Nuns and priests wear gags as they protest against Vatican censorship

Hold on here - the Pope himself isnt totally blameless when it comes to making rules up as he goes along. There are a number of diocese within the Church of England who are giving consideration to seeking Full Communion with the Holy See. As I understand it, His Holiness has decreed that if they do so, these priests and bishops can retain the full traditions of their particular rite, which of course includes married clergy!!!! Definitely cutting the cloth to fit (again :))

Sad to see pic. of this old nun ......proof though that the dissenting 'modernists' are in the old category. The convents and seminaries that are flourishing today are abounding with bright young, well educated knowledgeable Catholics (Ireland still has to catch up!). The dissenters are panicking now as their 'preaching' is being soundly rejected. Ireland, with maybe one seminary left, is indeed spiritually 'sick'. When the true teachings by faithful educators returns there and the fire is lit again, Catholicism in Ireland will catch up and socialist marxism, Church bashing, will fade away. God Bless Ireland.

It is difficult to give respect to those posting on IC who condone the gagging of nuns and priests.The church is like a political party in which the extreme right have taken over.It's trying to reverse the decisions made at the Vatican councils of pope John XX111. the present pope and his bishops will watch over the demise of the RCC.

The censorship of these priests reminds me of what I once read about Canon Sheehan of Doneraile parish in the northeast corner of Co. Cork. This very prolific writer has a long list of books published. The sroty goes that his superios once sent one of Sheehan's books to Rome expecting that the R.C. high officials would severely censor him. The purpuse of this great book was misinterpreted by the Vatican authorities and they conferred on its author a D.D. degree. But I doubh if this story is true.

Ah so some of the people in the priests and nuns of lower ranks(who after all just human beings like all of us so called sinners.As is any person on this planet(unless they are ascended masters in which case they were once like us) decided to speak out against injustice in their own ranks with possible wider socio-political consequences?In other words they are just doing their duty as responsible citizens of this planet ?Nice.

The simple answer is instead of beating a dead horse in a vain effort to change church teachings based on sacred tradition and Scripture, as well as timeless doctrine, is for the nuns to join a "progressive" church that allows and embraces all the debasement of the culture. Why not start their own church as the "reformists" did?

Theologian? The Devil himself, is a theologian. Another Proud Rebel! While I'm in Medjugorje, I'll pray for their Souls.

I'm in Medjugorje right now. A Croatian Franciscan Priest gave a talk and told us the hallmark of a true Christian is Joy, Humility, and Obedience. When the Church acted on false charges against Padre Pio and silenced him, he Obeyed in humility. When he was freed, his OBEDIENCE was the quality that Proved His Holiness. Padre Pio died in 68. Can you imagine him protesting to the Media? EVER?

@RoryTrup - I am surprised that a good ROMAN catholic would say that his church started 2000 years ago. Constantine ruled Rome from 306 to 337 AD/CE. He created what came to be known as The ROMAN Catholic Church. That gives it a history of less than 1700 years. Before that, there were small groups of individuals trying to follow Christ's teachings without being discovered and fed to the lions by the same Rome that latered coopted their religion. After Rome took over, many original followers of Christ disagreed with the way the Romans twisted their religion. Rome's response was the same as before - "Kill them all, God will know his own!" It continued burning dissenters until frighteningly recent times. It is amazing that any dissenting Christians have survived to start all those denominations. Don't they teach you this stuff in school? Oh, right! Its a Roman Catholic School that only teaches the propaganda of its dictator. Sorry, I forgot!

BUT, COME ON IRISH CENTRAL, AREN'T YOU TIRED OF CATHOLIC BASHING? NEVER A DAY GOES BY THAT YOU AREN'T SPEWING NEGATIVISM! IT ALMOST MAKES YOU WANT TO SPAM THIS PLACE..... TIRED OF IT ALL.

They ought to be ashamed of themselves. Did they not take the vow of OBEDIENCE? I AM THOROUGHLY DISGUSTED WITH THEM.... HOPE THEY LIKE HOT WEATHER!!!

It appears to be a sophomoric show of rebellion. It also appears that the socialist views of Gerry Adams have taken hold in Ireland and that he is the new primate of the Green Republic and rightful successor to Maewyn Succat.

I also admire the protesting nuns, and am happy they put in a good word for the censored priests. In reading the numerous comments below, I am disappointed at the unmoving stances of some. Irishphotographer disdains the Catholic Church. Yet he apparently places literal interpretations in biblical verses. He should realize that there are NUMEROUS ways to interpret scriptures, and that common sense should prevail. For example, my often criticized Matthew 5:28 shows a demonization of anything sexual, outside mattiage. I DON"T believe sexual thoughts will "send one to hell", and would challenge Jesus Himself on this, if I could!! The doctrine of "Infallibility", as I have previously explained, only pertains to matters when the Pope speaks "ex cathedra", as in the Assumption of Mary. HermitTalker's army anology misses the point. Of course, legitimate orders should be followed. However, what if one's superior officer directed his troops to commit Nazi like atrocities, on innocent people? Wouldn't "insubordination" be honorable, in such instances? IowaMike should be more flexible, especially where married priests are concerned. Dr. Rosemary McHugh said it well, especially in her last sentence.

@defecto - The infallibility of the pope is not as solidly rooted in church history as you imply. In 1870 (142 years ago when the RCC controlled much of Italy,) Pope Pius IX called a General Council of Bishops from whom he and previous popes derived their legitimacy (since the 1500's.) He wished to be declared infallible. After several months of debate, strong arm tactics and house arrest of dissenting bishops, many fled the council. Those left courageously voted 51% to 49% AGAINST the pope's infallibility. Pope Pius IX felt that the vote was close enough and on July 18, 1870, HE declared HIMSELF and future popes infallible. God answered his lack of humility when two months later Italian troops invaded Rome and confined the first INFALLIBLE pope to Vatican City. Throughout history we have seen that the humans that run the church are NOT infallible. That is why its teaching puts the ultimate authority for one's actions in one,s own conscience and that is why these priests and nuns in Ireland, and also in America, are the ones being true to church principles, not the current pope or the Vatican.

BRENDAN KEARNS | Apr 30, 2012, 10:26 AM EDT THE TROUBLE MAKERS --GET BACK TO PRAYER AND GOOD WORKS-THIS FRUITFULLNESS WILL SPEAK LOUDER THEN PROTESTING AND BEING DISOBEADEIANT TO THIER BISHOPS--GOD HAS A WAY OF CORRECTING THINGS --THE PRAYERS OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN OR WOMAN AVAILETH MUCH..>>>>>>>> YOU BEEN AN AMERICAN THIS IS REALLY NOT ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS AS MOST OF US IRISH SUPPORT THEM .. I THINK YOU SHOULD SPEND SOME TIME IN YOUR OWN CHURCH AND CONTACTING YOUR GOVERMENT ABOUT ALL THE WARS AND KILLINGS AND MAYHEM ITS CAUSED IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD ESPECIALLY THE OIL RICH ONES... IRISH PRIEST AND NUNS HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO PROTEST IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY SO WHAT UR CLOSED MINDED BIGOTED OPINIONS ARE NOT IMPORTANT