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IS NORTHERN IRELAND MORE HOMOPHOBIC THAN THE REST OF THE UK AND IRELAND.

Yesterday, I heard the story of a young gay Northern Ireland man in his 20s, which made sad.

He is in his mid-20s and has known he is gay for over a decade.

He is from a very conservative rural part of the country and also a part that is fiercely divided between Catholics and Protestants.

He has not been able to tell his parents about his sexuality as he knows that his family would totally reject him.

His father is a large farmer and a very masculine type who is into guns, shooting, hunting, etc.

Years ago, he made it clear to all his children that if any of them came out as gay they would be totally disowned and be struck from his will.

This, his son, lives in absolute fear of his father.

A few of his friends know his story, and for safety’s sake, he socialises in Belfast.

I know from my pastoral experience and from all the people I meet that this young man is by no means alone.

There are many young men and women living a life of fear, especially in rural areas.

Some of them sadly go on to take their own lives.

I fear this for the young man I am speaking of as his house is packed with guns!

I know that Northern Ireland is very conservative, especially in rural areas. People worry a lot about what other people – the neighbours – think about them.

Things in Northern Ireland are even more complicated by the crazy emphasis on religion here.

The Prods are always banging on about Sodom and Gomorrah.

The Catholics bang on about homosexually being a “disorder” and a “serious sin.”

Most young people don’t give a dam about these things but sadly they are living in families and with parents especially who are religiously brainwashed.

Ministers and priests don’t help !

We will not fix this problem in the short term.

In the long term, part of the solution will be destroying the influence religion has on society here.

Modern states should be both secular and pluralistic.

Churches and religions should be treated like private golf clubs – allowed to exist but have so say in society.

Society should have morals and ethics – but not ones dictated by any any religion or other pressure group.

In the meantime, people like the young gay man suffer.

And some will even die !!!

116 replies on “IS NORTHERN IRELAND MORE HOMOPHOBIC THAN THE REST OF THE UK AND IRELAND.”

Homophobia exists in every society regardless whether that society is religious or secular. Ironically, in my experience in Ireland, homophobia is particularly strong in young people who in the main would not have any religious beliefs and if anything would be anti religion. It’s amazing to think in all levels of English football , there is only one out gay footballer. Shows you the attitudes in a country which is strongly secular.

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The parents’ mentality and homophobic society shall never be changed. If you think that Roman Catholics could help by recruiting them as roman catholic seminaries’ priests, it is wrong too. The lad is gay, not disabled!
It is a free country, move out of your father’s will and care and earn your own living somewhere else.
I do know a gay couple who runs a bar and restaurant next to where I live. I do know them for over 20 years and they told me how their families swear to kill them both. They flew out of the UK, worked earned skills and money, and came back as mature adults with a plan.
One of the evenings that I was dining there I heard that the sister of one of them was there…
By the time people change… By the time people understand…
What stands above Loyalty!!!
What stands above Love!!!
What stands above Honesty!!!

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Is Rev Martin Donnelly in Enniskillen not A Permanant Deacon? The first or only Permanant Deacon In Clogher.

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Surely his siblings support him?

I don’t understand parents who one day say they love their child, but, the next, disown them because they’re gay.

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10:29 many townies don’t realise how different rural life can be, Father will be the talk of the cattle market when the other farmers find out about his gay son.

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The curate Donnelly in Enniskillen might be a prissy wee madam but he’s a worker. Only for him the PP would be lost.

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“Churches and religion should be treated as private golf clubs: allowed to exist but have no say in society.”
EXCELLENT +PAT.
Couldn’t agree more.
And cease the charitable status con trick too.👌
MMM

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Discover the gay in your family, because it is there, whether wanted or not. Statistically, EVERY family line has gay in it, somewhere.
My darling 💓, 14-year-old niece is gay, unashamedly so. I was a homophobic dolt…until I learned of her sexuality. Now, I’m a Pride Flag-waving enthusiast, to attempt to compensate for my idiocy.
Quite frankly, I’d give my life for her, not because she’s gay, but because I love her. I’d rather slice open my own throat than reject her.
How can any family love a person one day, but, the following, reject that person on account of their sexuality?

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A significant proportion of Roman Catholic Church clergy & their cohorts are verbally homophobic but are also practicing homosexuals. Same old, same old.

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The Roman Catholic Church is now synonymous with its self created disordered and serious state of kiddy and money fiddling.

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Religion is not the fundamental problem. Every single anti-religious socialist government has also persecuted gays. In the Soviet Union, if you came out as gay then you would be locked up in a psychiatric hospital for a “cure”. In North Korea, you are liable to be shot.

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I agree with you : religion isn’t fundamentally the problem, because homophobia seems hard-wired into human DNA. But religion has definitely aggravated the problem, by presenting homophobia with a moral and, as it were, ‘jihadic’ rationale, which can render it all the more cruel, discriminatory, and violent.

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If it’s that bad, he should consider/plan to move away from home; otherwise, he will end up living in abject misery.

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Absolutely. I live here and can say that it is both homophobic and racist. In fact, in the recent past we’ve been voted the “race hate capital of Europe.” You will find that a lot of angst about race and sexual orientation comes from the PUL community here.

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One homophobe (and pretty phobic about a whole range of other people too) was Pell. An authoritarian, bullying, autocratic, ideological culture warrior. Stuck in the 40s and 50s from whence he came. Out of step with most Catholics. Out of step with Pope Francis. Out of step with the direction in which the Church is going. So, maybe he will be happier in Heaven, although I’m sure he will find lots of the very people he was bashing in life up there with him.

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@ 8.26. I don’t think he’ll “find” anything. I don’t believe that heaven exists, except in people’s wishful minds.
I could be wrong of course. So please somebody, anybody, show me the evidence.
MMM

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MMM, not being facetious, but you WILL get all the evidence you seek.

Keep living by that golden rule of yours : it’s one side of the salvation coin, the other being faith.

When you obtain the evidence you seek, remember this comment, and have faith in the one before you.

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10:59 No you’re not being facetious; patronizing more like. ‘There there, you’re not doing badly but you’ll find we’re still right ‘. You might as well pat him on the head and give him a lollipop for trying.

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@10.41 am MMM
The body dies but the soul does not. There have been SO MANY studies carried out where people speak of previous lives, they cannot ALL not be telling the truth. No one can show you ACTUAL evidence MMM because we aren’t able to and we aren’t meant to. We just simply, here on earth aren’t that clever. We operate in 3D, the afterlife is in 5D. There is only a thin veil between here and the afterlife, it isn’t as far away as people think.

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Oh I can’t wait THAT long! I’m impatient so give me something, anything more than “faith.”
A good dictionary definition of faith is : ” a strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof.”
I’d simply call it indoctrinated wishful thinking.
MMM

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@ 11:43. Marvellous!
I just love the wishful explanations and images conjured up by the devout.

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MMM at 11:59 One of the reasons I respect Bishop Pat is that when challenged like that he acknowledged that it was a matter of belief.
I don’t like the you’ll-find-youre-wrong dynamic, especially as it’s so often accompanied by the hate-the-sin-love-the-sinner thing.

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Interesting that a little dig at the reality of an afterlife / heaven produces so many comments. I suspect that we will know nothing about an afterlife, except that we are simply not alive anymore, and that is it. Memory and love live on, and those and we will be reabsorbed in to the earth / universe, and at least we will have the consolation / joy of being part of a continuing earthly physical world and humanity. Isn’t that enough ? Do we really want to fool ourselves about a personalised afterlife of some kind of consciousness in some parallel universe that has us walking around with angel wings ? Or in the case of Muslims, sucking sherbet and having dozens of virgins ? For the men, at least. Ah, well, Pell knows / or does not know all about it now. I suspect the latter.

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@1.15 pm
Oh don’t be so silly! I can’t believe that some people do not believe there is an afterlife. I could understand it if you were suffering from some kind of brain malfunction. For goodness sake use your common sense and think about it instead of living your life floating about on the surface.
Start by asking yourself how you got here in the first place and don’t start with your parents they only make the body, genes etc. Just think HOW you got a soul in the first place because as sure as night follows day, that part most certainly did not come from your parents.

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@ 4.18. Your comment shows the limited ability of a cathbot to look at the reality of objective evidence.
You speak of the “soul” as if it is a concrete visible reality immediately apparent to everyone ‘s perception.
Not so! Think more deeply and consider the evidence 🤔
Sine qua non!

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Reply to;Anonymoussays:
Jan 12, 2023 at 8:26 am
I hope he is burning his ar-e off in the fires of hell, he will have a better chance of meeting other likeminded demonic complicit child sexual abuser enablers there, he’ll be amongst his own facilitator brigade. No amount of burning will compensate for those who lost their faith, because of his actions, and inactions.

The hottest fire in hell,
are reserved for those,
who remain NEUTRAL.
In times of MORAL CRISIS.

Edmund Burke

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1.24: Dare I say, Queenie, you prove your total ugly bitch-ness in this comment. A horrid lie.

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6.28: not at all: it’s actually very comfortable.
Having weighed up the evidence, accepted reality, and acknowledged my finite destiny, I rest content. Part of my contentment is knowing that unlike so many religious believers misled into wasting time and effort into appeasing some non existent Divinity in this life, I can concentrate on making the best of this life, the only one I’ll have. And along the way, giving a helping hand to others.
This blog of +Pat provides enjoyable diversion. Viewing cathbots convulsions is a bit like watching clowns at the circus or slapstick comedy.

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Religious life attracts dictator types with a desire to control society whilst they do not practice what they preach.

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A1:13. Is the quasi gleeful gloating of your comment typical of Christian charity?
“By this…..they will know you are my disciples, if you love one another. ” John 13:35

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Bishops, clergy & their inner cliques are extremely vengeful & wrathful types obsessed with their own self interested and grudgeful agendas.

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Outwardly respectable church types busy themselves on a daily basis perverting the course of justice, they being fully paid up members compliant in the money and kiddy fiddlers society.

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8.54: If possible, please validate your statement with facts. Give examples. Don’t be shy. If you fail to do so, we know you’re a liar. Lues are easily created…TRUTH is needed.

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@10:00. Who/what are you referring to: me, or some non existing entity you call a ‘soul’?
If it’s the latter, no doubt you’ll receive the customary reply: zilch!
If it’s me, then goody, I like surprises.
And I’m not joking either 🙃

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Those who are most opposed in their language toward gay people are frequently found to be repressed or practicing gays themselves, not practicing what they preach is a common characteristic of clergy and their lay cohorts.

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It is tragic that this father places the opinion of the neighbours before his relationship with his own child. That’s what happens when one chooses to be beholden to a religious cult managed by clergy and administrators who preach one thing and do the opposite in their own shady lives.

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The father sounds very unreasonable and unbalanced, it is, therefore, concerning to note that he is permitted to hold a gun licence. He’s clearly not the live and let live type. It’s his way or the highway and using his wealth as a weapon. What this ignorant man doesn’t appear to realise is that the money he has left in his Will to the clergy will be enjoyed in the gay priest saunas. Oh! the irony!! Tragic ignorance.

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The father has been spending too much time with the toxic brigade. Shame he didn’t make time to love, understand and accept the uniqueness of each of his own children. This father is unwittingly allowing the teachings of an ambiguous religion internationally synonymous with abuse to destroy his relationship with his own child. This guy seriously needs to take a very long contemplative walk with his son away from self interested toxic influences.

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Do you remember the blog Pat did a few years ago on the young Irishman whose father (I think he was a FF/FG politician) fully accepted him when he came out as gay?
Pat, could you not integrate that blog story with this one for contrast?

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Is there any update on when this Inquiry into religious schools in Ireland will commence and will it also address the ongoing conflict of interest in relation to church involvement in all Irish schools?

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”His father is a large farmer and a very masculine type who is into guns, shooting, hunting, etc.”
Ooh, Have you got the dad’s phone number by any chance, he sounds right up alley!
On a serious note though, I’m glad the lad has friends he can talk to, it’s a shame the dad is so unaccepting. Good on him for reaching out x

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While Ireland has changed considerably in its attitude towards gay peoole and all within the LBGTQ etc..spectrum, there are still parts of the country where intolerance and bigotry and unacceptance reign against the gay community. The church’s moral rigid teachings and our inherited British Victiroianism ensured bigotry and complete intolerance. Moral teachings are necessary in all aspects of sexuality and relationships: boundaries are an absolute. Any teaching or attitude which demeans human beings must be condemned. However, in present day secular Ireland it seems we must now only tolerate the voice of liberalism. There are aspects of gay culture and of sexual, gender identity issues which requure serious questioning and more considered thought. The “in your face” aporoach of the liberal left and free thinkers is unacceptable, just as the rigid moral teachings of judgment and condemnation are. We need to listen to all arguments with respect and compassion.

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10:23 you won’t find any respect or compassion if you report church related wrong doing, it’s bad for business.

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Its easy to stereotype N Ireland as Paisley vs the Pope Getting rid of religion will solve nothing. People ned structures to relate reflect and choose. Religion is like a sensory room for faith Time changes but the central message should never be lost and be accessible to all

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Irish Government Minister resigns his post for concealing information on planning application in 2008says:

Fine Gael TD, Damien English has resigned his position as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. In his statement he declared:
“Yesterday in an online article, questions were raised about my planning application from 14 years ago. I reviewed this application, made in 2008, and it is clear to me that I failed to inform Meath County Council about ownership of my house in Castlemartin. This was wrong, not up to the required standard and I apologise for doing so”
A statement in response from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed Mr English’s resignation from his ministerial role:
“It was his view given the circumstances that his position was not teneable”, the Taoiseach said.
“I agreed and accepted his resignation”, Mr Varadkar added.
When will church coverups and wrong doings be handled like this instead of church management constantly engaging in harrassment and intimidation to protect their multiple self interests.

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Tom Deenihan’s position is untenable. He must resign. Fr. Declan Hurley, Fr. Joe Gallagher and Fr. Paul Connell are part of Deenihan’s diocesan delegation of deception. Very concerning.

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Cambridge Catholic Church
Rector and Parish Priest:
Rt Revd Mgr Provost E Harkness, OSB Obl
pp@olem.org.uk
Hospital Chaplain (Resident in Ditton):
Fr Adrian Gates (01223 622699)
adrian.gates@rcdea.org.uk
(In residence)
Rt Revd Alan Hopes—Bishop Emeritus
(In residence)
Very Revd Dr Giuseppe Rizzi—Visitor
(In residence)
Fr Vijaya Amrutha Raj Suripogula
Polish Chaplain (Resident in Chesterton):
Fr Waldemar Niewinski (01223 368539)
parafia.cambridge@googlemail.com
Parish Deacon:
The Revd Dr Gianluca Savini
Contact via office@olem.org.u

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@ 10:39am

Good God! you know who furnishing us with her hobby of collecting addresses. Thankfully she has not urged us to contact them, however just publishing that list is an invitation to do so.🙄

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When a Westminster auxiliary bishop, he was in residence at Kensington OLV parish with Fr Stuart Wilson, both ex-Anglicans.

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@6.48pm We have known about Bp Alana Hopes and Fr Stuart Wilson for quite a while now courtesy of our Monty. When off his face on booze in Lourdes, Monty revealed a relationship between Hopes and Wilson to all and sundry. Next thing Bp Alana is alerted to this by a few Westminster clergy present who then calls Elsie. Elsie hauls Monty in (no refreshments offered) gets a dressing down for his gossiping mouth and diaconate delayed by one year.

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Pat check out the Belfast Telegraph today online or buy it. Paddy McCafferty is warning people to be vigilant and on guard, as someone is going round ‘impersonating’ him to con money out of them, he has reported the same to the police. Well I wonder how you could impersonate Paddy?

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6.32: Patrick Mc isn’t the only one who speaks about his past abuse. Pat frequently refers to his abuse by Cardinal Daly. Is he a victim by talking about his exlerience? You are de-validating their REAL experiences by your stupid comment. Try empathy instead. You’ll be a nicer human being.

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He is impersonating himself no doubt? Anything for his fat head to be in the paper! I’m based in his parish! His ego outweighs his faith! He’s not well! Can we get him moved please?

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Isn’t that… cowardly of you? You already know he’s gay; it’s not as though neither of you know about the other.

Quit the pretence, for goodness sake! It’s a lot less stressful.

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There are certainly times this blog is, in my opinion, homophobic. I don’t care if the priest of my parish is gay or straight. I find it extremely unchristian and unfair for the clergy to have their sexuality scrutinised so regularly by yourself and your readers. It is just as difficult for them as it is for this young man and I, like you fear for this young man, fear for them.
I’m sorry this young man is experiencing difficulty with his family and pray that he finds a peaceful conclusion to his familial problems.

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I don’t think a gay man being a priest is hypocritcal or warrants the attacks that so many of our clergy receive here. You cannot blame them for the teachings of the church, no more than you could blame a doctor for the failings of the NHS.
11.21 I personally have never heard any priest preach about homosexuality…. it’s the lay members of the church you need to watch! See 11.42!!! They seem more obsessed about sexuality than they think the church is!

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Pat at 11.11: You have allowed very homophobic, ugly and violent commentary about gay clergy just because you judged them to be fodder for all chyrch haters. Even in some very tragic situations you promoted the ugliest of vitriol against cleric, alive and dead and in serious illness. In so many instances you pushed people to the edge with your facilitation of hate commentary. You effeminised priest’s names whom you judged to be gay. You crushed many with pure nastiness. Take responsibility for your words and actions.

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Whoa! Hold yer horses, 11.08!
No one here is interested in a priest’s sexuality. No one gives a damn. But we DO care if he’s loudly, judgementally proclaiming one thing about homosexuality while hypocritically visiting gay cruising areas, boiler houses, etc.

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11:21 No. We’re very interested in priests’ sexuality. And will cease to be so interested when the cult withdraws its teaching that gays shouldn’t be admitted to seminary, that homosexuality is disordered and teaching about contraception and abortion.
Because the church is VERY interested in people’s sexuality indeed. 👜

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11:42 am. Why do you want the teaching withdrawn? Membership of the Church is not compulsory. I’m sure that you are not a member. The teachings aren’t for you. If you don’t like them, too bad.

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How many of those priests who signed the Letter to The Telegraph opposing gay marriage are gay? The two Dames of Glastonbury spring to mind.

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Actually, I agree that there are times when this blog, and the commenters come across as very homophobic. Sorry, not sorry.

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Our brother’s nephew has a boyfriend. I do not judge them. The LGBT+ community are no saints. It is concerning that the LGBT+ community are trying to shut down those of a different opinion. People must be careful with language but people must be able to speak freely. As mentioned previously, LGBT+ idealogs are over the top and are trying to restrict free speech and different views. Very concerning. What are the LGBT+ idealogs trying to hide?

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Do you mean the nephew of your brother’s wife? Otherwise, he would be your nephew too.

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Pat, I hope the young gay man you’re blogging about today will read the comments here and find them helpful.
I wish him well, and will pray for his father.

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I wonder if the young man featuring on this blog would make a comment or two about his life, and the attitudes expressed here by people.

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Some days ago here a comment referred to a Dominican masturbating a young man. Is this a case of Chinese whispers where the original claim was that a Dominican interrogated second-level boys about masturbation in Confession? Or, is it a different case?

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Evening Pat, would you mind helping me fill in my application form to study Philosophy and Theology in Maynooth in September? I have always dreamed of being a Priest from I was a young boy aged 8. Thank you

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With all of your criticisms of Maynooth and RC priests in particular, I am surprised you would help Daniel to fill i an application form.

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Daniel: that you appear to need help to fill an application form speaks volumes about the quality of aspiring clerics.

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6.23: Cyril, you are correct. Needing help to fill out an application for a degree at Maynooth Uni. says it all about Daniel’s level of intelligence. He’d be better buying a “degree” on line!! They’re cheaper and easier.

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5.44: Daniep. Are you serious? Wanting or desiring to be a priest will remain just that by asking Pat for help in filling out form a for a seminary. If you hope to study philosophy and theology, you have to be reasonably intelligent. This comments suggests otherwise. If you’re unable to fill out an application form, I despair. Please, if you’re real, stop embarrassing yourself.

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It’s just guidance and advice from a well respected Priest who has been in the same boat as myself. I really admire Bishop Pats experience and expertise, hence why I asked him. You all do not need to judge.

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Pat that’s a terrible story. I’m the only person in my family that speaks to my cousin because he came out as gay. We are from Fivemiletown and he was forced to flee to England to live his most authentic life. He was outed by a local man who caught him performing oral sex in the public toilets to a lorry driver. This was not right. Animals down here.

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6.36: The local man did the right thing. What of a child had gone to the toilet? As a parent I’ve no issue with your cousin being gay but, come on, using the public toilets for oral sex on a lorry driver!! You’ve almost identified your cousin by mentioning Fivemilebridge!

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Leave her alone, the poor man probably didn’t know where else to go to apart from the local toilets. Especially in the country, and the toilets in FMT are notorious for cottaging – my lesbian aunt use to cruise when passing by to go to bundoran

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I’ve seen our Arlene getting her groceries in the Co Op in Fivenmiletown. I haven’t seen her though near the public jacks.

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Seems Sleepy Joe is now being stitched up. He’s served his purpose and usefulness. Democracy doesn’t exist.

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Most people on here just need to get over the “being gay” issue. If they have a problem with it, then it means de facto that they are homophobic. Are they phobic about heterosexuality ? No. They can have views about behaviour, as they can about any other group or type of people and what they get up to. But as to being gay or anything else, it is simply wrong to be phobic about it. Just as it is to be phobic about people of different colour, race or creed.. They have no right to have a view about whether it is right, wrong or anything else about being gay. That matter is settled in law and in society. Sadly, not yet in the RCC. Which is homophobic, therefore. Gay is here, and it is here to stay, and it is protected in law. So get over it ! Now, priests and being gay is another area of interest ! The issue about priests and being gay is not the being gay bit, it is the sexual activity bit because these priests have take a promise / vow of celibacy. So, any sexual activity by these priest, gay or whatever, is against what they have publicly vowed / promised. So, they are hypocrites. Okay, they may make a mistake, they may wander, be tempted etc. But, if they simply carry on being sexually active in any way, and live a life that is contrary to that required by the Church (wrong and homophobic as it is) and remain in the priesthood, then that is hypocrisy. And, it is quite legitimate to call out hypocrisy. So, priests who are gay and sexually active rightfully can be called hypocrites and challenged, not because being gay but because of being sexually active. + Pat is gay and a priest, but he is quite open about it, and he does not require in his Oratory that priests be celibate. It’s all quite logical, really.

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