A prominent Catholic parish priest in Belfast has claimed nationalism is irrelevant, slammed the Catholic Church in the Republic and hailed the Queen of England as a defender of his faith.
Fr Eugene O’Neill has provoked a storm of protest with his comments, made in an interview with the Newsletter newspaper in the city.
Fr O’Neill, the 45-year-old in charge of the parish of St Mary’s On The Hill, claimed that no catholic priests under the age of 45 are interested in removing the north-south border,
He has also told the paper that many Catholics are ‘re-thinking’ their nationalism and said that many are questioning whether. as Catholics, they necessarily had to be nationalist and look to Dublin when the ‘United Kingdom was more respectful of Christian churches’.
He made his comments to the paper in the wake of a broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster.
“As an Irish passport-holder I see the Queen and senior British government figures as defenders of faith in the UK,” claimed Fr O’Neill.
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“There are similarities between how the Irish government is making life difficult for churches and how repressive communist regimes have persecuted Christians. The Republic is now a cold house for Catholicism.”
Singling out the ‘atheistic’ Tanaiste (deputy PM) Eamon Gilmore for particular rebuke, Fr O’Neill said that the UK Government had demonstrated a respect and appreciation for the role of Christian churches which ‘Catholics could support’.
“I’m 45 - for my generation of priests and everyone below us, the national question is irrelevant; literally irrelevant,” he said.
“No-one is interested in discussing that - people are interested in discussing Europe, what’s going to happen to Greece, whether the Euro will last... no-one is interested in the national question.
“There’s a desire to say that we have to unpick this fusion between one sort of politics and faith because history has shown us that that has always been a mistake.”
Asked to explain his comments, Fr O’Neill said: “It’s been engendered by the present events with the coalition in the south, starting last year particularly with the attack by the Taoiseach (PM) in the Dail and the particularly focused nature of the attack on the handling of the whole abuse issue.
“Whilst there is certainly a huge amount that the church at a local level did wrong and it behaved egregiously - there is no doubt about that - it is certainly also the case that the Irish state horrendously failed to acknowledge its part in that.
“That is not in any way to minimise the role of misbehaviour and crime in the church but everyone has to put their hands up if they’re guilty and I felt therefore that it was a very dishonest statement and pretty cheap politics.”
The priest, partly brought up in Dublin, expressed his shock at the Irish government’s recent decision to close its embassy at the Vatican.
“There’s a continual critique in the South and a lack of recognition of any positive role for faiths, any positive role for the churches, not recognising the vast effort that they make in social services and the good that they do,” he claimed.
“Something strange is going on while, at the same time, in the United Kingdom the tide is going the other way.
“When you read that, when you read what David Cameron said, when you see how the Pope was welcomed to Britain - it was amazing - when you see that and how the British diplomatic service engage on the ground with churches, it’s telling a different story.
“So I was asking myself more fundamental questions like: Why in a state whose head of state is in fact the leader of a church, the Church of England, it seems to be a more open space for faith, debate and cooperation.
“Whereas in a republic it seems to be a very cold house for Catholicism and in fact Christianity, where there is a really powerful hostility, exclusion, aggression.
“I also found it interesting in the last few days to see the touching of the hem of the Chinese vice-premier by Michael D Higgins who I remember as a schoolboy was out protesting against Ronald Reagan.
“We know China’s human rights record - still the biggest executor in the world, oppression of massive numbers of Christians, Falun Gong or anyone opposed to them - don’t we have values beyond the economy?”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.IrelandNorth | Feb 27, 2012, 08:30 AM EST
The Irish Times, Ireland's quality broadsheet has flagged up the benefits of an all island economy. This is agreed with by progressive unionist opinion. And what is financially beneficial to the wealthy has an uncanny habit of coming to pass. The demographics of the northerised Ireland is inexorably shifting towards a Roman Catholic working class majority in favour or a reunited Ireland. I suspect this article is an attempt by recalcitrant Ulster unionism to preserve the undemocratic status quo, using a middle-class Roman Catholic priest to do so. Who would have ever though we'd see a Roman Catholic Paisley. With Scotland (followed by Wales) manoeuvering to leave the Union, a united Ireland has never been more relevant. But maybe that clearer to 'southerners' (sic) secularists than northern unreconstructred theocrats.
seanomelb | Feb 24, 2012, 09:52 PM EST
And they are correct Gearoid, no church should have any say in a secular education, as an atheist I would say send your children to sunday school.Your absolutely correct maryosullivan the catholic heirarchy never have backed the people, they always take the side of the status quo.The church took it's blood money and maynooth from the British and they have been thanking them ever since.And might I add every priest recieved food and drink rations from their British masters during "an Gorta Mor" whilst the people starved shame on them.
maryosullivan | Feb 24, 2012, 05:05 PM EST
What is new about this? Surely we shouldn't we surprised that a member of the Catholic clergy once more tries to sellout Ireland. With the exception of Fr. Des Wilson and a few others it's what the clergy has always done. Has Eugene O'Neill ever uttered a single word of concern for the plight of Marian Price or Gerry McGeough, both in poor health and both locked up on bogus charges? Or for the dozens of others innocents locked up for lifetimes
Gearoid4 | Feb 24, 2012, 03:12 PM EST
@Seanomelb, My main point was not to infer that the agenda of certain government ministers in the Republic of Ireland was shared by all people who did not believe in God. Rather I was pointing to the common motivation shared by ministers Gilmore and Quinn in their determined ideologically-driven campaigns to reduce Church involvement in education and other areas to such an extent, that religion would be reduced to a marginalized remnant without an equitable voice. These ministers are avowedly atheistic in their outlook and their politics seems to be motivated to a large degree by the militant form of this school of thought. I would not equate their attitude in any way with the moderate opinion shared by the majority of atheists. In fact, it can be a much more interesting and rewarding experience, to converse with a thinking atheist, in search of the answers to the questions to life, than putting up with the watered down compromises of so-called Catholics who betray their calling.
IrelandNorth | Feb 24, 2012, 08:23 AM EST
If An t'Ath. Ui Neil wishes to represent his constituency, he should submit himself to an inconvenient truth called democracy. What is about Ulster that keeps throwing up troglydatic theocrats. An t'Ath. Ui Neil is merely rearranging the deckcairs on his theocratic titanic before it runs aground on the belated icebergs of Irish secularism. Ulster unionism is courting middle-class Roman Catholics to preserve the sanctity of their neo-provincial to preserve their hegemony on northernised Ireland. Home Rule is Rome Rule.
enufpedophiles | Feb 24, 2012, 12:39 AM EST
catholic priests should keep their heads down and their mouths shut. they are lucky they are not being strung up around the countryside.
upsceach | Feb 24, 2012, 12:16 AM EST
Klennox, I agree with you there. Did he not hear of Henry VIII and Cromwell and the plantations, what a gobshite.
KLennox | Feb 23, 2012, 11:24 PM EST
I think Fr Eugene O’Neill should shut up and move to England. Permanently. Many Irish are rethinking THEIR ATTACHMENT TO THE IRRELEVANT CATHOLIC CHURCH.
barneyjo | Feb 23, 2012, 07:57 PM EST
@anybody - John Charles McQuaid is no more or less entitled to his good name than anyone else. And leaving tittle-tattle aside, given his place in modern Irish history, he still has a case to answer. Mc Quaid himself gave little thought to the good name or reputation of those who he considered did not fit in with his viewpoint and outlook on Catholic Ireland. What has certainly been proven at least to my own satisfaction that on his watch he, like many before him did untold damage to the development of the Irish psyche and consciousness. In that he wasnt alone, but his influence was greatest at a pivotal time in early years of the history of the Irish state.
warrenpoint00 | Feb 23, 2012, 07:11 PM EST
I would have to suspect this little priest is trying to make a name for himself, he would be better off trying to find help for the victims of abuse from some of his paedophile clergy friends than trying to determine what is right for the normal society of Irish nationalists.
NYCsheridan | Feb 23, 2012, 07:02 PM EST
youtube dot com/watch?v=vkOpgr1ElXg&feature=related
seanomelb | Feb 23, 2012, 06:32 PM EST
Gearoid the accusation was made against McQuaid and his death leaves an element of doubt.He certainly must have been aware of the abuse by his priests.I would like you to answer my question as to what atheistic agenda the government is following as you fail to address this point.You were very quick in defending McQuaid but that was only part of my post.
Gearoid4 | Feb 23, 2012, 06:20 PM EST
@Seanomelb You have made a very defamatory remark against a man, namely Archbishop McQuaid, who cannot defend himself due to being deceased for some years. His autocratic style of leadership and perceived cold remoteness have given him a bad press in recent years in regards to his legacy. But it is another thing to regard salacious tittle-tattle as being positive proof that the once Cardinal Archbishop of Dublin was guilty of child molestation. What about a person being entitled to his or her good name and presumption of innocence unless evidence is produced to the contrary? Have we not learn't the lesson of falsely accusing someone of a terrible crime without a shred of proof of wrongdoing as in the recent case concerning the missionary priest wrongly accused of raping a minor in Africa by RTE journalists? As regards the influence of religion, I am all for the positive contributions of Religion to society without it being directly involved in the government or constitution of a state. A healthy separation does not mean that people of Faith are silenced or their opinions mocked by the misuse of the laws of the land in the name of a secularized state devoid of moral content. Ireland in effect were once dominated by a unhealthy alliance of church and state in both jurisdictions. The Church should always keep a healthy distance from government parties while making worthwhile contributions to society.
eiriamach | Feb 23, 2012, 01:33 PM EST
@barneyjo, perhaps I put that point too strongly. I'd like to hear more about the "federal shape with the likelihood of a continuing Regional Assembly in Belfast." The USA has a federal structure, and the USSR, while it existed, had a federal structure-- two vastly different forms of government. What would an all-island Irish federalism look like? I agree that the problem is more complex than the status of religion in either the Republic or NI. But I think that diminishing the organized political power of religion in both places cannot harm the process and is likely to help.
joemccullough | Feb 23, 2012, 11:59 AM EST
I often debate who has hurt Ireland more, Rome or London. From English Pope Adrian IV on, it's been one long tale of misery. This man's words disgrace his own mother.
Phrinchas | Feb 23, 2012, 11:34 AM EST
I'm so bloody angry with this statement that I could spit bullets. This young fellow is either totally ignorant of Ireland's struggles or it's just a big publicity stunt. Whatever the case, if a priest said this in my Father's day he'd be invited to "take off his collar".
barneyjo | Feb 23, 2012, 11:27 AM EST
@eiriamach - interesting analysis, but I think you make a jump too far when you said "until government officials in the Republic fix up their relationship with the Catholic Church, Catholics in NI will not support unification". I dont think one is conditional on the other. He does make the point (and I am minded to agree) that for nationalists in NI of a younger vintage, the idyll of a 32 county soverign state is no longer the shangri la it once was. Still an aspiration for many certainly, but pragmatism has created a new dispensation within Nationalism and Unionism which points to a different and evolving model of governance. On the island of Ireland it is starting to have a federal shape with the liklihood of a continuing Regional Assembly in Belfast. Consider also the changes afoot elsewhere, particularly in Scotland, and the consequences for the future of the Union. I think Father O'Neill made a valid point but it was made on the back of an incorrect permise!!
eiriamach | Feb 23, 2012, 11:09 AM EST
This priest thinks "nationalism is irrelevant"? Irrelevant to what-- 800 years of Irish history? --to current economic trends in NI and the Republic? No, he thinks nationalism is "irrelevant" to the current ousted-from-government position of the Roman catholic Church in the Republic of Ireland! He will not support unification as long as Catholicism's political power is in decline in Dublin. He cites "the attack by the Taoiseach (PM) in the Dail and the particularly focused nature of the attack on the handling of the whole abuse issue." IF EVER any "handling" of an issue by RCC deserved to be attacked, its handling of the abuse issue deserved to be attacked, and the majority of Catholic laity agree! Hasn't this priest said, in effect, that until government officials in the Republic fix up their relationship with the Catholic Church, Catholics in NI will not support unification? Who appointed him to speak for the Catholics, or anyone else, of NI? I would think that loosening the grip of RCC on the Republic's government and laws would be essential if any progress toward eliminating the border is ever to happen.
barneyjo | Feb 23, 2012, 06:22 AM EST
I would still contend that recent voting trends in Northern Ireland Polls go someway to supporting Father O'Neills assertions on the significance of a United Ireland to voters under 45, and particularly those from a Nationalist/Republican perspective. It would seem that the Nationalist Middle ground and to a lesser extent their Unionist equivelant have melted away and simply dont bother exercising their franchise.
brianmack | Feb 23, 2012, 05:36 AM EST
I agree with Fr. O'Neill. The insanity from both sides of the aisle has been embarrassing and it's time to move on. We're living in a new world and I for one say Thank God! Belfast is stunning as is Dublin and let's keep it that way. Mack
AMWilson | Feb 23, 2012, 02:19 AM EST
I'm well under 45 (years), and I'm a practicing Catholic who has been extremely fortunate to have dealt with some amazing priests during my lifetime. Priests are like any other people: Some are truly good and talented people who make a positive difference, some are bland and uninspiring, and some are warped and abusive. Ciara, you haven't struck me as totalitarian in past discussions, so I assume that "ban religion" was intended to be taken in jest. I would like to see religion in general become less centralized, institutional, and authoritarian, and become more of a set of cultural values reflecting a special and interesting worldview. But I suppose that I will always be an idealist. Gearoid, great post. George, good point regarding the Church and the language.
seanomelb | Feb 23, 2012, 02:16 AM EST
Very True barneyjo the "old order is rapidly ageing". Gearoid4 I take exception to your attitude toward athestism. Maybe you could inform of what is an atheistic agenda.A complete seperation of church and state is paramount in a democratic society.For to long (in Ireland) bishops wielded to much power in the corridors of Leinster house to the detriment of the Irish people.To think I was confirmed by the paedophile McQuaid.
barneyjo | Feb 22, 2012, 06:57 PM EST
The UK never had to deal with the anomaly of a Catholic Prelate in the form of Arch-Bishop McQuaid who was so entrenched within the corridors of power in Dublin that he had unfettered access to all Legislation as it made its way through the Dial and could if he chose, ensure that it never saw the light of day. Father On Neill may well mourn the passing of that level of synergy between Irish Church and state, but I would imagine that he is well in the minority on that one!!
Collette2 | Feb 22, 2012, 06:55 PM EST
seanomelb, just love your expression of a truth.
redhand32 | Feb 22, 2012, 06:22 PM EST
As one O'Neill to another, you disgraced the Clan by taking the soup.
BelfastJimmy | Feb 22, 2012, 06:19 PM EST
Too much time on your hands since you stopped diddling young boys?
PiperMac52 | Feb 22, 2012, 06:01 PM EST
This is liberalism in it's truest form. Millions of souls oppressed at the hands of the British for over 800 years are turning in their graves.
monkeyapplenerd | Feb 22, 2012, 05:47 PM EST
West-Brit for sure.
Gearoid4 | Feb 22, 2012, 05:35 PM EST
Fr O'Neill has made an astute observation regarding the actions of the current coalition in the Irish Republic which seems to want to marginalize and even erase the Christian legacy of the Churches within their jurisdiction. I don't think that Enda Kenny is instinctively driving this course of action, but seems to be standing mute as his erstwhile government colleagues in the form of Gilmore and Quinn drive their atheistic agenda. The UK in complete contrast is prepared to engage sensibly with the Holy See at a diplomatic level, as seen in the recent British delegation sent there. Northern nationalists, as Fr O'Neill pointed out in a recent BBC NI radio broadcast, are looking askance south of the border and are not impressed with the recent machinations of politicians down there, acting with a mean-spirited animus against the Catholic religion. Their allegiances cannot be taken for granted and the current climate down south is not attracting them at this time on a number of levels.
barneyjo | Feb 22, 2012, 05:15 PM EST
So why then is the percentage turn out of the electorate on a downward slide, which it has been for more than a decade. In the last election in NI just over 50% of those entitled to vote, bothered to do so. Trends would seem to show that young Nationalist and Unionist voters are increasingly turned off by what passes for politics in NI
seanomelb | Feb 22, 2012, 05:13 PM EST
Dimwit O'Neill!! There are not many priests under 45 so your minority view is noted. As an atheist I take umbrage at you equating the RCC to communism. I hope your next posting is West Cork or Moscow.
phiggins | Feb 22, 2012, 04:46 PM EST
So, this is just proof if you occupy another nation long enough it's yours? Irrelevant? This guy is a joke.
FallsRNat | Feb 22, 2012, 04:15 PM EST
Why not convert to Protestantism and move to the UK I assume you mean Scotland as they have a protestant church, the CoE, CoI & CoW being anglican churches. If the Orange Order put a roof on his church wouldnt that be a sad indictment of Catholics in general as they couldn't fund the repairs themselves
merefalow | Feb 22, 2012, 03:56 PM EST
the sooner these chameleon mindbending logic denying witchdocktors are eliminated from the syche of ireland the better.
GeorgeDillon | Feb 22, 2012, 03:51 PM EST
"No one under 45 is interested in the Roman Catholic Church." What a moronic statement. Are you talking about your IQ?
GeorgeDillon | Feb 22, 2012, 03:49 PM EST
I'm a Catholic, but in spite of rather than because of the priests. With just a few exceptions, the priests have a disgusting record in Ireland. They did incalculable damage to the Irish language, often refusing to speak Irish in communities where that was the language of the people. Politically, there were countless priest pigs such as the bad bishops Caulfield of Ferns or Moriarty of Kerry, who were effectivelty the paid clerical arm of the British government.
ciaradexy | Feb 22, 2012, 02:34 PM EST
Ban religion. Self righteous idiots. We get one life, live it and stop worrying about the next one. There is no next one. This is it!
JBRAFTREE | Feb 22, 2012, 01:05 PM EST
Father Eugene is 'irrelevant'!!!!!!!!!
Rebelforce | Feb 22, 2012, 12:58 PM EST
Isn't this just what the Free Staters and West Brits in Ireland have wanted all along? As far as they're concerned Eugene O'Neill isn't really Irish anyway. He's "British" since he lives "across the border" in Northern Ireland, a "foreign country".
peterson | Feb 22, 2012, 12:56 PM EST
I wonder what the Pope will say about this ??!!
MaxTiger | Feb 22, 2012, 12:45 PM EST
The Irish government has abandoned the country's Christian heritage so it's no surprise that many Catholics are re-evaluating their own sense of Irishness.
BrendanDunphy | Feb 22, 2012, 12:23 PM EST
I will pay for his one-way ticket to London. Trader.
Collette2 | Feb 22, 2012, 12:20 PM EST
Well said IrelandNorh. They need taxpayers money for the up and coming visit by the pope and entourage. He definately would not be speaking off his own bat. Ingratiating oneself is the word I'm looking for, on a collective basis.
timbobdennehy | Feb 22, 2012, 11:56 AM EST
if you took the border away ireland would not be able to afford the extra counties.and then you would have to intergrate northern ireland into the republic of ireland as i still name it.even though it is now under communist rule.
citizen69 | Feb 22, 2012, 11:55 AM EST
I'd like to know where this "storm of protest" is that this article has allegedly provoked?
Bill Flint | Feb 22, 2012, 11:52 AM EST
So, if the Orange Order puts a new roof on his church, will he be leading the next march ?
ReturnedYank | Feb 22, 2012, 11:11 AM EST
No one under 45 is interested in the Roman Catholic Church.
johnymac60 | Feb 22, 2012, 11:07 AM EST
Very self-centered, ego-centric young man. Ironically, he casually dismisses the violence of the British State and the Church itself against the people of Ireland for much of recent history. He has done what his forefathers did before him - foregone any respect for the flock he is supposed to tend in pursuit of his own moments of fame - or should I say infamy.
CitizenWhy | Feb 22, 2012, 10:57 AM EST
Young priests tend to be reactionary, as seen in his exaggerated claims about the Republic's current mistreatment of the church (instead of seeing how the church had been allowed to run wild and get away with multiple trespasses). But many middle class Catholics in NI would probably prefer to keep the border. This is nothing new. And many in the Republic have lost faith in their crony political class and belive that it cannot be reformed.
CitizenWhy | Feb 22, 2012, 10:07 AM EST
I do not agree with Father O'Neill on all points but his is a provocative piece and I admire his courage for speaking out. There is much to ponder here.
cillowen | Feb 22, 2012, 09:57 AM EST
from a guy in love with jesus - a one world programmed type. Nary a hint of pride in his bones. Sad creepy crawler.
IrelandNorth | Feb 22, 2012, 08:47 AM EST
"... no catholic priests under the age of 45 are interested in removing the border." So? Who cares what the foot soldiers of an increasingly irrelevant institution are interested in. How many are left over after dwindling vocations and prosecution for clericl child sexual abuse? "... for my generation of priests and everyone below us [sic] the national question is irrelevant ..." Again, how many of you, and who is below him, his aging parishoners or the lives of the children his church has destroyed? If these views are representative, might it be attributable to historical illiteracy on their part. The only thing worse than fatherless children, is childless fathers. They should reform their church rather than interfering in secularism. Why not convert to Protestantism and move to the UK. Thing is, they're unlikely to want religious refugees from seriously discredited theocracies over there.