BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY

FROM IRISH CENTRAL – Shane O’Brien

There were 7,256 Catholic wedding ceremonies in Ireland in 2023, accounting for 35.4% of the total of 21,159 weddings that took place in the country last year.

Non-religious marriages significantly outnumbered Catholic marriages in Ireland in 2023, according to data from the Central Statistics Office. 

There were 7,256 Catholic wedding ceremonies in Ireland in 2023, accounting for 35.4% of the total of 21,159 weddings that took place in the country last year. Non-religious, ceremonies, on the other hand, accounted for 40.3% of weddings in 2023. 

The proportion of Catholic weddings in Ireland has fallen sharply from 2022, when 40.5% of all weddings were Catholic. Meanwhile, Catholic weddings accounted for 93% of all weddings in 1990. 

Over 1,700 ceremonies were humanist in 2023, while the Spiritualist Union of Ireland performed 1,674 weddings (7.9%). 

Church of Ireland weddings accounted for just 1.1% of the total figure, while 3,470 (16%) of couples opted for other religious ceremonies. 

Barbara Ryan, a wedding celebrant based in Bray, County Wicklow, told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that she is receiving more inquiries for non-religious ceremonies “year on year”. 

Ryan said there is a “mix of reasons” as to why couples are opting for non-religious ceremonies but suggested that one of the main reasons was flexibility in location, allowing couples to hold the ceremony and celebration in the same location. 

She added that many couples want a ceremony that is “focused on them, the reasons they love each other”. 

Non-profit Education Equality has said that the CSO report highlights the need for the reform of Ireland’s education system. 

The group states that the 2023 marriage statistics act as a barometer of religious belief and practice in Ireland and said schools should reflect the diversity of modern-day Ireland. 

“Non-religious marriages have outnumbered Catholic marriages three times in the past four years,” Education Equality Communications Officer David Graham said in a statement.

“These figures provide firm evidence of a changing population with respect to religious belief and practice. What will it take before the Government finally responds to the calls for change from parents across the country? Religion is a choice, not an obligation. Our taxpayer-funded education system is forcing religion on families against their will, in breach of their human and constitutional rights.

“Schools should serve local communities in all their diversity, without regard to people’s religion or beliefs. It is not the role of our education system to evangelize children. Religious faith formation and sacramental preparation should be offered outside the curriculum to those who want it, not imposed during school hours on those who don’t.

“We need to respect children’s and teachers’ rights to freedom of religion and belief. Our current education system – where over 95% of our taxpayer-funded schools operate a religious-integrated curriculum with no effective opt-out for children or teachers – is clearly not fit for purpose.” 

PAT SAYS

These figures are not surprising.

They are a sign, mainly, that people are disengaging from the Roman Catholic Church.

That is to be welcomed.

While individual RC persons have done a lot of good, the RC institution has been disastrous for the Irish state and people.

Ireland was COLONISED by two forces.

One coloniser was the British.

The other colonisers were the RCs.

Great quote from James Joyce:

The RC Church did oppose an all out tyranny on the souls of generations of Irish people.

We are now seeing the Irish giving the RC its walking papers.

About this space

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IS PADDY DEVLIN SHUTTLING AIRBNB GUESTS FROM AIRPORT AND BACK?

REVIEWS

PAT SAYS

Is Fr Paddy Devlin running these 2 Airbnb apartments in West Belfast?

Is he providing a taxi service from and to the airport for his tenants.

If he is how can he have the time to do this?

Are the apartments above the deaf centre on the Grosvenor Road and do they belong to the deaf centre or Paddy personally?

Will 100% occupation the bigger apartment could bring in £ 41,600.

The smaller one maybe £ 20 000 plus.

Where is this potential £ 60 000 going?

Is the deaf centre a registered charity?

Is the Patrick referred to in the reviews Paddy Devlin?

A Priest Contributor

Salford-in-Sitges

The Triduum was barely over, the paschal candle barely extinguished when the clergy had their bags packed and were flying out to one of Spain’s premier gay resorts, Sitges near Barcelona, one of the clergy’s most favourite destinations.

Many diocese were represented but it was the clergy of Salford who were caught out by a small group of Glasgow and Motherwell clergy.

Fr Xxxxx Xxxxxxx and another unnamed Salford priest were sitting in one of Sitges many gay bars. Xxxxx had his eye on the youngest of the Motherwell contingent not knowing they three were also priests.

Xxxxx sent over his companion to tell the youngest of the Motherwell three: ‘my friend over there really likes you and would like both of you to have a drink together’ 

You can imagine the horror when that young man replied ‘I’m a priest and I know who you two are’’ Xxxxx’x companion returned horrified with the message and him and Xxxxx made a quick exit from the bar.

Their holiday was ruined, and they’ve been worried ever since

Alleluia! He has risen! 

PAT SAYS

It is a fact of priestly life now that many priests are not only gay – but promiscuously gay.

It’s not about wanting a friend, a companion or a lover.

It’s simply about promiscuous and no holes barred sex.

It involves things like poppers and even and especially illegal drugs.

It’s about cruising, saunas and dicing with risk and danger.

Hence, this story of the recent visit to Sitges by 2 Salford priests and 3 Scottish priests.

The priesthood cannot survive these orgiastic happenings.

Most people are at least 6 years retired at 71.

There are very few areas of life in which people are appointed to top and highly stressful jobs in their 70s.

I know it has happened with popes. But popes are really figure heads and have hundreds, if not thousands of assistants in the Vatican and elsewhere.

Alan McGuckian inherits a D&C with a dwindling number of priests, very few seminarians, and an ageing congregation.

Many priests ( mainly gay but not exclusively ) are not observing their celibacy promises and need to be challenged and brought into line.

The younger generations are gone from the churches.

Society has firmly rejected Catholic moral teachings.

People say Alan McGuckian is a “nice man.”

But will “nice” cut the mustard?

Will Alan, like Noel, turn a blind eye and let priests run amok?

Because, when a bishop lets priests run amok, the lay people see it and walk away from the Church, Mass, and the Sacraments.

Ask many lapsed Catholics what made them walk away, and they will name the priest who ruined their faith.

FROM THE TABLET

There was profound shock throughout the Catholic Church in Scotland at the news that the new Bishop-designate of Dunkeld, Fr Martin Chambers, has died suddenly, just days before his ordination service.

The news was announced by Bishop of Galloway, Bishop Frank Dougan, himself recently ordained.

In an announcement, Bishop Dougan paid tribute to Fr Chambers’ work with the Missionary Society of St James in Ecuador, where he served from 2004 to 2009, to his work at a number of parishes in the Galloway diocese and to his personal qualities of “love, enthusiasm, humour and a deep faith which enlivened all that he did”.

The cause of Fr Chambers’ death was not known at time of going to press but he was believed to be in good health and his passing is a further blow to both his home diocese and to the parishes of Dunkeld, who lost Bishop Stephen Robson to ill-health and early retirement in late December 2022.

The Diocesan Administrator of Dunkeld Canon Kevin Golden said that Fr Chambers had died in his sleep during the night of Tuesday 9  and Wednesday 10  April. In advance of any funeral arrangements, he called on the faithful of Dunkeld to join a Mass for Fr Chambers on Friday, 12 April 12 at 1pm. 

Glasgow-born Fr Chambers had been parish priest at Our Lady of the Assumption and St Meddan’s in Troon. On his appointment as Bishop, Fr Chambers pledged himself as a “missionary disciple” and said that would “sit in prayer as a Disciple at the feet of Jesus, listening to his voice calling me forward in faith”.

He noted a curious symmetry in having been accepted into seminary by Bishop Joseph McGee of Galloway who had formerly served as a priest in Dunkeld diocese. “In a strange way,” he said on accepting Pope Francis’s nomination, I am returning a compliment in faith, for having started as a priest of Galloway, I am now becoming Bishop of Dunkeld.”

PAT SAYS

The sudden death of Martin Chambers has shocked many.

He was, according to all reports, a man in good health.

He may have had a heart attack or have been a victim of the sudden adult death syndrome?

Maybe his appointment as bishop put him under immense stress?

Maybe he had an underlying health problem he was not aware of?

Obviously, his sudden death will cause some speculation.

His diocese and bishop would be wise to publish his port mortem results.

Rome is not having much luck in their episcopal appointments to the UK.

The Bobby Byrne cock up in Hexham and Newcastle.

The Chris Whitehead cock up in Clifton / Plymouth.

And now a bishop elect dying before being consecrated.

Obviously God did not want Martin Chambers in Dunkeld if he took him when he did.

PAT SAYS

Pope Francis has left two small Irish dioceses without their own bishop.

Killala will now be administered by the Archbishop of Tuam.

Achonry will now be administered by the Bishop of Elphin.

Killala bishop, John Flemming is retiring ( no loss ) and Achonry bishop, Paul Dempsey goes to Dublin as an auxiliary.

It’s very rare for a diocesan bishop to be moved “downwards” to be an auxiliary bishop.

These moves are probably “big news” among church interested people.

But in the great scheme of things it means nothing.

Its simply the RC Church in Ireland moving the desk chairs on their sinking ship.

The RC Church is shrinking.

And that’s a good thing for the Irish people and the Irish state.

Individuals in the Church did a lot of good.

But the institution was monstrous and destroying.

WAS THIS AN APPROPRIATE JOKE FOR A PRIEST TO TELL AT MASS?

MILLTOWN NEEDS

Ongoing work at Milltown Cemetery ‘dredging up pain’ and must be stopped says Alliance MLA

BELFAST TELEGRAPH Liam Tunney 1.4.24

An Alliance MLA who believes her stillborn siblings are buried in a west Belfast cemetery has appealed for a halt to ongoing construction at the site.

Nuala McAllister has raised concerns that work being carried out on a section of Milltown Cemetery could disturb infants buried in mass graves.

The land on the eastern side of the cemetery, known as the bog meadows, was sold to Ulster Wildlife in 2000, only to be reclaimed nine years later after campaigning by family members of those buried in unmarked graves in the area.

The area was used for many years as a mass burial site for stillborn babies, people who completed suicide and those who could not afford an individual burial plot.

Ms McAllister’s mum lost a baby boy during birth and twins during pregnancy. Their bodies were taken from her to be buried, with the family believing they are buried at Milltown.

“I, alongside many others I’ve met who’s deceased family members may be affected, remain extremely concerned with the risk that this work is disturbing these unmarked graves,” said Ms McAllister.

“I am calling on the Catholic Church and the Department for Communities to urgently halt this work to allow for transparent and independent analysis of the ground in question, so that the families impacted can have confidence that the remains of their loved ones will not be disturbed.

“Since this story was reported, I have had a number of people getting in touch with similar concerns that their relatives may too be affected. I’m acutely aware of the pain this may be dredging up for many people and families here, and I want to assure everyone that I will not be letting this issue rest.”

THIS WEEKS ANDERSONSTOWN NEWS

THIS IS ALL THE RUBBISH THE CHURCH PILED ON THE BABIES GRAVES !!!

PAT SAYS

The Diocese of Down and Connor wants to make a cool £ 7 million by selling graves on top of where babies have been buried for decades.

The relatives of the babies are quite rightly enraged and doing all they can to prevent it.

Some are claiming that workers have put body parts in skips !!!

Other claims say that parts of babies’ bodies were secretly buried in other graves!

The Catholic Church hypocritically preaches about graveyards being CONSECRATED GROUND.

But not when there is £ 7 million to be raked in !!!

This project is a THUNDERING DISGRACE and needs to be stopped.

FLOODED GRAVES THE CHURCH HAS JUST SOLD TO FAMILIES

I have a “connection” with Jeffrey Donaldson that goes back 41 years.

In 1983, I was sent to his hometown – Kilkeel – as a curate.

At the time, Jeffrey was 21 and wore the uniform of the UDR – Ulster Defence Regiment.

The Kilkeel UDR were bad boys, very bigoted, and enjoyed harassing our Catholic youth and blocking the roads on a Sunday morning to prevent Catholics from getting to Mass.

My my mind, Jeffrey was the same as the rest in the UDR.

I’m fact, their colonel, a regular British Army officer, told me he had no control of the Kilkeel UDR!

Jeffrey was the from the almost totally Protestant townland – Ballinran.

Ballinran, with Catholic Attical, was my part of the parish.

RECENT STORMONT AGREEMENT

I was very highly impressed by Jeffrey Donaldsons recent work to reestablish Stormont.

He was very brave in standing up to the dinosaurs in the DUP.

HIS ARREST AND CHARGING:

Like everybody else, I was shocked to hear he had been arrested and charged with historic sexual offences, including rape.

It is a hugely serious development and has rocked Northern Ireland.

Our first thoughts and concerns must be with the victims.

They need our prayers and support and need us to absolutely respect their privacy.

It strikes me that in this case, the PSNI spared no resources in their enquiry and were not at all hampered by who he was.

The banged on his door at 6 am arrested him and his wife and took them to Antrim Custody Suite where Gerry Adams was questioned previously.

They were both charged 14 hours later.

Jeffrey’s bail address is in London and Eleanor’s is in N. Ireland.

They are both due in court on April 24th.

Jeffrey is facing going on trial for rape and other acts of indecency.

Eleanor is charged with “aiding and abetting.”

It’s a VERY SERIOUS matter.

***** As the matter is now sub judice comments will be very carefully monitored.

The Vatican’s records show Christopher Whitehead RESIGNED as bishop elect of Plymouth in February 2024.

Mind you, I think he had no choice.

Had he refused to resign, he would have been removed by a document signed by Francis, and he would have become a serious PERSONA NON GRATA.

And there is no way he would have got his parish or any parish.

One can feel some sympathy for Christopher Whitehouse. Becoming a bishop was probably his Fairy Godmother dream.

However, he was also highly foolish to accept the appointment with the two seminarians accusations in his background.

Does it show that he and people like Lang thought they could ride roughshod over the seminarians’ complaints?

Seminarians, in the RC are VULNERABLE ADULTS.

They are powerless in the face of senior clerics.

They claim Whitehead touched them inappropriately.

If he did, Whitehead is not suitable to be a bishop or a PP!

We need to hear the seminarians stories.

The Tendency to Fix

Anna Wheeler

We humans have the tendency to grip happiness and positivity the moment it peeps out of the ground.  For good reason; we all want to look forward to something.  An NHS Manager described the desperation to put the bad past behind us as “banking something before it has ended” and that really, that is not the right thing to do.  I love BBC1’s ‘The Repair Shop’ but humans are not fixable as easily as a musical box or leather bag.  Our permanent state is fragile with the capacity to be broken.  Pain and exhaustion cannot be ticked off like another task on the ‘to do’ list.  Adopt Leonard Cohen’s thought – we’re all full of cracks, that’s how the light gets in.

C. S. Lewis writes in The Four Loves: “Man approaches God most nearly when he is in one sense least like God.”  The embodiment of that couldn’t be much more evident than in the nailing of a human to a make–shift wooden cross at Golgotha – meaning ‘skull’.  Some years I’ve sensed the sigh of relief amongst some Christians on Easter Sunday when Resurrection is celebrated and the weight of torture is behind, almost to the point of “let’s forget all that nasty stuff”.  A bit like our attitude to the pandemic at times.  But that’s not reality and nor is it particularly helpful for those still on crosses. 

R.S. Thomas reminds us –

When we are weak, we are

strong. When our eyes close

on the world, then somewhere

within us the bush

burns. When we are poor

and aware of the inadequacy

of our table, it is to that

uninvited the guest comes.

 Easter is a short period of time when all of life’s long spectrum of experience is encapsulated – the darkest and most painful of experiences take place and can remain with us, while simultaneously hope and light filter through.  A theme expressed so beautifully by Annie Dillard, alluding to that dark Golgotha as being also home to hope, in Pilgrim At Tinker Creek: “Cruelty is a mystery…But if we describe a world to compass these things…then we bump against another mystery: the inrush of power and light, the canary that sings on the skull.”