68 Comments

• Frosty38 | Nov 04, 2012, 06:48 PM EST

  They could become a deacon. We here in Fl have a lot of them.

• jacersagain | Nov 04, 2012, 12:52 PM EST

  Thanks to the two Seans for kind comments. Today is a Sunday. I had a kind of unusual day, walking on one of the windswept beautiful golden beach strands of Dublin that straddle the Irish Sea. Some of you might think I’m an idiot for saying the following but my sons would disagree with you. What I believe to be the entity that we call 'God' advised me not to let IrishCentral go. So, meekly, with hat in hand close to my heart, I have to say to all that, as a member of the silent majority, I have to stand up and stick it into the media persuaders of rubbish misrepesentation. I’m confused today, this Sunday evening. Can somebody tell me if I have, today, gone through what some people call a re-birthing??

• BishopSean | Nov 01, 2012, 09:34 PM EDT

  I agree with SeanOmelb. You'll be missed in this community--and I do agree with you almost always!

• Brolaur | Oct 31, 2012, 06:20 PM EDT

  georgie fox I agree with you,completely. He has used the Roman Collar to get himself on every TV and Radio in Ireland and England, he, constantly writing articles for newspapers and magazines. Without that Collar we would never have heard of him. Maybe he would have been doing, what God called him to do. He knows all the showbands, TV presenters and radio hosts. Instead of constant hankering after the spotlight maybe he should look INSIDE. He's a disgrace to his Order and a very bad example to his people.

• seanomelb | Oct 30, 2012, 06:41 PM EDT

  Although we hardly agree I'll miss your posts Jacer

• jacersagain | Oct 30, 2012, 03:26 PM EDT

  I’m not going to post replies under this topic anymore. My (...more) follow-up post to mine at 12.15pm yesterday didn't make it online (it expanded on that post, to put a deeper slant on it), nor were several posts/replies that I went through the bother of composing under Cahir O’Doherty’s ‘No Gays Need Apply’ article posted either. So I hope this one makes it online so that all know I’ve read what you all managed to get posted but I’m not replying: I’m giving up on ICentral… there no point composing posts if they are not accepted, or deleted later, at some ICentral editor’s whim. Go n-éirí an bóthar libh go léir; may you all go in good health and be at Peace with all you meet.

• georgie fox | Oct 30, 2012, 11:08 AM EDT

  Darcy is a sellout. He enjoys the celebrity status if you could call it that and has his liberal views to please his listeners. Fr Darcy you should remember first and foremost you are a priest and have a responsibility to lead people in the TRUTH and obey your superiors and the Church teachings. It was prophesied that many priests would be on their way to hell and they would bring many souls with them! YOU are on this path. Stop your false teachings! obey the Church in her wisdom and shut it

• seamus60 | Oct 30, 2012, 09:10 AM EDT

  Renelda M. With respect I wouldn`t go congratulating Brady on anything. He has lost so much credability with Catholics in Ireland, he is left with no option but to go with the populist and what better way than via the well recieved channells to the media he recognises D`arcy has. Your congrats proving it may have worked, to what degree is another thing. His days are numbered by both the Vatican and the people. He can at least hope for some let up on public opinion of him as he will most likely reside he for his remaing time.

• eiriamach | Oct 29, 2012, 07:06 PM EDT

  'Funny thing you should mention censorship by "libs," KOH. The two who most frequently tell me to STFU and go away are you and Woundedknee/ Dillon. You know George Dillon, don't you-- Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile. But to resume the point, I'm so opposed to censorship-- as continually subject to it myself for leftist views that make the neo-cons nervous-- that if Barack Obama called me and said, "Éirí, you must censor so-and-so because he poses an imminent threat to national security," I'd give it at least a moment's thought before I'd do it. But I don't second guess Niall O'Dowd, who runs a business and probably has lawyers who advise IC about libelous and other litigable comments made by the scurrilous few who visit IC in search of the like-minded who, they hope, will validate their own bigotries. But hey, feel free!

• eiriamach | Oct 29, 2012, 06:40 PM EDT

  Hey, great idea, KOH! If Irish Central wants to pay me for posting here, I'll be happy to take the money, but no such luck-- it ain't gonna happen! I have my reason for being here, not a reason I feel compelled to share with you. Perhaps it takes YOU too much time to put words into a com box, but I generally do it in a flash, with plenty of time left for other pursuits. Don't let what seems to you like my omnipresence here drive you away. . . . T'would be sniffling sad.

• seanomelb | Oct 29, 2012, 06:20 PM EDT

  Jacer no one doubts the church has great thinkers ,its what their thinking leaves one to doubt their integrity,medieval and out of touch.

• KweenOHearts | Oct 29, 2012, 06:18 PM EDT

  ***-- objecting, that is, with any viable arguments, relevant facts, or coherent counterpoints. Often, just like you, those who disagree with me HAVE NO response, so they hurl foolish insults instead, just like you.*** ----- I don't happen to have the luxury of TIME to waste a great part of my life seeking affirmation from a bunch of misguided political, cultural and quasi-theological sister-souls on the net, as you do. Perhaps, it is people like you who keep websites like this one from disappearing into the inconsequential oblivion where they belong. I would not be surprised to learn that your participation here is part of an inside marketing strategy. If not... you are definitely being cheated! Not many people I know would spend as much time as you do, responding to inanities without the benefit of a paycheck. ----- ***Not worth tuppence! Jacers constructed a stra man ("full of idiots"), and I pointed out that he had misrepresented and over-simplified others' comments. I did not hurl insults at him.*** ---- Thanks for making my point!

• KweenOHearts | Oct 29, 2012, 05:56 PM EDT

  **I don't post on IC to sell my books or articles, KOH, and quantity often has little to do with quality.** --- In the case of a comparison between B-XVI and you, if the interminable pontifications you offer here are any proof, or were they to provide to a qualified critic, even a perfunctory comparison between the product of your intellect and his, I'd bet you'd end up 'a mite' dissapointed. But, given the self-assurance you try to project, and the adulation you receive from a few sycophats that keeps you coming here, that might be a long shot. --- **However, IF comparing intellects were a counting exercise (it's not, and it's generally a useless thing to do), then aside from you and a few other mostly foul-mouthed posters, there are many millions FEWER people objecting to my ideas than to Ben XVI's!** -- Boy, am I surprised by that comparison you just engaged in!! In the grand scheme of things, could that just happent to be a sign of how inconsequential your ideas are? Nah... Look up the word 'humility' (one of the essential spiritual virtues a purportedly 'churchy person' should be well acquainted with), might be one that might help you.

• KweenOHearts | Oct 29, 2012, 05:17 PM EDT

  **I'll just add that driving people out of your group, i.e., gate-keeping, as Nicoletta does ("This priest needs another religion") and as Mairint does even more widely ("All you guys, along with Fr. D'Arcy et al, should just move over to the Anglican Church") is just more blatant CENSORSHIP** --- To the subject of 'Censorship' in the context of IC, this is a practice that is blatantly and constantly applied on these blogs, whether by 'columnists' themselves, who have little toleration for people who do not walk in lock-step with their ideas, or by other bloggers themselves -mainly liberals- whos habit is to 'report' comments they dislike or object to as either offensive, racist or whatever description they prefer. -- I've lost track of the number of comments and replies I have been unable to post, as well as those that have been excluded once posted on IC. -- I have come to accept these as a product of the fascist lib mentality that pervades this website, from editor to bloggers themselves. -- It is annoying, but pretty much par for the course. -- If one starts with low expectations here, not much can be a surprise.

• KweenOHearts | Oct 29, 2012, 04:59 PM EDT

  faberm1: **The requirement for Celibacy is NOT BIBLICAL. The Roman Catholic Church has in essence added to God's Holy Word. The Bible warns against doing this. "If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll." Revelation 22:18** --- Another 'convenient verse bible-thumper.' You should try reading the bible, and especially the book of Rev. a BIT MORE CAREFULLY! -- The verse you quote says :"I warn every one who hears the words of prophecy of THIS BOOK..." John is referring specifically to the book of Revelation, not to the entire bible, which could be deduced as something reasonable. However, it is a fact that prots, starting by Luther, added words to the bible when they thought it convenient to support their theories. The concept of 'sola fide' or 'saved by faith alone,' one of the foundational beliefs promoted during his apostasy is non-existent within the words of the bible. Is the man therefore condemned to hell for his impudence? Like it or not, if your theological predecesor was sent there... is there much hope for the rest of prots?

• Renelda M. | Oct 29, 2012, 04:44 PM EDT

  First, I would like to congratulate Cardinal Brady for encouraging Fr. D'Arcy. Fr. D'Arcy makes soooo much sense. I have long believed Catholic clergy should have the option to marry. There would be a lot less sinful behavior if they were. I have noticed that pastors always tend to make an upstanding woman his parish 'wife.' Man needs woman and woman needs man. Marriage has been sanctioned by God. Come on board Catholic Church.

• KweenOHearts | Oct 29, 2012, 04:41 PM EDT

  CitizenWhy **Celibacy for priests and bishops is certainly not Biblical. In Timothy3:2 the qualifications for bishop start as: "Therefore a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife,[b] sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ..." Is this a case of the catholci church refusing to follow the Bible?** --Isn't it amazing how generally bigoted, clearly anti-Catholic, obviously unchurched and marginally educated people eagerly take-up the mantle of a 'quasi-theologian' by the mere fact they can extract from the bible a convenient verse they think supports their hare-brained opinion? -- Surely their blathering makes sense and is welcomed by those already antagonistically pre-disposed toward the CC... however, to people more familiar with the way the Church arrives at discerning and implementing disciplines and practices it imposes upon its clergy and faithful, this type of off-the-cuff ramblings amount to nothing more than what could be properly called 'opinio-theologizing' Clearly a made-up word that describes a non-sensical effort on the part of disaffected haters eager for the slightest opportunity to slam the Church, no matter how uninformed and stupid their comments are.

• seamus60 | Oct 29, 2012, 04:10 PM EDT

  Connamaragirl. Spot on. I know many people who never leave the alter rails and aren`t very good people.

• eiriamach | Oct 29, 2012, 04:08 PM EDT

  I don't post on IC to sell my books or articles, KOH, and quantity often has little to do with quality. However, IF comparing intellects were a counting exercise (it's not, and it's generally a useless thing to do), then aside from you and a few other mostly foul-mouthed posters, there are many millions FEWER people objecting to my ideas than to Ben XVI's! -- objecting, that is, with any viable arguments, relevant facts, or coherent counterpoints. Often, just like you, those who disagree with me HAVE NO response, so they hurl foolish insults instead, just like you. Not worth tuppence! Jacers constructed a straw man ("full of idiots"), and I pointed out that he had misrepresented and over-simplified others' comments. I did not hurl insults at him.

• seamus60 | Oct 29, 2012, 04:05 PM EDT

  Jaceragain. Hard to freely challenge the truth of its wealth when no one is allowed to know.

• KweenOHearts | Oct 29, 2012, 03:49 PM EDT

  **Jacers, I don't recall anyone calling Benedict XVI stupid (though I believe you over-rate his intellect).** --Methinks that it has been long demonstrated by your interminable bloviating and attempts to one-up everyone's comments you've shown you highly and unduly over-rate your own. --- Let's do a small comparison... Benedict has written close to 100 highly acclaimed books on philosophy, theology, etc. -- Previous to his ascending to the Papacy he was a widely loved professor in German universities, etc. -- Now, how many books did YOU say you have written, and how much impact have they had in any particular field??

• seamus60 | Oct 29, 2012, 03:47 PM EDT

  How can any priest be expected to give advice on topics he has no practical understanding of. My daughter could be the best driver in the world on paper, having read the most books on it. Don`t mean she can drive. Let them marry and be in a better position to relate to their flock. Might be a substantial financial tag for some one though, if they all practice what they preach.

• eiriamach | Oct 29, 2012, 02:23 PM EDT

  I'll just add that driving people out of your group, i.e., gate-keeping, as Nicoletta does ("This priest needs another religion") and as Mairint does even more widely ("All you guys, along with Fr. D'Arcy et al, should just move over to the Anglican Church") is just more blatant CENSORSHIP-- exclusion, 'in-group' hostility to discussion, dialogue, and debate, and of course a common form of tyranny. Are the signs not clear that RC has ignored the call of the Holy Spirit to listen, learn, and teach the truth and to include others rather than driving them out of the Body of Christ? Such statements are clear evidence that these Catholics have abandoned Christianity in favor of some cozy group of politically like-minded people they're comfortable with and can manipulate.

• eiriamach | Oct 29, 2012, 02:11 PM EDT

  Jacers, I don't recall anyone calling Benedict XVI stupid (though I believe you over-rate his intellect). No, the comments I've read disagree with the judgments and decisions of people in the Vatican. That's all--we think they're wrong and Fr. D'Arcy is right on an important matter of (very recent) tradition and discipline. Also, if you look into the recent popes' writings about priestly celibacy, perhaps you yourself will recognize the weakness of the arguments with which they try to defend it. And this pope's and his predecessor's attempts to smuggle infallibility into those writings by the back door-- by forbidding theologians to write about the celibacy requirement and priests to question it-- does the Cath0olic Church much harm among most people outside it, as well as the majority within it. So it's not only the weakness of arguments defending celibacy, but far more the censorship imposed by the CDF on priests like Fr Brian D'Arcy that accounts for the loss of respect you see here. How can anyone respect people who censor criticism that they cannot reply to?

• jacersagain | Oct 29, 2012, 12:15 PM EDT

  Some posters below think the Roman Catholic Church is full of idiots. In fact, the RCC is not. It has more great thinkers (Pope Benedict is recognised as one of the best free thinkers in the world amongst non-religious peers, peers of other religions and his co-religionist peers, which most knockers of the Roman Catholic Church are incapable of being, or incapable of recognising his unique talent). The RCC’s priests and nuns comprise of thousands of philosophers, psychologists, scientists, doctors of medicine and other sciences, nurses, space experts, computer experts, teachers, accountants, poll counters, statisticians, media people like the excellent Christian Fr. Brian D’Arcy and the Vatican Radio and TV station presenters. The Vatican’s website is one of the most visited in the world (have you been ignorant enough not to freely visit it yet??… And learn of what it actually does, says and encourages in this world of ours? Feel free to challenge every truth it gives. (More…)

• Smyrnian | Oct 29, 2012, 09:16 AM EDT

  Mairint does have it right. This is not the Church for him; there are alternatives more suitable to his aspired lifestyle.

• connemaragirl | Oct 29, 2012, 01:10 AM EDT

  Mairiant,Oh !!!!!!!!,if you ,one so faithful spend so much time in Church then you of all people should know not to judge,God alone should judge ,I know many good men and women who do not attend Church who are very good people.

• seanomelb | Oct 28, 2012, 08:04 PM EDT

  mairint and her right wing Catholic collective below need a reality check and get on board with common sense.

• barneyjo | Oct 28, 2012, 07:00 PM EDT

  @seanomelb - oh no, they do have a concept of reality; a singular, dangerous and malevolent reality which basically says "we're right and you're wrong" I fear that over time, those who persist in clinging to such a reality will come to regret doing so. They should know that as believers, that in rushing to judge others, they place themselves in a position in which they themselves will be judged!!

• seanomelb | Oct 28, 2012, 06:33 PM EDT

  Mairint and her religious bigots are a bunch of morons with no concept of reality.

• barneyjo | Oct 28, 2012, 10:58 AM EDT

  I live in the Region where the programme mentioned will be aired on TV on Monday night. Two things I am sure of; 1)Father D'arcy will be seen for the genuine holy, and good man that everyone who has met him knows him to be.2)Even if the Passionist Order ever do cave into pressure from the CDF and ban him from Ministry, it wont end there. As a child I attended mass every Sunday at the Graan Monastry outside Enniskillen, for many years before Brian D'arcy was appointed Rector. This is a Religious Community at one with the community in every sense of the word. The removal of Father D'arcy from Ministry in Fermanagh, will in effect be the beginning of the end of the formal Passionist order certainly in the North of Ireland if not indeed all of Ireland, because I do not believe that the other members of that community will desert Brian D'arcy in his hour of need. If I am wrong and they do, the same result will be achieved. The catholic faithful will I believe, abandon the Passionist Order per se, but will continue to support Brian D'arcy and others by other means. I almost hope that the CDF do move against Brian D'arcy, because it will be further proof that the great saints of our church such as Saint Pio, was used as a conduit by God to send a warning message to the church, which chose to ignore it. And the church across the world is now living with the consequence of that decision.

• Nicoletta | Oct 28, 2012, 10:26 AM EDT

  Mairint - you're on the money again. This priest needs another religion - plenty to choose from with the 38,000 Protestant varieties.

• hermitTalker | Oct 28, 2012, 08:32 AM EDT

  reiterating LOVE is required by all, GENITAL ACTIVITY is not required. As I said above, does not prevent child abuse, adultery or rape or pre-marital sex. Millions of ordinary humans worldwide are living celibate, loving lives, including widows, young singles and vowed celibates. Also see the total destruction that misuse of sexuality has caused. Living inside one's mind is a very narrow place to exist.

• faberm1 | Oct 28, 2012, 07:46 AM EDT

  The requirement for Celibacy is NOT BIBLICAL. The Roman Catholic Church has in essence added to God's Holy Word. The Bible warns against doing this. "If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll." Revelation 22:18

• CitizenWhy | Oct 28, 2012, 01:14 AM EDT

  Celibacy for priests and bishops is certainly not Biblical. In Timothy3:2 the qualifications for bishop start as: "Therefore a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife,[b] sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ..." Is this a case of the catholci church refusing to follow the Bible?

• CitizenWhy | Oct 28, 2012, 01:00 AM EDT

  PiperMac52 ... St. Paul was not a model of a parish priest. St. Paul moved from one location to another. A parish priest is rooted in a specific place for a long time. Now St. Peter, who was married, became the model for the Pope. On that basis the pope should marry.

• mairint | Oct 27, 2012, 10:52 PM EDT

  All you guys, along with Fr. D'Arcy et al, should just move over to the Anglican Church, or even the Episcopalian version where they allow marriage, homosexual liaisons etc. If you do not like the Catholic Church and its Mass of all time, in the footsteps of the appointed Apostles, you do not have to stay. I can well believe most of the knockers below do not attend Mass, Confession, Holy Communion, Benediction etc. and just like to yak yak. Today, Feast of Christ the King, we prayed the prayer of dedication after Mass - how many of you naysayers even stick your heads in the back door of the church on Sunday?

• seanomelb | Oct 27, 2012, 09:47 PM EDT

  A slur if ever I've read one photoclick

• photoclick | Oct 27, 2012, 08:10 PM EDT

  “I would have been a much better priest had I married. I think it would have been the whole thing of sharing your life with somebody else and the whole thing of making sacrifices for somebody else and also that idea of a companion, a closeness, a friend, someone to call home." Hmm! Don't you think it funny Mr D'Arcy doesn't use the terms 'wife' or 'female' or mention children! What is his real agenda.....waken up people... this man wants to shack up with a man full stop.

• Chiefjustice | Oct 27, 2012, 07:26 PM EDT

  Funny thing, Being Married made me a better Judge

• PiperMac52 | Oct 27, 2012, 06:32 PM EDT

  Actually St. Paul, who was not married, set the ideal for celibate priests as he knew that a married priest would be preoccupied with family and it's subsequent responsibilities. This in turn would cause the responsibilities of the parish and attention to the parishioner's needs to suffer.

• misneac | Oct 27, 2012, 06:23 PM EDT

  The very stupid comment by Corkman that the Catholic Church dont want Priests to marry is "because they dont want their children to inherit their wealth " .What planet is this guy on ,and from where does he think Priests get this wealth ? The average Priest works for a meagre salary only sufficient to meeet his basic needs . People should get their facts right before posting bigoted comments !

• seanomelb | Oct 27, 2012, 06:02 PM EDT

  first word should read Katiemac

• seanomelb | Oct 27, 2012, 05:58 PM EDT

  kinematic are you endeavoring to give a female perspective on a male dilemma. "Married to Jesus" what a load of frogsh@te. You and Jetsnoone need a wake up call.

• CitizenWhy | Oct 27, 2012, 04:13 PM EDT

  Celibacy for priests is not a "core teaching" of the Latin branch of the Roman Catholic Church. It is a core discipline or practice. It can be changed bringing then Latin branch into alignment with other branches of the Roman Catholic church who have married clergy. In fact the Latin branch has recently ordained married Anglican/Episcopal clergy who have switched to Roman Catholicism. ... The current Dean of one of the two CI/Protestant cathedrals in Dublin was ordained a priest, served in London, wanted to be married and so switched to the Anglican communion. The Church of Ireland is committed to being fully Irish rather than a servant of England so it may be that many Catholics inn Ireland will give up on Rome and join this independent church that is democratically governed.

• barneyjo | Oct 27, 2012, 03:04 PM EDT

  @jetsnoone - suggest you do a search for "Father Michael Cleary" an Irish priest, now dead, who led a very "colourful" life whilst remaining within the church.Or you might try Bishop Eamon Casey, or Father Sean Fortune, Father PAtrick Maguire, Father Brendan Smyth, among others!!

• jetsnoone | Oct 27, 2012, 02:02 PM EDT

  Marriage and family are very selfish pursuits as they should be. Anybody that thinks that a family man can go out and make a living, and come home to take care of his wife and kids, and can then go and minister to another 300 families is very, very stupid. Most priests love their jobs being at the service of Church and parishioners 24 x7.... don't let the media, who hate the Church, change our traditions....sure this priest mentioned in the article will sometimes wonder about paths not chosen, we all do, but if he had married he would not have been as good a priest...

• jimmybb | Oct 27, 2012, 01:48 PM EDT

  let them marry this is a stoneage church in amegabyte world

• mayoman | Oct 27, 2012, 01:25 PM EDT

  It's only a question of time before the Church's celibate manpower runs dry. And when that day comes the Church will have no choice but to either turn the entire organization over the the laity, which means that married men and women will be in charge, or the Vatican will have to ordain men and women, whether they be celibate, married, or just sexually active. There is really no discernible way to escape this, other than the if Church is able to somehow recruit celibate men only in large numbers once more. But that recruitment is not very likely. The Church needs to embrace some real changes if it hopes to survive. The past is past. The future demands our attention and action.

• katiemac | Oct 27, 2012, 01:17 PM EDT

  "I think it would have been the whole thing of sharing your life with somebody else and the whole thing of making sacrifices for somebody else and also that idea of a companion, a closeness, a friend, someone to call home.” Father, I respectfully remind you that the person you were to share your life with, make sacrifices for (like celibacy), have a companion, closeness with and call home, has been there all along. His name is Jesus.

• Searlit | Oct 27, 2012, 01:12 PM EDT

  God made them human beings first. They should not have to give up their human needs to satisfy anyone.

• Proud Canadian2 | Oct 27, 2012, 12:49 PM EDT

  The Catholic church needs to come up to the 21st century until they do they are going absolutly nowhere. This preist is right he would have probably become a better preist if he had married. Black you are wrong the Catholic Church must change or there won't be a church left, example, Ireland right now, the Catholic church is on the decline and and no sign of getting better.

• Corkman | Oct 27, 2012, 12:47 PM EDT

  Of course it would have given him a better understanding of family life. This whole celibate law came about so that priests wouldn't have children to inherit their wealth. It had nothing to do with making priest better or more dedicated that was just an excuse to justify it. Priests had been married for centuries before it became law. Read up on it and you will find that there is evidence to support this.

• PhlutiePhan | Oct 27, 2012, 12:33 PM EDT

  The Orthodox Church allows marriage up until a certain point which I believe is deacon. The American Catholic Church has been placing many married deacons in positions of authority. The idea is to prepare them for the priesthood. In addition, there is a well organized movement in many dioceses to place women in parishes as associate pastors with the future aim of advancing them as well. There is a timetable as well and the fuse will be lit with the death of Benedict irrelevant to his successor.

• Mike7571 | Oct 27, 2012, 12:27 PM EDT

  One thing I like about now attending a Protestant church is the fact that my pastor is married, with 3 kids. Basically, he lives a very similar life to my own, which does help him to minister to us. It's unrealistic to expect a bachelor to truly relate to the problems of a married family man, he doesn't live that life. I pray for all the ministers, no matter what faith, that they keep on God's path and that HIS will be done, not man's.

• TisEyerish | Oct 27, 2012, 12:24 PM EDT

  I agree with Father D'Arcy...I think priests should be allowed to marry. This is definitely a man-made law. I'm not sure when, or why, it came about, but there was a time when Popes were married with children. I think allowing priests to marry is beneficial to both the priest and the members of his parish. Get rid of the old, man-made laws!

• Paradigm | Oct 27, 2012, 12:20 PM EDT

  Do I not recall how Peter - "on this rock I will build my church" - brought Jesus to visit his mother-in-law when the lady was ill. Mother-in-law surely indicates a wife. I find it's man-made censures that have distorted God's Word - do remember these was a simpler, clearer mandate to love God and your neighbour, "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets".

• eiriamach | Oct 27, 2012, 11:06 AM EDT

  I can assure jetsnoone that, outside of the RC denomination, priests' wives or husbands pay for their kids' braces and college, as well as for their mortgage! Married priests save their parishioners money. The weekly collection pays a small salary and church maintenance, and it supports the church's missions in the community and in the world. Only retrogressive traditionalists think in terms of wives and children supported by a husband as sole breadwinner. Try to cross the threshold into the 20th century; you'll find the rest of us waiting for you in the 21st century if you ever make it that far.

• jetsnoone | Oct 27, 2012, 10:23 AM EDT

  No, thanks Father, wouldn't want to pay for your kid's braces, college etc....priest should sign on for a 10 hitch after graduating seminary and after 10 yrs can decide to stay in or became part of the laity.... no problem with that as either way Church wins...you retain a good priest or he goes out and starts a family and becomes a deacon....

• eiriamach | Oct 27, 2012, 10:20 AM EDT

  Marriage is not a "cure" for anyone, hermitTalker, but human relationships are our only starting point on the path to God. Giorraíonn beirt bóthar-- two can help each other along the path, especially when they share an intimate relationship. Fr. Brian knows that as well as anyone. As for your conjectures about a married priesthood, male priests I've known are grateful for the financial and moral support of their professional wives, and a female priest I know is able to raise a child because she shares child-rearing tasks with a husband. A child who grows up in a priest's household has a pretty good start on the path to God, wouldn't you agree?

• joan1954 | Oct 27, 2012, 10:18 AM EDT

  I agree with hermitTalker, if priests were allowed to marry and granted some married former Angican priests have been ordained have strong family values and are good shepherds but that doesn't mean that all priests are like that. I would question where would a bishop's authority be in transferring these men to different assignments. I would suspect that it would be a hard thing to do. And I would agree about backwater parishes regardless of country. Very good thinking points.

• thetint | Oct 27, 2012, 10:10 AM EDT

  This priest only deals with famous people and celebrities. Anything they do, no matter how criminal or obscene, is OK with him as long as they are famous and he can get publicity out of it. What did he do about the rampant child abuse? Nothing. Didn’t see anything – didn’t hear anything.

• hermitTalker | Oct 27, 2012, 09:46 AM EDT

  Father Brian must known being a Northern Irishman and a travelled priest that marriage is not a "cure" for sexual frustration, neither does marriage cure adultery, or sexual abuse for Protestant or Jewish clergy. Solid friendships with women and men are healthy emotional outlets for women, and men celibate vowed religious and also millions of women and men who never married or who are widowed. As to the Church being an "absolutist monarchy" is he and the Austrian dissident cleric aware of how dictatorial Government can be in a democracy as can a business or a football team. The Church is a community formed by the Gospel whose teaching is guaranteed to be infallible and its human-made laws are not infallible but guided by 2000 years of Wisdom. So many push for optional celibacy for the already-celibate and, presumably for future clergy BUT also favour barrier and chemical birth prevention and ordination of women to priesthood and bishopric. A look at how those issues have destroyed the mainline Protestant Churches and turn them apart, including splitting them and having no solid teaching about core Natural law issues. I do personally foresee a place as the Orthodox have for optional marriage/celibacy and a celibate bishopric, usually from monastic clergy. That could be an option, however the economic reality of the cost of married clergy, as well as employment for their spouses and decent schools for their children must be faced squarely! No well-educated priest with a University degree holding wife would be satisfied being parish priest of many villages or towns in rural Ireland, the UK or backwater Arkansas. Ask the Protestant clergy!

• GregShox | Oct 27, 2012, 09:31 AM EDT

  Black -- maybe you should tell that to the married men who are currently priests in the Catholic church.

• Murph46 | Oct 27, 2012, 09:24 AM EDT

  Better than molesting little boys!

• MaxTiger | Oct 27, 2012, 09:24 AM EDT

  Ah the original Father Trendy, yes he's a good man but we really need to hear in the media opinions of other priests. If you were to examine the amount of access to TV, radio and newspapers priests have been given in Ireland over the past 40 years this 'turbulent priest' would make up a sizeable percentage of it.

• biggles008 | Oct 27, 2012, 09:21 AM EDT

  It's unatural for a male or female to be denied sex,full stop.

• Black | Oct 27, 2012, 09:03 AM EDT

  Its sad that this Priest does NOT understand the Catholic Church - No wonder the Flock is going astray - Priests cannot and will never be allowed to marry in the Roman Catholic Chruch NEVER - He claims he would be better Priest if he was married - He would be a better Priest if understood his calling - I'm Sorry Father but your all ego and a very poor Sheperd