Disgraced Irish bishop thought pedophilia was 'friendship that crossed a boundary line' – VIDEO

"Forbidding to marry"is condemned in the Bible as a "doctrine of demons"(1T 4:1-3).What of celibacy of priests? If a celibacy requirement is a "doctrine of demons". (1 Timothy 4:1-3), how can the Roman Catholic doctrine requiring priests to be unmarried be anything but unbiblical and evil? Personally, I don't care if Catholic priests marry or not. But my question is how the late tradition (A.D. 1200's some say) decided by human authorities can override a clear command of scripture condemning such a rule for believers?

mamaginnty hang in there! I'm in my sixties so I close behind you. Contrary to what the RCC teaches, Christianity is alive and well in other Churches across the world. Just because, throughout history, these MEN failed to live up to their own teachings, don't write off all the good that has come from belief in one God and Judeo/Christian/Islamic teachings. There are millions of people who interact with Him everyday without the need for any middle men. Sadly, I have met many excatholics who went straight to atheism because they were taught that the RCC brand was the only real one. Read His words and find your OWN path without the distractions of man-invented rules and punishments.

Just more puke coming out of the catholic church.I continue to ask my family members why they still support catholisism. The crap has been going on for over a 1000 yrs. and the church did nothing. This in of itself is reason to close the doors. Not Jesus Christ, just this church. There better places to continue your walk with Him. Look and you will find it, I did! OK, now the hate can begin....

Oh lord help me, what a two faced friggin liar, he was not naive. I am in my seventies, and going to confession as a young girl 14/16 and happened to mention you kissed or liked a boy, they/priests would shout at you, scare the life out of you, saying you would go to hell or turn into stone, but thinking back, they always wanted to know the details of what you might have done. I shiver when I think of what the dirty friggers might have been up to in the confession box. Every town and village has had children molested by them, they mention dates from the forties into the nineties, but to think of what was going on before that for decades just does not bare thinking about. It did not happen suddenly in the forties. Rotten to the core. The ones who did not molest, ( the goodies ) have a lot to answer for, they new what was going on but did not speak up. Now at this time in my life I do not know what to believe in because the word 'religion' has caused such hatred and wars, and what I was brainwashed into believing was man-made to suit this cult. If, if there is someone up there I hope he understands what I am trying to say.

I can't seem to find the words anymore to describe the feelings evoked in me when I read anything about predators anymore...all the words have been said, and much better than I could hope to say them. I will say this, though...at the first whisper of suspected predator-like activity, the priest should be removed immediately until an investigation is completed. For a Bishop of the church to respond in the manner that this Bishop did, is not only a slap in the face to those he is "responsible" to, but by simply moving the priest to another place he is assuring that yet more children will be molested and psychologically destroyed. It's time for a major shakedown throughout the Catholic church...not just in Ireland, but worldwide. I cannot even bring myself to call these predators "animals," for that is an insult to the animal kingdom. As for me...I have discounted everything I was taught in Catholic school as a child, all the things I firmly believed in until I reached adulthood and removed the blindfold from my eyes, seeing the world for what it is. I practice no religion at all today, but I will say this...the best advice for living a good life is the principle set forth by the Wiccan religion..."Do no harm." That speaks volumes.

Good comments, especially Greg Shox's! These celibate men, who preach that indulging in sexual fantasies is a "mortal sin", have among them those who would commit unspeakable crimes against kids. What hypocrisy!

What kind of moral education and spiritual development did these clergy get? It was probably all focused on the "church' and doctrinal purity rather than on doing the right thing for all concerned, but especially innocent victims.

Blame this whole mess on theoretical Christianity. Armchair bishops should not lead churches, any more than armchair generals should lead armies. Celibate clergymen should not pronounce authoritatively on sexuality morality, any more than pimps should pontificate on the metaphysical merits of sexual continence. Ever since the ecclesia which styles itself the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church (HRC&AC) converted to Constantianism, they nailed their colours to the mast of temporal conformity. And ever since the HRC&AC imposed celibacy on its foot soldiers to prevent inheritance rights to their rapidly expanding real estate portfolio, they arrested the emotional development of those footsoldiers. No body can be administerd by adult children, any more than it can be by infantilised adults. The way out of this mess for the HRC&AC is to follow the advice the Radical Rabbi from Nazareth gave to Saint Lazarus: "Sell what you have - give to the poor - and follow me!" Thing is, will the HRC&AC, (like St Laz) go away sad? Also, it should reembrace Sophia!

Don't forget that these guys claimed to know all there is to be known about sexual morality.

Excuse me Martin Drennan is Bishop of Galway. John Kirby isn't Galway's Bishop.

If Bishop John Kirby is so naive and without sin in regard to the molestation of children by priests, require him to take a lie detector test. Include in the questions, his own conduct with children, knowledge of priests molesting children, who he discussed the molestation with, how many other priests did he have knowledge of molesting children, etc. Ask specific questions about priests and church officials by name to further identify others who have so far escaped detection. With all the deception, deceit, and carefully chosen words by the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy how can anyone believe what is said. Make it a requirement of priests, bishops and all hierarchy of the church to undergo annual lie detector tests to help determine their sanctity and that church members decide by vote who will serve in their parish. I'll wager the Roman Catholic Church Pope, Cardinals, and other lesser members of the hierarchy would refuse the opportunity to prove they are of good faith and not committing sins and breaking laws. Just Saying !!!

Kirby thinks he has an excuse that he calls "gross innocence." What the *o*! is "gross innocence"? 'Seems to me, his actions were truly "gross" and not at all "innocent."

I think that this is a question of what would any NORMAL human being do if they found out that anyone was raping anyone. I started teaching in 1974 and it was impressed on us both in teacher training and by every employer for whom I ever worked that, in our position of authority and responsibility, we were expected to report even the slightest suspicion of abuse of our children to the authorities immediately. It is still unimaginible to me that these "MEN OF GOD" would see their responsibilities to their fellow priests as superceding their responsibilities to the children left in their care by trusting parents. The children may be called naive and even the parents may be excused for not recognising the evil that lurked within what they should have been able to consider a safe place but this educated christian should have known that he carried out his responsibilities in a very corrupt way. That he now expects people to believe and forgive him because he acted out of naivety is what is truly naive.

This is not a "what would Jesus do?" situation. This is what would a used car dealer do if he discovered an employee was raping his customers' children? Let's descend deeper into slimy professions. What would a bank president do if he discovered an employee was raping customers' children?

Ruined ST. Patrick's legacy without whom ould pagan Ireland would be more easily incorporated within the St George umbrella just as easily as the welsh. The Scots a easily managed as well and Scotland provide an escape to fish for royals. The thistle is a perfect symbol for a perfect fit.