ‘Keanu’, who live in a council estate, are on full benefits and do not work, have children to every lover they encounter, have no teeth, voting on referendums that they do not understand. Referendums should be banned for this reason.

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1:16pm. All our priests have good sets of gnashers! Very popular with the local dentistry.

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I don’t see why there shouldn’t be a charge for the sacraments, after all there is already a charge for a Mass, euphemistically called an offering.

Just think, there could be a sliding scale of charges: say, 200 quid for a baptism, all the way up to 1000 for first communicants, and then a charge thereafter, say 20 quid each time someone gets communion.

These charges would keep the insincere away.

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Nonsense, people are struggling to to buy a loaf of bread for £2 and you are wanting to charge £20 for the body of Christ!

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Everyday I read this blog a few times. There are always the same topics. Sex and corruption. Sex means too much to too many corrupt people.

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So if I don’t go to mass on a Sunday , the roman mafia say that I am cut off from Gods grace! Mortal sin? Whoever came up with this term. Christ said where two or three are gathered in my name there will I be also. So if I take time to reflect on Christ on the sabbath with the Holy Spirit present and do not go to mass to listen to hypocrites am I really committing this so called mortal sin? Surel cathbots realise that this whole concept of no salvation outside the church is complete and utter nonsense

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Money or a charge for a sacrament is immoral and. corrupt – it’s dressed up as a stipend or whatever but essentially it’s the sin of simony and has its origins in the New Testament and is as repellent then as it is now.
It’s especially egregious surrounding funerals where the Funeral Director and clergy have it all worked out in a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Clergy should take a vow of poverty and draw from a common fund.
Everybody thinks sex is their archives heel it isn’t it’s money!!
Does a bishop get a superior pension provision compared to ordinary clergy? Yes he does but it’s value is to secret and classified – this should be either common knowledge or they simply get a state pension!
Some clergy have personal accounts with vast amounts of wealth – they milk being shit poor bit are laughing all the way to the bank.
And guess what – skimming off the top is a clerical practice despite all that shite about being regulated etc.
Follow the money is the Big Scandal in the RCC at every level – local, diocesan and the Vatican.

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How is a charge for the sacraments immoral? Don’t you think God’s grace worth something? It’s priceless, but we should pay something, really. A token payment.

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5:04pm That’s old news, they’ve been making it clear for a long time that they only want big notes.

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You know what? I think there should be a penitential charge for sins in the confessional. No, hear me out. People would make the payments as a penance, and it would stop them sinning as often in the future.

I think it’s a good idea. For example, a quid for a fib, and for the whoppers, like playing with yourself, a tenner.

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Fr “I got so much delight in watching the British embassy burn in Dublin after Bloody Sunday, now go in peace” 😱

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An IRA man went to confession and confessed that he had burned three trains.

As his penance, the priest told him: “Go out now and do the Stations.”

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As we believe that the body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, keeping that temple nice and healthy is perfectly fine.

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David Vard was a nasty seminarian, and I will not sit back and allow him all the accolades he is receiving on this blog.

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You know, I watched a movie called Luther. About the great reformer Martin Luther. According to the story, Catholics in Germany once had to pay ‘for the privilege of sacraments’. Is that right?
Now I mention it, don’t Germans today have to pay for the sacraments in the form of taxes?

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Concerned parishioner – “there is a man in really short shorts and a skin tight tank top outside the parochial house father”
Father – “oh that’s ok that’s Bruno my nephew”

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3:19pm. Which Bruno is that? One of them is from Brazil but the other Bruno is from Peru. Bruno from Brazil is an absolute whizz with the clothes iron but it’s not clear what the other Bruno is doing there.

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Concerned priest – “if this gets back to the Bishop I am doomed and Pat Buckley will slay me on his blog”
Parishioner – “it’s ok Fr, I’ve already had the Bishop 😋”

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Is seven years old too young to require a child to go to confession,or is it never too early to somehow make future Catholics feel guilty.We are considering to send our grandchild to a Lutheran Church for her religious education.Any advice pro or con.

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5.15 Big mistake. The Buddhist Monasteries of Sri Lanka are the worst places on the planet for their “ crimes” against children. It’s a wonder the Pope of Rome does not have reciprocal arrangements…. Historically!

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“Zelensky urges Pope Francis to mediate in war”
Says it all
Imagine having to be ‘urged’
Cardinals shouldn’t bother wearing red anymore, it’s not like any of them would shed blood

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Zelensky could well be a double agent. Questionable decision making. Ridiculous on the Holocaust and a necessary apology. Biden and his posturing… clintonian and Catholic.

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The great Chinese philosopher, Pei Wei Shi once said; “tradition hard to break, even when know it’s wrong”

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The arrows in my back infected…. Needed treatment after yesterday’s contributions in my regard. Observing and hoping the Bows are out of circulation. Thanks for asking!! Pat Buckley is a very good man. So am I !!!!!!

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William I have no doubt you are a good man. I look forward to your contribution on Pats blog every day. Good to see you back.

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I accidentally slept with a priest when he and I were both on a nights break in a Co Down hotel and he pleaded for my silence and he genuinely was riddled with guilt. Would this action alone be enough to get him thrown out of his role or if he sought forgiveness from his superiors would this keep him in a job?

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6.39 Your problem Person is how you exercise Power over others! Forget the questions you put here, what are you at in your “sleeping?”

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6.35 Dan, thank you …. I reciprocate. One needs to be robust to contribute here without anonymity…. It’s very uplifting to encounter a kind comment( and despite what was said yesterday… I do my fair share!). The Blog has changed… not sure about the future!

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The Grindr Swindler has been caught. A police man friend of mine, said a man had been arrested on suspicion of blackmailing a string of men but he has subsequently been released pending further investigations. Now my friend didn’t mention Grindr but it’s too much of a coincidence not be related to the recent death.

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Should we not- in justice- wait for a possible trial? All we can say is that he works in the field of health

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Helen needs to be told there are plenty of other lesbian forums she can mouth off on and she should not be getting involved in Priestly matters.

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The priestly matters of abuse corruption and criminality are concerns of any decent caring citizen. I note cancelling priests has become a new priestly matter. Is this due to confusion as to what is and is not RCC teaching?

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Robert Nugent ( whose world view I do not share) and “ Helen” ( whose world view I really appreciate) have had the same treatment from contributors here. Disgraceful . Two human beings worthy of a “ hearing” and the RCC as adept at it; sunder them!!! Cowards all.

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7.32 Don’t know who that is addressed to?……but I always use my Name except for ” The spy who loved me.” There are clearly imposters for ” Helen” but bishops, clergy and their ” under influencers” are duplicitous. Amen.

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Pat it wasn’t long ago people on this blog were saying Gingers should be on the front line on the Covid fight. Now that’s over should we send them to Ukraine?

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The sins of a few? Vard’s capacity for self-delusion is astonishing.
It was the sins of them ALL. All of them, priests, were involved in cover-up, or were prepared to do so, through their promise or vow to obey the institutional Church.
Vard is a deceiver. A moral coward and weakling.

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I met C&C today in Cookstown and they were remarkably charming and instantly likeable. Have you ever had the pleasure our Pat of meeting any royalty?

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I have to say I agree with a lot of the comments today. I hate my vocation. I resent everything about it but I am stuck in this hell life til I die.

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Pat, I am at a pub quiz later, I wish you could join us for the Lord knows we could be doing with your expert knowledge lol

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Apparently there was an invitation on diocesan websites to join in on a Zoom session held earlier this month to find out about priesthood and to hear directly from two young men currently studying for the priesthood in the National Seminary in Maynooth. The event was run by the National Vocations Office. I wonder how many Zoomers participated? This blog must be made mandatory reading for those considering priesthood.

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I doubt any priest, much less a bishop, has wandered outside his house and struck up an in depth conversation with an average member of the public. If they did they might learn a few lessons about how bad the situation actually is.
In the office today a conversation started and I just sat back and listened. It was about the upcoming census and Catholic school patronage. Most of the people speaking were baptized Catholics and their views varied from openly hostile to benign but disinterested. Noone was going to have their children baptized. One person, born in the 1980s, was never baptized themselves. All the people in the conversation were of an age that they could not possibly have witnessed an industrial school of Magdalene laundry and I suspect none of them personally experienced clerical sexual abuse (most were women). All will be marking the ‘no religion’ box in the census. “Catholic Ireland” will get a real shock when the Census 2022 results are released and I would not be in the least surprised if the number professing Catholicism this time is under 50%.

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7.46: I think you may be right. The time has come, I believe, when people should be truly honest about their religious affiliation. If people have lapsed to the point of complete indifference and apathy, be honest and say “no religion”. It does not mean an abandoning of some spiritual identity, a legacy of a religious belief perhaps. I appreciate my Catholic faith and the values, principles and comfort it gives me. A continuum of constant reflection and questioning keeps my faith relevant. I do not judge anyone who does not share my world view, religion or religious convictions. I’d rather the real truth be discovered once for all about our Catholic identity. The census will be interesting. Although, while acknowledging the changes which have occured and which affect our attitudes and beliefs, there is an agenda at play this time re: census with very strident voices telling people what to do. A new hierarchy is thriving in its own narrative of privilege and power.

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Never mind the lapsed laity. The priests are lapsed!
Anyone heard the gossip round Armagh??? 😂🙈😬 when will they learn?

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Bergoglio is playing a blinder in his nuanced approach to what is happening in ” Europe.” I admire his self silencing of himself for delicate reason. My heart is with Ukraine. Cerebrally , they have been sacrificed by an expanding empire. Putin is an intelligent man with an outlook on the future of the governance of humanity. The Pope of Rome is an Absolute Despot….more in common with Putin than any Western ” Democracy”…..and they are illusions!!!! May the war stop soon and the heroic ordinary people be left to live !! Listen Mr. Biden, you Fraud!!!!

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Bishop Pat,
Can I ask your opinion on teachers in Catholic schools teaching the Church’s teaching on right and wrong, and leading very alternative lives? Surely this raises questions of the authenticity of the person?

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My dear, that will literally be every teacher in a ‘catholic’ school in Ireland. Thats just the reality. There are divorced teachers, there are remarried teachers, there are teachers in gay and lesbian relationships, there are teachers who are pro-choice and campaign as such. There are teachers who are openly atheist. And that’s kind of the beauty of ‘catholic’ schools in Ireland – diversity. Theres no saints in catholic schools. Schools are places of open debate, or welcoming all people. Bottom line is this: Parents don’t practice and the kids couldn’t care less. Also, don’t judge people on their ‘alternative lives’, unless you yourself are a candidate for sainthood.

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I don’t think the idea of sainthood is realistic. I accept St Augustine’s teaching of ‘Every saint has a past; every sinner a future’, but today too many people hold saints as false idols. We ought to honour, not worship a saint. There is a marked difference.
A priest once agreed with me – why asked a saint to petition for you when you can speak directly to the Lord through prayer?
This is not to disrespect those who have been canonised, rather it’s an internal debate within my own mind!

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2.05pm

Your right I do believe Gods grace costs but the thing is Jesus paid the price – trust me money and sacraments are corrupt and immoral- you know it, I know it, we all know it!

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