Observers say that due to the Catholic Church's mishandling of the abuse crisis in Ireland it is now inconceivable for Pope Benedict XVI to visit Ireland this summer, despite having received an official invitation to attend the International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in June.
The Pontiff is not expected to travel to Dublin for the major international gathering of Catholics. It is understood that Pope Benedict met with Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, the most outspoken critic of the Vatican's handling of the crisis in Rome this week.
Archbishop Martin cannot have left the Pontiff in any doubt about the inadvisability of an Irish papal visit at their time and so instead the 84-year-old Pope has made plans to present a live televised address to an anticipated crowd of more than 80,000 participants due to attend an open-air Mass in Croke Park entitled Statio Orbis on June 17.
Despite the advice from top Irish clergy, the Pope has still not officially indicated whether or not he intends to attend the Congress. Church authorities fear that his presence in Ireland could lead to major public protests that would detract from the congress and its message.
According to a report in the Irish Examiner Archbishop Martin was part of the Irish delegation visiting the Vatican as part of the preparations for the congress.
The organizing committee presented the Pope with a bowl of shamrock to mark Saint Patrick’s Day. After the meeting, Archbishop Martin said that the Pope had appeared interested in preparations for the congress.
Father Kevin Doran, the secretary general of the forthcoming congress, added that the Pope had made no reference to his invitation to visit Ireland for the congress during his meeting with the Irish delegation.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Irishphotograph | May 01, 2012, 01:09 PM EDT
(previous comment below - yeah man and mad made too!) 1 Timothy 4:1-5 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
Irishphotograph | May 01, 2012, 12:54 PM EDT
Sophium when you make the statement 'mother church'. You lose all credibility to call yourself a Christian (Christ-follower). The Roman Catholic Church has been one of the most brutal and oppressive Institutions in the World History. It murdered people for reading the Word of GOD and that reason was because the Scriptures expose the RCC for teaching heresy. You can have your corrupt version of Christianity in Roman Catholicism but Ireland could do well without this false mad made paganised church.
pilib04 | Apr 08, 2012, 07:53 AM EDT
Sophium, What "probable FALSE accusations" did Portia777 make? Please be specific. Calling someone a liar without specifics is RUDE!
Sophium | Mar 30, 2012, 10:40 AM EDT
So much anger in most of the posts here. Portia777, is it possible (probable) that you are making false accusations so that you can have an excuse to stay angry at the Catholic Church? Yes, Ireland is broken, barneyjo, a very important point. Broken people do not always think clearly. It is not the Catholic Church that is responsible for this brokenness. Ireland will stay broken and become more miserable in that brokenness as long as rebellion against Mother Church remains. Distorting what the Catholic Church represents in this world is a formula for the destruction of individual people, families, and communities themselves. How did Russia fare when it rebelled against the Orthodox Church? Look at the sorry state of the French Revolution, with 600,000 slaughtered, all in the name of liberty and fraternity. Pathetic. Ireland is headed toward "pathetic" to the extent that it, in self-righteousness, abandons the Catholic Church. May God have mercy on the soul of the weak and rebellious.
barneyjo | Mar 17, 2012, 03:16 PM EDT
@Rebelforce -Ireland isnt merely "screwed up" Ireland is broken!! (And there is a big difference between the two)
Portia777 | Mar 17, 2012, 11:10 AM EDT
I cannot believe the Irish still entertain the Roman Catholic church. I guess the brainwashing was a success then. Any clear minded folk would have ran them out long ago. All members are guilty by association now.
Portia777 | Mar 17, 2012, 10:51 AM EDT
Rebelforce. i agree, considering the Queen came on instruction from the Pope. 1172, Pope instructed the King Of England to take over Eire and keep the people under control for the Vatican. Strange how we were never taught this in school? Why did the Queen visit Cashel? Again to do with Roman Pope.
Collette2 | Mar 16, 2012, 10:02 PM EDT
I should bloodywell think so, I could take to them with a bloody stick. I have just finished looking at Q$A 25th May Response to question on Ryan Commission on youtube, forwarded to me last night. It would break your heart. If Enda Kenny ever backs down on his stand against the church; God help him.
JohnKilgore | Mar 16, 2012, 02:37 PM EDT
Martin reminds this American too much of Cardinal McCarrick, the ex-archbishop of Washington, DC. In other words, a man not to be trusted by pope or people.
Rebelforce | Mar 16, 2012, 01:46 PM EDT
NO POPE HERE!! (but the queen of England is always welcome to come over any time and be fawned over and courtseyed to by the new and improved "tamed" Irish) How screwed up is modern day Ireland?
Intercessor | Mar 16, 2012, 01:02 PM EDT
When Ireland is in the middle of one of the WORST financial crisis of generations, why should the people of Ireland need to put out millions of Euros to pay for the Pope's security? That's probably one reason why the Pope won't take a chance of going to Ireland....... because of the backlash that would be generated against the Church should he even mention the possibility of going to Ireland!
SisterMaureen | Mar 16, 2012, 11:34 AM EDT
Why was Archbishop Martin one of a number of individuals slighted by the Vatican by not being invited to the recent Rome Symposium on child abuse? Sister Maureen Paul Turlish SNDdeN Advocate for Victims & Legislative Reform New Castle, Delaware maturlishmdsnd@yahoo.com