77 Comments

• TriciaG28 | Jul 21, 2011, 06:39 AM EDT

  A very large number of people in Ireland would be absolutely furious if their taxes were to be used to fund a State visit by the Pope. The Vatican's assertion that they have done nothing wrong and that the decisions taken in Cloyne were entirely the responsibility of the hierarchy of that diocese are not backed up by the evidence. The Vatican have, repeatedly, blocked, ignored and actively discouraged any cooperation. They have completely lost any moral authority they had and have repeatedly shown they are more interested in protecting themselves then ensuring criminals are reported to and investigated by the relevant CIVIL authorities. To quote Enda Kenny: "Cardinal Josef Ratzinger said: 'Standards of conduct appropriate to civil society or the workings of a democracy cannot be purely and simply applied to the Church.' As the Holy See prepares its considered response to the Cloyne Report, as Taoiseach, I am making it absolutely clear, that when it comes to the protection of the children of this State, the standards of conduct which the Church deems appropriate to itself, cannot and will not, be applied to the workings of democracy and civil society in this republic. " The Pope should cancel his visit. He and his cohorts are not welcome.

• nottbrian | Jul 20, 2011, 08:10 PM EDT

  Herr Ratzinger is not welcome in Ireland. This man represents an institution that has has violated the most innocent and vulnerable in our country, and has steadfastly stood with the rapists and paedophiles. Yet Ratzinger and his institution still believes they can preach to us on moral questions. Thankfully for many the Taoiseach's speech today signals the beginning of the end of church influence in our schools, on our laws and in the wider polity.

• jacersagain | Jul 19, 2011, 03:00 PM EDT

  eiriamach, my friend in antipathy – pls don’t butt in on a challenge that I have given to CitizenWhy. In response to your own post, surely through all your studies you must know that the Pope is but the Servant of the Church and fully accountable to us members? Twisting interpretations to “in effect” suit one’s own agenda simply confuses the issue. To my simple knowledge, no Pope has ever said “I am Christ. I answer only to me!” I await CitizenWhy’s proof that such was ever said - or a retraction of that posted blasphemous lie.

• jacersagain | Jul 19, 2011, 02:41 PM EDT

  @seanomelbourne – if you’re so happy to be an atheist why do you comment on subjects of religion (which you don’t believe in) on ICentral? Why don’t you just stick w/ yr pals on the atheists’ web sites? >> I must admit that I don’t KNOW that God exists but I BELIEVE God exists. Amongst my reasons for that belief, are the manifestations of His existence that he has blessed this world of ours with: the multitudes of miracles that have occurred throughout the history of the Christian Church. Did you know, for example, that the vast majority of miracles that have happened in Lourdes occurred during the procession of the Holy Eucharist and comparatively few in the miraculous waters that St. Bernadette found? This fact shows to me that God is present in the Holy Eucharist through the Body of His Son, Jesus Christ. He lives in a Tabernacle - near YOU, seano! Go get to know or rediscover Him. You’ll be a better man for it.

• eiriamach | Jul 19, 2011, 02:20 PM EDT

  jacersagain, more than once the current pope has said-- in effect-- that he answers to no one but himself. When he replied to Bishop Morris' request for a reason why the Vatican wished him to step aside, the pope replied that he is not compelled to give any reason at all for sacking a bishop (the letter used more eloquent language, but to the same point). And he did indeed remove bishop Morris of Toowoomba without offering any explanation at all-- he's answerable to no one.

• jacersagain | Jul 19, 2011, 01:45 PM EDT

  @ unconvinced – where is your proof that the Papacy is evil? Indeed one could ask where is your proof that we Catholics are wrong to follow and try and practice Christianity through the Vatican’s leadership. I am quite satisfied, after years of doubt and gnashing of me teeth, that I am privileged to be a member of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Sure, leaders are human and many human errors are made but the intrinsic work of the Catholic Church has never wavered in its dedication to Christ’s mission on earth. If you ever visit the Vatican, you will see a huge slab containing the names of all the Popes ‘descended’ from St. Peter, to whom Christ gave the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. You can also see all the names of all Popes from St. Peter on, high up on the walls of the Cathedral of St. Paul Outside the Walls of Rome. The names are identical. You can also see St. Paul’s burial casket on display there (it was discovered only recently during excavations). It might help you become less unconvinced. @ CitizenWhy - I have never ever heard the present Pope or of any other Pope utter the words that you've posted at 08.11 yesterday. Why post lies?

• CitizenWhy | Jul 18, 2011, 08:11 PM EDT

  The pope says: "I am Christ. I answer only to me!" ... Ireland finally says: "Take a hike. Walk those little red Versacci slippers somewhere else. "

• TiocfaidhArmani | Jul 18, 2011, 02:15 PM EDT

  I don't like him, but he was conscripted and went AWOL.

• pilib04 | Jul 18, 2011, 01:10 PM EDT

  Gearoid4, as for Pope Benedict’s Nazi past, it is true he joined the Hitler Jugend (Youth) after it was made mandatory. It needs to be highlighted that even though it was mandatory the most that could happen was the parents might be fined if their child refused to join. More importantly, 10% of Germans refused to join even when it became conscription. It is a LIBEL to print that ALL German youth joined the GJ. Tens of thousands refused to become part of the Nazi machine. Although you were required to join, a majority of Catholics living in predominantly Catholic areas refused to join. Slan go foill, mo chara.

• pilib04 | Jul 18, 2011, 12:50 PM EDT

  If the Holy Father is using his visit to Ireland in order to defend, in any way, shape or form, pedophile bishops and priests, he should STAY HOME!

• unconvinced | Jul 18, 2011, 05:52 AM EDT

  I have always said the papacy is an evil and wicked system but sadly the people within it won't listen and continue to go to mass and bring their children putting them in furthur danger The pope needs to be proceuted alonf with magee and brady after it was revealed he promoted magee even though brady knew there was an alligation against magee

• Collette2 | Jul 17, 2011, 09:16 PM EDT

  barneyjo, wait and see. I'll bet the up and coming WYD in Madrid isn't cancelled. They've still got it all under control there.

• seanomelbourne | Jul 17, 2011, 08:54 PM EDT

  Thank God I'm an atheist,I've uncluttered my mind with all your mystic mumbo jumbo.

• Gearoid4 | Jul 17, 2011, 04:56 PM EDT

  What an idiotic comment bonbon1, regarding the defamatory accusation that the present pope was an ideological bedfellow of hitler's. Like other german youth of his generation, he had no other option but to serve in the hitler youth. He came from a Bavarian family who were known for their anti-nazi leanings. He escaped from this nefarious organization when he was not shadowed and tried to find his way home. Intercessor, the so called 'celtic' church never existed as the early Irish Church was part of the church universal before it broke into the schismatic parts that we see now. In relation to the current sex-abuse crisis, I feel as sickened as anyone else about the revelations and those found guilty of this abominable crime along with those who sheltered them should face the full rigors of the secular law. But using such malign epithets as 'nazi' exhibits a complete loss of perspective as well and does not add to the debate. Righteous anger indeed should be directed at those who betrayed their vows by their criminal activity and maximum compassion shown to the victims.

• bonbon1 | Jul 17, 2011, 04:43 PM EDT

  I think all of you better be careful of what you say about the Pope! In his heart he is a Nazi-German first and a believer in the Churchs office of inquisition which is generaly dorment at present. However, during the thousand or so years when it was active they murdered between 30 to 40 million so called heritics.If you piss of the Pope he may retaliate like an Adolph Hitler and decide that the good Irish Catholics in Ireland need to be taught a lesson . Be careful or you may be disposed of.

• McNamara31 | Jul 17, 2011, 03:23 PM EDT

  Intercessor..." Jesus warned us, "By their fruits you will know them!" So true.. Great post.

• billyjustin | Jul 17, 2011, 02:24 PM EDT

  The pope is german, so like his hero Adolf he will hide all the killers of innocent souls and ask the victims to forgive and forget the past. that fool is not welcome in my country.. Limerick..

• Intercessor | Jul 17, 2011, 01:40 PM EDT

  Jesus warned us, "By their fruits you will know them!" Look at "The fruits" of the Popes and Vatican of the 20th century and the beginning of this one! Since when is covering up for Pedophile Priests and High-hatted bishops, who shuffle them from parish to parish considered to be "A Fruit of the Spirit?" Since when are lies and criminal coverups "A Fruit of the Holy Spirit? Jesus promised, "The Kingdom of God is within!" It is the ONLY kingdom that the Gates of Hell can't come against! Celtic Christianity was a simple, humble, SACRED experience, built on God's Word, rather than reams of Canon Law dreamed up by High-hatted clerics, who have nothing better to do with their time. If Pope Benedict were truly the representative of Christ on Earth, would he have allowed the coverups of criminal acts of Priest Pedophilia, in every country on this planet? Think about it, and then ask yourself if Ireland can afford the expense of his coming not only in monetary terms, but in spiritual terms?

• Intercessor | Jul 17, 2011, 01:27 PM EDT

  Maybe Pope Benedict XVI realizes that the Catholics of Ireland, as well as the Catholics of other countries are sick and tired of the Vatican expressing remorse for criminal acts of Priest Pedophilia and then turning around and ordering her bishops, archbishops and cardinals to continue to coverup abuse. The stories are the same, all over the world. It makes little difference if they are in the Archdioce of Cloyne, Philadephia or Missouri, the bishops, archbishops and cardinals continue to play "The Vatican Game of Obfuscation." Say one thing to satisfy the people and the press and then turn around and do EXACTLY what you've always done: Protect Church Assets and Pedophile Priests!

• barneyjo | Jul 17, 2011, 05:35 AM EDT

  @Collette2 - I think you misjudge the intelligence of the so called "Sheeple" in 21st Century Ireland. I say that on the basis of my own reaction to all the revalations. The fact remains that Churches are emptying, even during a recession. The number of ordinates for the Priesthood is negligable; some diocese have had no new ordinations for years. No I dont think the churches will empty overnight,nor should they. Why should committed catholics give up their right to express themselves as a faith community. After all it was Christ, and not a Cleric who said, "where two or three are gathered in my name, I will be there also" So we can celebrate as a faith community. That still allows us to return the collection baskets, the parish envelopes empty. We can refuse to support, or withold our support as we deem appropriate. If all of a sudden, there are no volunteers to clean the church, count the collection, operate parish sponsored services, then I think that will start to focus minds. It is "our church" We are the church on earth. Wherever we gather in Gods name, God will be present with us, priest or no priest. If God is truly with his people in these difficult times, then the Church as we have known it for countless generations is well and truly f ed and no Prince of the Church will be able to turn that around!!

• Collette2 | Jul 17, 2011, 04:51 AM EDT

  I seriously don't think this is truly spiritual move by the Vatican, like all governments it's political, and they will find their way back using spiritual emotions of the faithful. With the economic climate as it is, the financial cost to the church has well been considered don't worry.

• Bernadett | Jul 17, 2011, 04:29 AM EDT

  They are all cowards, and lets face it the cover up started at the top just like our bankers and we all know how that ended.Let us stop blaming the religion and start blaming the people running the business,because at the end of the day thats all it is.

• CER1940 | Jul 17, 2011, 03:45 AM EDT

  The Coward Mcghee is said to be in hiding, some say in the vatican others say in the USA either way he should stay in hiding and never show his face. The pope benny should join him in hiding and keep his criminal associates close to his person to defend him. The papal statesmen and church princes should also gravitate toward their holy mecca, the vatican. Each investigation just reinforces the previous ones about the coverups in the church and the un-holiness of their actions.

• Morninghours | Jul 17, 2011, 02:03 AM EDT

  Now would be a good time for the Catholics of Ireland to break with the Vatican and return to Celtic Christianity: the religion of Patrick, Brigid, and Colum Cille; the church that produced the Book of Kells; a church where priests were allowed to marry.

• helmet365 | Jul 17, 2011, 12:15 AM EDT

  You mention the eucharist. Martin Luther made a long pilgrimage to the Vatican and made note of a remark made by a Vatican priest who was assisting him prepare for the mass. The priest said "bread thou art and bread thou shalt remain". They knew it was all made up in those days.

• CitizenWhy | Jul 16, 2011, 11:52 PM EDT

  Can anyone take seriously a mystico-religious woo-woo absolute monarchy and the prancing princes of the church? Please. The costume ball should end. If religion is real, it must be simple. If Catholicism is real, its center is the Eucharist, not the pope.

• JimMcGarity | Jul 16, 2011, 11:01 PM EDT

  Is this the same government that let all their rich friends steel off the working man? Did anyone go to jail or did they all get their bonus.

• seanomelbourne | Jul 16, 2011, 10:32 PM EDT

  If God exisred why are we here.

• helmet365 | Jul 16, 2011, 10:28 PM EDT

  I like your post ballyanger and agree with all you say.I like millions of others have been indroctrined and was one of the sheep who became enslaved. A bit of peace of mind towards the end will help instead of this judgement nonsence which is their way of keeping control. My way of deprogramming,which it is, was to come to the belief that there is no such thing as sin,it is man made. Why would a so called loving God judge his own creation? And i have also come to the conclusion that God has not manifested himself or herself to anyone or any relegion. As for believing in the existance of God thats up to the individual. In my case i say whatever there is after death ,i accept. You have probably noticed the Church is continually saying sorry,thats how infallable they are. Funny how the sheep keep coming back for more.Not me though.

• seanomelbourne | Jul 16, 2011, 08:40 PM EDT

  The pope should hide in shame who needs him,he's a sanctimonious hypocrite.He should stand down as pope.

• mlawless | Jul 16, 2011, 07:30 PM EDT

  The church has betrayed Irish children and adults. No kid glove treatment. They must be held legally responsible.

• antoman | Jul 16, 2011, 06:42 PM EDT

  @Springfield9-St.Malachy prophesied all the popes from 1143 and there is one more to go after the present one.After that...

• thomasdriscoll | Jul 16, 2011, 05:32 PM EDT

  I join the voices of my fellow Celts in demanding that the Government expel the Papal Nuncio and break off relations the the Vatican City State. We must send a message that the Church is NOT above our civil law and that the Church has failed to be honest, open and reliable. It's not about revenge; it is about confronting with action, not just words, the conspiracy of clericalism.

• mtheresa | Jul 16, 2011, 05:17 PM EDT

  springfield9..we understand the third prophesy of Fatima was read by a pope but never revealed. Where can we find info on same?

• ballylanger | Jul 16, 2011, 05:14 PM EDT

  With a bit of luck the reign of terror perpetrated by this miserable little Foreign State on the feeble minds of our population is coming to an end. We spent centuries trying to run the British, from whom we learned much, out of Ireland and embraced the dirty little Vatican when it should have been the other way round. Apart from the despicable grooming of children for sexual purposes we conveniently ignore the 'elephant in the room'...the grooming of a whole people so that their minds could be 'controlled' by 2,000 year old camel jockey gobbledegook. There should be a law against organizations who go around telling people, who already live in misery, that they will all go to hell for their 'sins' after being screwed all their lives by the so-called god-fearing brigade. Dying is bad enough without having to do so in terror because some miserable little clergyman told you that you played with yourself too much. As someone who isn't even an Atheist, my one abiding aim in what's left of my life, is to find suitable words to describe the stupidity of it all.

• JohnJoe4444 | Jul 16, 2011, 04:27 PM EDT

  The Pope may be taking a tactical decision in not coming to Ireland. The citizens will organise protests at the Church cover ups. This will be hugely embarrassing for the Church as Ireland has been regarded as a model Catholic State for many years. I was at the Phoenix Park in 1979 when almost a million people attended JohnPaul II's service. A similar visit now would attract a tiny fraction of that number and would attract huge protests. This Pope and his predecessor have caused untold damage to the faith by covering up for evil scum. The victims of abuse have been violated by the abuse, by the protection of the abusers and by the protection of the protectors. My Parents and Grandparents were devout and holy people. Their memory is also sullied by the behaviour of the rotten element in the Church. I don't want the man to come to Ireland unless he comes to beg forgiveness.

• PaulFagan | Jul 16, 2011, 03:49 PM EDT

  Agree 100% with eiriamach, blessusnsaveus and eileend

• devlenboy | Jul 16, 2011, 02:47 PM EDT

  i am so happy to see my irish heritage being so informed on church matters.my poor parents were the paying,praying and obeying irish immigrants who came to the usa and brought the true faith with many tales of priests reading office,saying mass. all for a fee,poor as they were.not all clergy fit into the catagory.they are more educated as well today.some of the finest are here to in the usa.keep up donegal and all.

• Springfield9 | Jul 16, 2011, 02:31 PM EDT

  Two of my fellow Altar Boys were abused by a Priest named Bitner. They are both a bit touched in the head. Without a PhD, I can't assign an amount of responsibility but Bitner disappeared. When the computer age dawned he was tracked down to a retirement home in British Columbia. Justice?

• Springfield9 | Jul 16, 2011, 02:27 PM EDT

  The third prophesy of Fatima is that Benedict is the last Pope. He just might be that. The last veestige of Roman secular government crumbling is fascinating.

• Springfield9 | Jul 16, 2011, 02:24 PM EDT

  GO TO IRELAND! Take a hint from Pope Leo though - bring armor.

• barneyjo | Jul 16, 2011, 01:58 PM EDT

  @anybody - Everybody, probably even Trealach as well knows that the Irish Catholic Church was bought and paid for by Britain in the mid 19th Century. Cardinal Paul Cullen "shook hands with the devil" by reaching certain understandings with Britain to ensure that the Irish populace and its shift towards Nationalism was kept in check. For this they were rewarded with the building of St Patricks College Maynooth, among other things. Granted not all priests adhered to these strictures. But this is one useful illustration where the Catholic Church showed its capability to form alliances with "the enemy" for its own end. It didnt only happen in Ireland as we area all well aware. Right down to the present day we have many instances where the Irish Catholic Church has conspired with the State to preserve its good name. Take the Claudy bombing for instance in which 11 people were killed. It is now generally accepted that Cardinal William Conway conspired with the RUC to hide the fact that a Catholic Priest, Father James Chesney, was a member of the IRA Active Service Unit that placed three car bombs in the village of Claudy in 1972. Shakespeare put it best when he wrote "Misery equates men with strange bedfellows!!" Strange indeed.

• eiriamach | Jul 16, 2011, 01:58 PM EDT

  I think that's a grand suggestion from blessusnsaveus-- "Stand outside churches this Sunday and pamphlet the attendees. Have handouts that are full of facts (not venom) about the behavior of the bishops and the Vatican in choosing not to follow the irish guidelines for the protection of children." There's plenty of material on the Internet to get a pamphlet going. You could begin with the "Clerical Child Abuse Irish Timeline" on the clericalwhispers.blogspot. The Flannery article that I quoted below is available at the associationofcatholicpriests.ie web site. Provisions for "fair use" allow quoting from posted material, and you can email site owners for permission to reproduce articles in full. You can also find documents on line that list the reforms needed and suggested by several groups of laity and by priests themselves. Great good luck to anyone who gets involved in doing this work!

• Advocate | Jul 16, 2011, 01:57 PM EDT

  Read and study seriously Rev. 17

• blessusnsaveus | Jul 16, 2011, 01:36 PM EDT

  Hey guys, maybe Trealach is a priest himself. Either way, don't waste your ire on his/her spite. Take your anger and use it to a constructive end. Stand outside churches this Sunday and pamphlet the attendees. Have handouts that are full of facts (not venom) about the behavior of the bishops and the Vatican in choosing not to follow the irish guidelines for the protection of children. Detail the doctrine of "mental reservations" and how it gives moral "permission" for clergy to lie. Provide statistics on the numbers of victims in Ireland...and then encourage them to STOP GIVING ANY MONEY TO THE CHURCH and give it instead to non-catholic charities that DO work for the good of abused children. I am of Irish parents, english born, and a catholic educator for 27 years and I am disgusted with my church and angry about the treatment of victims. I am also a victim and even now, naively, think there is something worth saving in my Church. But that something is not the clerical establishment, it is the faith that is based in Jesus of Nazareth not Benedict of Rome.

• eiriamach | Jul 16, 2011, 01:21 PM EDT

  Mamaginnty, an t-Athair Peadar Ó Laoire-- he's the only Catholic priest I can think of who "helped get rid of the British," indirectly through his work in the Irish language (cultural nationalism) and his encouragement of the troops in the Éirí Amach na Cásca of 1916. As I recall, however, several chapters of his Scéal Féin ended with the bishop sacking him for his political activities: "Thanig litir ón Easpaig," or something like that.

• walter3ca | Jul 16, 2011, 01:14 PM EDT

  It this a threat, or a promise?

• mamaginnty | Jul 16, 2011, 01:08 PM EDT

  To me a thorough cleansing means from the top down. Trealach I am irish living in Ireland, baptized a catholic. Can you tell me how the catholic church helped get rid of the british. The old IRA who fought to free the south of Ireland, when they die they know that the church will not allow the irish flag to drape the coffin. Also during the irish holocaust/famine the clergy had dinner with the landlords while the people starved, now tell me how did they help the irish.

• McNamara31 | Jul 16, 2011, 01:01 PM EDT

  Gearoid4.... In my post when I sad "I think He is cleaning house." that cleaning includes the removal of Benedict, who has had more control over this situation than any other.

• eileend | Jul 16, 2011, 12:58 PM EDT

  Trealach, I'm not sure where you got your evidence that everyone who is upset is a foreign Protestant. Might be easier if we were. We wouldn't have the torn loyalties. But as a born and raised Catholic, I have to say that a) I somehow I think Christ would look askance on a Pope who throws a snit(if you diss me, I'm staying home!) when caught in wrongdoing, and b)worse, I sincerely think He'd wonder where the hell the Pope got his authority to protect himself at the risk of children. Maybe it is time for another temple-cleansing. The difference is he's left us to do it. Good on the Irish government for finally standing up to a church who injures its children.

• Eamonster | Jul 16, 2011, 12:45 PM EDT

  Hey Trealach, King Henry II got written permission from pope Adrian IV to invade Ireland in 1169. Also, the Catholic Church condemned the rebels of 1916. On a more international level, Pope Pius XI ordered the Catholic Centre Party to vote Hitler in back in '33 and they also signed a concordat with Mussolini, which is how they got their soverign status in '29 and that's why no-one can find out how much is in that bank of theirs; countless billions no doubt. Of which not a single penny was spent on out of court settlements for child abuse victims. Oh no, that money came out of the dioceses' kitties, and where did that money come from? Parishioners' donations. So the Vatican got away with murder and left the sheepish Catholic faithful to foot the bill for their crimes. No wonder they hire Mafia accountants, they are gangsters the lot of them. So eh, why are you so willing to defend that shower of hypocrites? And if it wasn't for the moronic Protestants we wouldn't have the right to read the bible, the right to choose religion or the right to a free conscience. If the Catholic Church had its way, we'd still be in the dark ages. By the way, I am not a Protestant. P.S. Also, the word church is the Greek for 'assembly'. People are the church not some self appointed, self aggrandising, hypocritical shower of tyrannical c***s called the Catholic hierarchy who couldn't give a flying f*** about its parishioners. All they care about is their power base and incalculable wealth. Simple as.

• eiriamach | Jul 16, 2011, 12:41 PM EDT

  How many shots does Gearoid4 think the Irish should give Benedict XVI to get the ball through the basket? He has had his last shot. Game's over! Too many cover-ups, dodges, subterfuges, lies, and stonewalling. Cleaning house means sending them packing or ignoring them, as Tony Flannery, writing on the Cloyne Report, advises: "All in all, this sorry chapter highlights a lot of what is wrong with the official Church, and with the Vatican bureaucracy. Will anything be learned? I don’t know. The abuse victims have had their day, and that is good. And the state would appear to be responding well. The sooner the handling of everything around sexual abuse of children is dealt with by the state the better; and that is why I am no fan of Church bodies or guidelines dealing with it. It would be much better if anyone who has a complaint in this area did not go to a bishop or a priest, but went to the civil authorities, and let them deal with it. And if the law is not sufficiently strong to handle the complexity of the cases, then let it be changed. In that way there would be no confusion or cover-up." Flannery is definitely not waiting for another "how to handle sexual abuse allegations" document to issue from the Vatican.

• miamicanes | Jul 16, 2011, 12:26 PM EDT

  Tell me, do you have to believe in the pope to pray to god? And if one doesn't, does that me all the prayers to god are thrown in the waste basket?

• Gearoid4 | Jul 16, 2011, 12:22 PM EDT

  A thorough cleansing is taking place as McNamara31 describes. All of the bluster about chasing Rome out and 'taking back' the Church is not the solution. The Vatican has set May of 2012 as the final month for all of the world's national episcopacies to have in place comprehensive rules in relation to the handling of sex-abuse allegations. These will be even tighter than those issued in relation to canon law last year by the Vatican.

• mandrake | Jul 16, 2011, 12:21 PM EDT

  I think as long as the vatican covers up for these animals the Pope should stay at home. Good on Gilmore for standing up and having a go

• rugbyplayer | Jul 16, 2011, 12:21 PM EDT

  Stay home in Rome, your Holiness. Vatican interference in internal Irish affairs reaches centuries back in Irish history and not always for the good of Irishmen.

• Bocktherobber | Jul 16, 2011, 12:16 PM EDT

  Trealach -- I'm Irish, living in Ireland, so I hope you won't label me a moronic foreign Protestant, since I'm none of those things. However, I agree with the position our government has taken on the hostile foreign state known as the Vatican, and I also do not want its leader coming to my country while his agents are actively damaging our children.

• McNamara31 | Jul 16, 2011, 12:05 PM EDT

  For those who still believe in God as I do, I think He is cleaning "house" and counting on the Irish to do the job Boston failed to do in 2002.

• tomgallagher | Jul 16, 2011, 11:50 AM EDT

  I guess Henry the VIII was right after all.

• Trealach | Jul 16, 2011, 11:29 AM EDT

  I wish you moronic foreign protestant/atheists would MIND YOUR OWN darn Business, you might see the slime in your own country then. Considering America has the highest rate of victims, you're hardly in a position to lecture Ireland or the Irish. The Church has been in Ireland since 354AD and HELPED the Irish get rid of the British

• jack4950 | Jul 16, 2011, 11:16 AM EDT

  Time Ireland took back the Catholic Church and ran the Romoney Catholic church out once and for all. Any of you priests ready to stand up with the people for once and for all. ? Or is it the pension that keeps you enslaved. Why would he come, you are not giving him all the Money that they want any more.

• PaulFagan | Jul 16, 2011, 11:11 AM EDT

  As a Catholic disgusted with Pope Benedict I agree with OleSarge.

• PaulFagan | Jul 16, 2011, 11:09 AM EDT

  Read the Diocese of Cloyne Report on the Vatican's role in covering up clerical sexual abuse of children in Ireland and ask "Is this what Christ would have done? Martin Luther was not convinced that the Pope had the moral authority to displace Christ here on earth. Scripture not papal pronouncements or canon law were to be followed. The Vatican has lost its moral authority in Ireland. The Vatican apparently protects itself not Irish children. Leave those in the Vatican who commit Satan's sin of Pride to Jesus to judge.

• CitizenWhy | Jul 16, 2011, 10:58 AM EDT

  Ironically this Pope, when a cardinal, lobbied to crack down hard on pedophiles. He was overruled by John Paul II, a great believer in the "church" (defined as the clergy). Maybe all the pictures of John Paul II in Ireland should be thrown out.

• mamaginnty | Jul 16, 2011, 10:55 AM EDT

  Going back three popes( probably all popes ) new what was going on, if pope Benedict was head of a newspaper, head of whatever, he would be held accountable, and they are talking about making the last pope a saint, the governments worlwide should be together on closing up this organization, property, treasures ( paintings, gold, money etc ) some given to the abused, given to each parish where people worked for nil, collection money that ran into trillions, but never accounted for because they were clever enough to get a charity number. A mafia in every sense of the word. The word Roman catholic would change, what we were brainwashed into believing is another story, a whole new beginning is needed, before the stench will disappear.

• CitizenWhy | Jul 16, 2011, 10:49 AM EDT

  Here's what Ireland needs to do: ... 1. Break off relations with the Vatican until ... 2. The Vatican issues orders to all priests that absolution cannot be given or be valid unless a pedophile first reports his transgressions to the police.... 3. If an offender does not turn himself in to the police within one month, the priest must report him/her. ... 4. The Vatican apologizes. ... Priests should also be required to make a statement at the start of a confession about absolution not being possible for a pedophile who has not turned himself/herself in, and that the priest will report, within one month, pedophiles who have not owned up to the police. ... A civil law requiring breaking the seal of confession is not the way to go.

• bonjouryall | Jul 16, 2011, 10:00 AM EDT

  I always thought some of the writers here could p--- off the Pope. Maybe I'm right! More seriously, south Louisiana had its troubles with pedophile priests gain publicity than a decade ago. It wasn't until the big money judgments started up in the U.S. that the Church did anything. How's that for taking a stand for its principles. And those that protected the pedophiles are still 'in power' or still influential.

• AengusOg | Jul 16, 2011, 09:45 AM EDT

  Ostrtrichized or ostracized? Here's the church and here's the steeple, but where are all the people? When the collection basket comes around, put in a note asking that the intentions for which the Mass is being said include 'protecting children from evil' and 'giving the clergy the strength to live up to their vows.'

• OleSarge | Jul 16, 2011, 09:45 AM EDT

  Pope Benedict is supposed to have a direct line to Peter and thus represent Jesus to the faithful. How can he do that when he is not faithful to the teaching of Christ? I would ban him from Ireland until he conforms with the word of God.

• IAPRINCESS | Jul 16, 2011, 09:26 AM EDT

  Could this be that start of them getting the message that they are a mess and need to reform so much of their ways? Hope a light of reason is shining over the big V.

• barneyjo | Jul 16, 2011, 09:21 AM EDT

  TheVatican has never actually confirmed a Papal visit to co-incide with the 2012 Congress, so that gets them of that hook nicely!!

• eiriamach | Jul 16, 2011, 09:20 AM EDT

  Is there any discussion of the Irish government issuing an indictment of Apostolic Nuncio Luciano Storero, who wrote the 1997 letter that warned Irish bishops not to practice mandatory reporting? Storero made known to the Irish bishops the Vatican's "serious reservations of both a moral and canonical nature,” but never followed through with any specific suggestions about changing their rules for handling allegations of clerical sexual abuse. Thus the Vatican left the Irish bishops no way to proceed with their significant number of abuse cases. In effect, Storero instructed them not to cooperate in civil investigations and prosecutions. That looks like obstruction of justice to me: interference in domestic criminal cases by a foreign power with the right to command the obedience of underlings. Issuing warrants against one or more Vatican officials might make clear to all that the Irish are taking back their Church from Rome. Ireland was a brilliant jewel in the papal tiara, the ever-faithful, through many centuries of persecution, poverty, and multiple forms of Anti-Catholic oppression. So it is truly astonishing, a watershed moment in history, to see this divorce between Rome and Ireland, especially if it heralds the beginning of radical church reform on a global scale.

• kincora | Jul 16, 2011, 09:11 AM EDT

  Said by nobody but Irish Central! Again a case of PRINT to FIT rather than what's fit to print

• cuddlybuddly | Jul 16, 2011, 09:09 AM EDT

  evidence after evidence of Church covering up pedophile crimes against humanity....when will we ever learn that the Vatican solely looks after it's own interests that of protecting "their own" and sacrificing children

• hollabackgurl | Jul 16, 2011, 09:05 AM EDT

  Ireland drove out the British only to see themselves colonized by Rome. It's finally time to send Rome packing too.

• sirpeter | Jul 16, 2011, 09:04 AM EDT

  Well done Kenny!!You tell the Vatican not to mess with us.I didn't think you had the balls.Give that message to the EU as well.They had better get their act together and not mess with the Irish people to much or the EU will get a surprising surprise from us as well.

• CaptainCon | Jul 16, 2011, 08:55 AM EDT

  I don't want this man in Ireland. By the looks of it not many others do either. This organisation I regard as a form of ethical black n'tan and they have long worn out their welcome. If catholics in Ireland cannot enjoy their faith without a corrupt priest caste then it cannot be much of a faith can it? Enough of this organisation in Ireland.