Comments on The Pensive Quill: Betrayal Of Trust

John, ‘The pope’s speech at Drogheda was an absol...

2011-04-09T19:01:56.601+01:00

John,

‘The pope’s speech at Drogheda was an absolute disgrace.’

But what about his mild treatment of child rape? I thought that much more disgraceful.

‘The problem with Ireland is that’s its Catholicism has been too feminine. Old lady’s praying rosaries that their sons would ‘not get involved’ has not helped as it seems God listened and they didn’t.’

Did old men not pray so that their children would live long and productive lives? Seems the natural thing for any parent to want. Strikes me as warped that people would pray for their children’s lives to be risked just to further the beliefs of the parents. I imagine that is child abuse. And why would god listen to prayers, as you allege, that you consider as bad things?

‘They should have been praying them that God would inspire their sons to take up arms.’

I would have thought that was one of the problems with religion.

‘Irish Republicanism, (in spite of its anti-Catholic roots), was baptised in 1916 and those who died after the Easter Rising showed that no longer could the two be separated. Its spirit is well formulated in the ‘Principles of Freedom’ of Terence MacSwiney and has been lived by countless numbers of Irish patriots throughout the succeeding decades.’

Lived by very few John, flirted with by many. As Dolours Price often reminds me ‘the few and the spat upon.’

John, ‘In the context of a loving God this (celib...

2011-04-05T20:28:50.207+01:00

John,

‘In the context of a loving God this (celibacy) makes sense. Without one, nothing makes sense.’

Why would a loving god want people to deprive themselves of something so central to the human condition and so conducive to human happiness? And why would a loving god prefer celibate men to the prevention of earthquakes in Japan?

To me it is without the loving god that sense is easier made of the world. We don’t have the problem of trying to find love in the god that permitted the Rwandan genocide. Are we supposed to believe that every now and then he will cure someone in Lourdes but let a million die in genocide over a three month period, much of it carried out by clerics?

Nuala,

I am not surprised. In the grey world we live in there is rarely something as absolute as zero tolerance.

Thanks Helen mo cara,she is still in a great deal ...

2011-03-30T22:30:07.185+01:00

Thanks Helen mo cara,she is still in a great deal of pain,and was moved again this afternoon this is hospital no 3,though she does seem a wee bit easier tonight and I still have.nt been told exactly what the problem is ,but it seems to be something to do with a swollen nerve near the base of the spine,tomorrow I will tie down someone and find out exactly what her problem is thank you and John ,Anthony ,Nuala ,Larry for your best wishes which I,ve passed on,now mo cara on a more serious note that is life threating do you know how to open a fridge my beer is in there ?

marty, Just wanted to send my best wishes for a sp...

2011-03-30T21:00:35.997+01:00

marty,
Just wanted to send my best wishes for a speedy recovery to your wife. I am so far behind in my reading and posting these past few weeks, this is the first I saw your wife was taken to the hospital. I'm looking forward to catching up on AM's articles by this weekend 4/3. All the best to your wife marty.

Marty, if you have buried her down there you migh...

2011-03-29T21:54:11.713+01:00

Marty,

if you have buried her down there you might be a suitable replacementfor the MP for West Belfast

She f##kin better Anthony I,m Lee Marvin and the...

2011-03-29T21:42:30.406+01:00

She f##kin better Anthony I,m Lee Marvin and the gaff is boggin,social services sent in a wee woman to do and I did,she,s now in my newly built cellar,Fritzel style,

John the historical connection does not excuse wha...

2011-03-29T16:35:26.998+01:00

John
the historical connection does not excuse what it has been up to and the continued cover up+protection of those involved. It's filthy from the top down.

Marty, even for a tough old bird that hasn't...

2011-03-29T14:05:36.523+01:00

Marty,

even for a tough old bird that hasn't died a winter yet that is still a painful ailment. Hope she recovers soon

Nuala right is something you nearly always are hon...

2011-03-29T13:24:45.365+01:00

Nuala right is something you nearly always are hon !Marie is in a great deal of pain ,apparently its a slipped disc they think,I,m away down to squueze a few balls and get answers hon,spent a while posting a question yesterday,and again today and they both dissapeared into cyber space ffs bad mouth the yanks and hey presto your puter goes funny!kids have said the post may have been to long so will attempt later if not banged up.

Ryan, The pope’s speech at Drogheda was an absolu...

2011-03-29T10:32:58.474+01:00

Ryan,

The pope’s speech at Drogheda was an absolute disgrace and I’m sure he wouldn’t have thought along those lines if the freedom of Poland was at stake. The problem with Ireland is that’s its Catholicism has been too feminine. Old lady’s praying rosaries that their sons would ‘not get involved’ has not helped as it seems God listened and they didn’t. They should have been praying them that God would inspire their sons to take up arms.

Irish Republicanism, (in spite of its anti-Catholic roots), was baptised in 1916 and those who died after the Easter Rising showed that no longer could the two be separated. Its spirit is well formulated in the ‘Principles of Freedom’ of Terence MacSwiney and has been lived by countless numbers of Irish patriots throughout the succeeding decades.

John, "There is a link between the Irish nati...

2011-03-29T00:10:56.467+01:00

John,
"There is a link between the Irish nation and the Catholic Church that we forget at out peril"
I would argue that link has been a disaster. The Catholic Church has been a resolute enemy of Irish Republicanism for centuries. It has never supported the right of Irish people for self determination and has actively discouraged support for any type of armed activity. I would point to the last pope's speech at Drpgheda in 1979 as being a prime example. Sometimes I wonder if one can be an Irish Republican and a devout Catholic. They seem incompatible.

Marty, I can't believe you said I was right!!...

2011-03-28T20:43:26.540+01:00

Marty,
I can't believe you said I was right!!!, bet that hurt. Or did Marie say, 'tell her she's right for fcuk sake?' How is her good self anyway?
We had a very different experience of Catholic Priests here in Clonard.
We had people Priests for the want of a better word.

In relation to Smyth and his protectors it now seems their arrogance has been their undoing.
No words could sum up the abhorence they indulged in.
However, I think the judicary and other bodies have a lot to answer for also.
I once did a social care course and was horrified to discover that there is almost an acceptable level of abuse.
Trust me Marty it is no viewed with the zero-tolerance you would and should imagine.

Marty, I hope your wife is okay. Larry, Many ha...

2011-03-27T22:23:51.116+01:00

Marty,

I hope your wife is okay.

Larry,

Many have foretold the death of the One True Church. Some of the last were Napoleon, Stalin, Hitler, never mind the Anglo heretics from Cromwell to Churchill.

There is a link between the Irish nation and the Catholic Church that we forget at out peril.

Anthony, 'But why any human being should be e...

2011-03-27T22:18:17.506+01:00

Anthony,

'But why any human being should be encouraged/pressurised into not having sex seems cruel.'

In the context of a loving God this makes sense. Without one, nothing makes sense.

Nuala you are right of course,not all priests are ...

2011-03-27T21:46:31.036+01:00

Nuala you are right of course,not all priests are paedo,s and vice versa, although its hard to tell. but the problem and I think Anthony pointed this out ,the church,s are a magnet to these scumbags and the respect/authority /sway these people have held within our communities is way out of proportion to their actual contribution to society,I agree marrige within the church would not cure paedophilia,openness and accountability would help but does anyone really believe that the arrogance of those who run the church,s would allow that to happen, its a problem that when we put people upon a pedestal and not only in the church but in every other aspect of our lives Adams is an example here that generally speaking we find these people have feet of clay.and the ordinary man/woman are the ones to suffer.

John 'Marriage is not a cure for paedophilia....

2011-03-27T20:50:51.030+01:00

John

'Marriage is not a cure for paedophilia.'

I think this is true. The reason is that I believe that paeodophiles were attracted to the Church because there were rich and easy pickings to be got. They didn't join the church and then become paeodophiles. Openness and accountability will go a long way towards cutting down on it. But why any human being should be encouraged/pressurised into not having sex seems cruel.

Ryan, 'The solution is simple to do away with...

2011-03-27T19:56:30.820+01:00

Ryan,

'The solution is simple to do away with paedos in the church and that is to allow priests to marry.'

Do you really think that we are all paedos unless we marry?

A few years ago it was the married 'church of england' ministers who were in the newspapers every day.

Marriage is not a cure for paedophilia.

Nuala, true enough

2011-03-27T19:31:55.545+01:00

Nuala,

true enough

Marty, all Priests are not paedophiles and keeping...

2011-03-27T19:23:40.834+01:00

Marty,
all Priests are not paedophiles and keeping reiterating that theory does not make it any more true.
I think what we watched in relation to Smyth and all the other depraved creatures was sickening enough witout exageration.
Children are most at risk in their own homes and much more likely to be abused by a parent than a Priest. However, there is something pathetically sickening about anyone who could betray a family and destroy young lives in the vile way they did.
Mackers,
We saw a classic example on our own doorstep of a family covering up for an abuser and actively moving him on to somewhere else where he could abuse.
Like Smyth, that abuser is still fighting extradition, however unlike Smyth he is pleading innocent.

Ryan mo cara that idea of yours ie, let priests ma...

2011-03-27T18:53:25.342+01:00

Ryan mo cara that idea of yours ie, let priests marry , wouldnt that just be ,grow your own,for the paedo,s,

John, The solution is simple to do away with paedo...

2011-03-27T18:07:17.926+01:00

John,
The solution is simple to do away with paedos in the church and that is to allow priests to marry. It would bring in a whole new pool of talent and would most likely sideline all the creeps who have been hiding their sexual perversions behind the priesthood. You would probably not agree with allowing that but it is the only way to save the RC church. I think they were allowed to marry at one point but it was changed. What a disastrous decision that was.

Marty, but as you and I both know there is neithe...

2011-03-27T17:45:41.817+01:00

Marty,

but as you and I both know there is neither a good nor a bad god. Imagine a god that could intervene but didn't in a situation like Japan. What sort of malicious sadistic thug that would be and we are supposed to worship it. I simply cannot buy into it. Atheism is so appealing because it does not have to torture itself over such problems. No god explains it all with a consistency and a clarity that makes sense. I would find it so demeaning to worship the Christian god.

Hope the god your talking about Anthony is the ben...

2011-03-27T12:54:14.832+01:00

Hope the god your talking about Anthony is the benevolent one and not that nasty Japanese cunt who gets to giggle at a nation surfing on the roofs of their houses, before they melt from radiation,

Anthony take a couple of letters out out priest an...

2011-03-27T12:50:07.929+01:00

Anthony take a couple of letters out out priest and wada ya get, ri are the letters I,m talking about,and its a fitting title for those wasters,

John, society can do without priests. God will be...

2011-03-27T12:01:40.353+01:00

John,

society can do without priests. God will be there or not there regardless of priests.