43 Comments

• jetsnoone | Nov 01, 2012, 08:13 AM EDT

  Better for your immortal soul to gag yourself than to lead the young astray.

• jetsnoone | Nov 01, 2012, 07:57 AM EDT

  Better to gag yourself than to lead the young astray.

• Pittsburghkid | May 05, 2012, 02:14 PM EDT

  Everytime I read this site, I Thank God, that my ancesters migrated to America from Ireland in the 1830's. The Catholic Church has rules, that must be followed. If these Nuns, and Priest disagree, then leave the Church. This is too logical for the Irish mind to comprehend, and is why I'm American.

• merefalow | May 03, 2012, 06:33 AM EDT

  i hate censorship.only enforced by people frightened of openness transparency and truth,governments included.

• lokionline | May 01, 2012, 07:26 PM EDT

  Vatican death watch... it will take a while but the trajectory is clear...

• Bythebay | May 01, 2012, 12:40 PM EDT

  pilib04, you're wrong again. A Nun is a woman living in a religious order. It has nothing to do with whether an order is cloistered or not. You don't even know about your own religion.

• cuddlybuddly | May 01, 2012, 09:24 AM EDT

  Take off your gags and follow Jesus, never accept false leadership and tyrannical control!!

• CitizenWhy | May 01, 2012, 08:12 AM EDT

  Did you know that his own cardinals thought that Pius IX, the pope who got the left-over bishops (after those who voted no, the majority, had left) to proclaim papal infallibility at Vatican I, was insane, clinically so? And that the British wanted papal infallibility so that the pope could order the Irish bishops to order the Irish people to obey the British as their legitimate rulers appointed by God? And that the pope did order the Irish bishops to teach obedience to Britain?

• eiriamach | May 01, 2012, 07:16 AM EDT

  @the people below who say that the protestors should leave the RC Church: what do you hope to accomplish? I've read many comments like "obey the Church or get the hell out," "Why don't they just leave the church?" and "Why not start their own church as the 'reformists' did?" First, your Church is seriously in need of reform, not having carried through the reforms agreed upon at Second Vatican Council-- a serious transgression against the Holy Spirit. Reform is best achieved by those within. Second, the rest of the Body of Christ-- the other Christian Churches-- are watching these tyrannical moves by the Vatican with deep concern. Censorship and excommunication of outspoken faithful Christians does damage and causes unnecessary pain to the Body of Christ. IF the present Curia succeeds in driving out these faithful priests and nuns, criticism among other Christians will intensify to the point of denunciation: it's wrong for anyone to call these actions Christian, and Christians will not long tolerate it! You accomplish nothing but more media attention by trying to drive out these priests, nuns, and reformers. Your obligation as Christians is first and foremost to listen to them.

• warlocks | May 01, 2012, 01:49 AM EDT

  I THINK the Catholic Church is on the way out. you can't suppress the truth forever . the old saying rings true, ---AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE ! the Vatican has more & more become like the Old Nazi party. Suppress, suppress , & Suppress .The old way or the Highway is long gone. you can no longer Dictate to the Sheep anymore , they have become Educated and know the Vatican has lost its Teeth and Bite. Its time to close the old political Structure Down and boot the Fat Cows out and Get back to Basics. and lock them out of our Bedrooms. let them go forth and teach the true word of God. not what they Make up !

• maryemoore | Apr 30, 2012, 11:31 PM EDT

  Witch-hunt! The priests in Ireland and the Religious Sisters and Nuns in the U.S. And yet, they don't notice the plank in their own eye and the Church is bleeding members worldwide. The Passionist Fathers in the U. S. are bankrupt and don't know how they will take care of their remaining elderly but Rome fiddles. Quel Tragic!

• KatieMurphy | Apr 30, 2012, 09:29 PM EDT

  I'm reminded of when the church burned books on the human body and tortured and burned dissenters at the stake. It also had a banned book list untiol 1964, and the other day I saw that a book was to be removed from all catholic libraries, schools etc...................Just the other day I was talking to an ex nun who married an ex priest 40 years ago. I thought she left the church to marry, but she said she left it because she saw RATZInger rising and knew what he was about.............Thank God the church is all but dead in Ireland, and similar in most of western Europe. The pope is mad, just plain mad, living in an altsheimers like dream world of long long ago...........I wish him a long papacy and life......And we will no longer have to have a church which not only molrested children all over the world, but hid these vile crimes. And a pope who in 2009 UNexcommunicated a HOlocaust denier bishp Williamson, the utter horror..............Soon the bankruptcy sign will hang over the vatican, and the church of horrors and tyranical control will be no more. The sooner the better. As for those who still support the vatican - bet they are all old folks and time will cure that problem...........Again, the Pope is just plain mad or falling into altsheimers...........Just look at the vatican and Benedict as fighting their own last battle of the bulge.....And so many people - a billion as they come to understand will pick up Dr. MLKings statement "free at last, free at last , free at last Thank God Almighty that we are free at last of the tyranny of Rome.

• pilib04 | Apr 30, 2012, 08:07 PM EDT

  The woman in the picture is very unlikely a "nun." In all probability, she is a "Sister." A nun lives her life in contemplative prayer in a cloistered or semi-cloistered community. A sister is the woman that you usually have contact with, whether in a hospital, school, parish, or some other service organization. Having said that, I am proud of the sister in the picture.

• OBPiper | Apr 30, 2012, 07:41 PM EDT

  Right on! End Roman Catholicism-Imperialism and return our Celtic Church!

• charlie50 | Apr 30, 2012, 07:34 PM EDT

  Why don't they just leave the church?

• barneyjo | Apr 30, 2012, 06:39 PM EDT

  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 :))

• mairint | Apr 30, 2012, 06:37 PM EDT

  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.

• seanomelb | Apr 30, 2012, 06:35 PM EDT

  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.

• Seanmor | Apr 30, 2012, 06:23 PM EDT

  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.

• VonLiebenitz | Apr 30, 2012, 05:29 PM EDT

  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.

• PiperMac52 | Apr 30, 2012, 05:25 PM EDT

  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?

• NYCFiredog | Apr 30, 2012, 04:30 PM EDT

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

• NYCFiredog | Apr 30, 2012, 04:26 PM EDT

  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?

• EphraimKibbey | Apr 30, 2012, 04:16 PM EDT

  @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!

• katieherk | Apr 30, 2012, 02:25 PM EDT

  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.

• katieherk | Apr 30, 2012, 02:22 PM EDT

  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!!!

• PhlutiePhan | Apr 30, 2012, 12:47 PM EDT

  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.

• SingleDonald | Apr 30, 2012, 12:33 PM EDT

  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.

• EphraimKibbey | Apr 30, 2012, 11:56 AM EDT

  @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.

• STEVENSTAR | Apr 30, 2012, 11:56 AM EDT

  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

• mayoman | Apr 30, 2012, 11:48 AM EDT

  I have nothing but admiration and praise for the courageous nuns and priests that are now defying the Pharisees in the Vatican. The Church is supposedly "catholic", that is, universal, and not merely the domain of a small group of narrow-minded, tradition-haunted men.

• IowaMike | Apr 30, 2012, 10:52 AM EDT

  defector, hmmmmm you have left the Church and found spirituality without Catholicism/Christianity....right? And you think we are witnessing the end of religion. What I find interesting is that you quote St. John of The Cross whose treatise 'Dark Night of the Soul, describes crisis of spirit experienced in ones journey to find union with God not to abandon him. To bad you've succumbed to relativism. A check of Church history will reveal that the Church has gone through these kind of problems repeatedly and somehow has survived for over 2,000 years. Christ in Matthew 28:20 says, "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world." If you want to know what Catholics must believe to be Catholics I suggest you read the Vatican I decree found in Chapter 3, On Faith, paragraph 8. As far as Catholics go this is what that must learn, love, and live. If these religious want to ignore their vow of obedience that's their choice based upon free will given by God. But if they want to remain Catholic.....obey the Church or get the hell out. I don't want a Church with clergy that want to make up as they go...homosexual marriage, married priests, abortion and on and on and on. To them I say Bye....bye.

• plynchhayes | Apr 30, 2012, 10:48 AM EDT

  Profound comments, rpbrown, thanks for writing!

• DrMcHugh | Apr 30, 2012, 10:41 AM EDT

  "One of the protestors, Dominican nun Sr Siobhán Ní Mhaoilmhichil, told the paper she was angered by the way the priests had been treated.'These are all good theologians who have worked for the church for many years and we are here to show our solidarity with them,' she said." The above quote reminds me of the generosity of spirit of the nuns around the world, as this nun speaks out for justice and fairness from the Vatican towards the silenced priests eventhough the Vatican has also treated the nuns poorly in recent criticisms. The nuns are showing true servant leadership. Are the Pope and hierarchy supposed to be princes, or did Jesus expect them to be servant leaders, who listen with the ears of their heart? Sincerely, Dr Rosemary Eileen McHugh, Chicago, Illinois

• hermitTalker | Apr 30, 2012, 10:36 AM EDT

  Such illiteracy on here about the place of infallibility in the Bible and Church, including its very circumscribed place for the Pope. Purgatory is mentioned in the Bible- the Maccabees sent money to the Temple to atone for their dead soldiers who carried amulets, against their Faith. Jesus said such sins cannot be forgiven in this world or the next and so on. I suggest getting a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for a factual explanation of the Faith. Suppose you had a job and ran-down your firm's products in the pub, or disagreed as an army officer or a recruit with your superior officer. Use your common sense please and ask how any organisation could survive if the members were flaty contradicting its tenets. The Catholic Church dealt with dissent in Jesus' time and St Paul imposed medicinal ex-communication for the Church in Corinth. Saying Jesus was a sweet hippie bearded man who had no boundaries for us and did not correct or teach or challenge is insane. Read the actual New Testament for a rude awakening.

• Marlynn La Sala | Apr 30, 2012, 10:24 AM EDT

  I think that these nuns and priests should be excommunicated for going against the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church. If they are not happy with the doctrine of our faith, they are more that able to go to another church or better yet start their own church but leave ours alone! I will pray that the Holy Spirit will send His light and wake them up before it's too late.

• defector | Apr 30, 2012, 10:20 AM EDT

  Guess you're right - my mistake. Haven't heard the word censured before, assumed it was censored.... I was kinda wondering how that worked, as they were still expressing their views. ;)

• mollymguire | Apr 30, 2012, 10:17 AM EDT

  No one has been more faithful to the Catholic Church than the Irish, up until they realized they had their own pedophile priests & sadistic nuns. Buth the gutsy Irish Catholics are tough cookies & will not take abuse lightly. Bravo to them for expressing their outrage. The cover ups will be revealed & all across the world too. And defector, I was taught "the infallibility" was not that the pope couldn't be wrong or evil, just that as the pope, if you follow his directives his authority as pope, & he is sinning, your soul in not going to be punished for following him. That too is a stupid concept, but I guess it worked for the illiterate & ignorant.

• rpbrown | Apr 30, 2012, 10:12 AM EDT

  This is exciting that they're speaking up. The Irish Catholic churches c. 600 AD-800 AD were exciting institutions that embraced and copied texts of all sorts and had female Bishops (in Kildare). It was a very powerful country for the church and it was independent minded until Rome got upset they weren't getting the money they thought they should and so Rome turned all countries against Ireland. Now it seems Catholic churches in Ireland have, after 1200 years, found their voice again. The infallibility of the pope is absurd. The teachings of Christ belong to everyone and God is in everyone, not to some man in a dress in a palace who looks like a gremlin and spews hate. The papacy is almost always a joke (let's remember the orgies that took place in the Vatican in the Middle Ages) so let's chuck it! Free yourselves people! Stop looking for God in others and or in yourself and just let it all go and just be one with God right in this very moment and you shall have eternal ecstasy. The most profound teaching of Christianity, that there is ONE God and that there is nothing that is not God is the MOST overlooked when in fact that is the only lesson you truly need to find salvation.

• mayahanley | Apr 30, 2012, 10:08 AM EDT

  Surely you meant 'censured for his Sunday World newspaper column' not 'censored'.

• defector | Apr 30, 2012, 09:54 AM EDT

  Irishphotograph, I don't think you'll find any Wiccans agreeing with you there. Unfortunately not much is known about paganism. Guess you have the definitive interpretation of the bible then?

• defector | Apr 30, 2012, 09:35 AM EDT

  Hmmmm... makes no sense to me. I'm listening to Joe Duffy in relation to censored priests. It seems to boil down to the definition of a Catholic. I thought it had something to do with the infallibility of the pope. I find that a pretty silly idea, but the hard-line Catholics seem correct to me. If you're in the club you need to accept the rules. Ireland is still suffering the results of not being allowed to question. First it was the Church, then it was the professionals & politicians, hopefully next it will be the media. That said, it must be sad to have spent your life in a church that suppresses your opinion and to suddenly realise it. Many defectors, such as myself, have had to experience a dark-night-of-the-soul to find spirituality without Catholicism/Christianity I think we are witnessing the death of a religion.

• Irishphotograph | Apr 30, 2012, 09:29 AM EDT

  Rome is the Spiritual enemy of the Irish People and it always has been. Roman Catholicism is paganism entrenched into the Good News, with only small bits of Christian Truth. I am an ex Roman Catholic now a Christian. I am a descendant of John Devoy (IRB) One of Ireland's greatest Irish Patriots as described by Padraig Pearse. With family recorded fighting for Ireland in the Rebellion of 1798. If London are the political enemy and Brussels the economic enemy then believe that Rome is the Spiritual enemy and our most dangerous enemy because the Teachings of Rome are leading good intentioned people to Hell. Thats it folks! its either Heaven or hell no such thing as Purgatory. Once again another Man made teaching that is unbiblical. So! if you are one who believes in God Almighty. Then let your belief become a saving Faith and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved!