Pub GuidePope Benedict wishes to strengthen relations between Ireland and the Holy See
Archbishop Charles J. Brown takes office as the representative of Pope Benedict in Ireland
Published Friday, February 17, 2012, 8:22 AM
Updated Friday, February 17, 2012, 8:22 AM
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President Michael D Higgins, Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore and Archbishop Charles J. Brown at Thursday's ceremony
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Pope Benedict XVI hopes to "solidify and strengthen" relations between Ireland and the Hoy See according to the new Papal Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Charles J. Brown.
Archbishop Brown,a new York native, formally presented his credentials to the Irish President Michael D Higgins, on Thursday at the president’s resident in Áras an Uachtaráin.
By taking up office as the representative of Pope Benedict in Ireland, Brown replaces his predecessor Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza who was recalled to the Vatican in the wake of the findings of the Cloyne Report, into sex abuse in the Catholic Church.
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Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore and David Cooney, secretary-general at the Department were present at the ceremony on Thursday.
Fr. Juan Antonio Cruz Serrano, the first secretary at the Nunciature in Dublin, accompanied Archbishop Brown, who first arrived in Ireland in early June following his Episcopal ordination in St Peter’s Basilica on the Feast of the Epiphany, presided over by Pope Benedict XVI, reports the Vatican Radio.
President Michael D Higgins asked the Papal Nuncio to convey the best wishes of the people of Ireland to the Pope.
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IrelandNorth | Feb 20, 2012, 07:15 AM EST
Rev. Ian Richard Kyle Paisley/Lord Bannside: "Ulster unionists would accept united Ireland under Crown!" British Chancellor signs-off on a mysterious loan to Ireland (STG£53m). EIIR unlocks room of Ireland (in Her House of Windsor?), from which she has been excluded since birth. Insists grandson marries in "Irish Guards" uniform. Gay Mitchell (FG) proposes rejoining Commonwealth if that's the price of a United Ireland. Irish government close embassy to Holy See under pretext of clerical child sexual abuse scandal. Benny bashing/pope punching replace Gaelic foorball/hurling as national sport in neo-liberal/proto-unionist/middle-class Irish press/media. Nuff said.
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barneyjo | Feb 19, 2012, 03:37 PM EST
@Jacersagain - I've said it before on previous posts, and I'll say it again; I believe that God is far from happy with his church on earth. The warnings that have come through Pio and others before now, have gone largely unheeded. Of course, I could be wrong, and proven to be so; but I genuinely believe that the Church's intention of drawing a line under the past and move on is somewhat premature; it is not enough to say sorry, and it wont happen again. What the Holy Father has done in terms of his response to the abuse crisis is to be welcomed; but it is not enough, and for my part I'm not sure that it ever could be. For those who continue to support the belief in the idea of Papal infalability, thats something I can no longer share, in light of my own conclusions. And I offer two words in support of that. Maciel Maciel, who along with his Legion was lauded by John Paul II as an exemplar in Ministry. No one, including Benedict is saying that about him now. But no matter. As you, and I and others continue on our journey of faith, we can only "watch this space" and believe :)
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ciaradexy | Feb 19, 2012, 02:52 PM EST
Jacersagain-''The Pope is the only person on our planet who walks in the shoes of The Fisherman, ''. Did he live in a massive house covered in gold and painting stolen from the Jews, paid for by the poor? Does he catch or grow his own food or is he fed and looked after by servants? Was the fisherman ok with the rape and abuse of children by his mates?In fact, did the fisherman wear Prada shoes and designer gear? 'It is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven'. I remember something about that from my mass going days.
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jacersagain | Feb 19, 2012, 12:52 PM EST
Barneyjo, I may not have been diplomatic in my words but insults and wild allegations deserve a response. When Enda Kenny launched his attack on the Church during a Dáil debate, the Vatican saw fit to give him a robust response. It was diplomatically worded but there was no mistaking the solid intent and meaning of it. In fact, the Irish Govt was red-faced with embarrassment for Enda’s mistake, so much so that it didn’t make any worthwhile efforts to loudly publicly acknowledge it or respond to it with the same vigour with which Enda’s attack was made. If the Vatican sees fit to ‘bollock’ the Irish Govt for wild allegations made so forcefully within the privileged chambers Dáil Éireann it is merely defending itself, just as I have no more done in defending the Pope’s good intentions that were blatantly insulted by the first posters here below. As for the slap in the face you’ve given me for doing so, well... ok, I turn the other cheek. (Ouch, ouch! I shudn’a done that!). God go with you, oul’ friend. I've no more to say on this, certainly do not want to make an exhibition of a debate between us two.
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barneyjo | Feb 19, 2012, 12:11 PM EST
@jacersagain - you may feel that people require a robust response because others take issue with your beliefs; sometimes because of a sincere and genuine difference in belief, and sometimes for reasons of pure malovelence and spite. I would again direct you to the last sentence of my previous post. And I would underpin that by the "Fisherman's" own words But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. (Matthew 5:39) I make no inference about any other posters and the reason detre behind their remarks. We all of us are on a pilgrim journey; the end of which is far from clear. Who is to say that their journey is any more or less valid than yours or mine. St Pio in his turn, poses questions for us all, and by all I mean you and I, and all the posters here. And I include also whoever occupies the chair of Peter, both in the present, and in the future!!
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jacersagain | Feb 19, 2012, 08:23 AM EST
Barneyjo, oul’ friend, you’ve taken my initial post on the article above which itself a direct response to the post preceding it completely out of context. If people wish to fling mud at the leader of the Church of which both you and I are practicing members they deserve an unequivocal response. I know of St. Pio, have read his life story and have it on my List of ‘Things to Do’ to visit, as you did, his shrine at San Giovanni Rotondo (up to now, I’ve spent the last few years visiting the known tombs of the original Apostles, including visits to Mary Magdalene’s tomb and St. Paul’s and to the Holy Family House in Loreto - they were great, exciting but humbling adventures for me, highly recommended to all). While I accept that all priests, bishops, even we lay people, are to be “fishers of men” as directed by Christ, I have no reason to change my statement that Pope Benedict wears the shoes of The Fisherman Peter, above whose tomb he resides. In trying to strengthen relations between Ireland and the Holy See, His Holiness is doing no more than what Peter would do and would expect His Holiness to do. Quite frankly, the Pope’s efforts do not deserve the insulting comments of Murph46, RocknReel, Collette2, SeamusMartin and gordongoblin.
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barneyjo | Feb 19, 2012, 06:25 AM EST
@jacersagain - what, no thoughts on Padre (I mean Saint) Pio's writing which directly contradicts (indeed challenges surely) your earlier post?? Most disappointing. I also re-read your post, for accuracy, and was "stunned" by your comment "The Pope is the only person on our planet who walks in the shoes of the Fisherman" If that were true, then the "Fisherman" would have called time on us and this planet long, long ago. There are many, many people, many pilgrims who have followed the way of the cross throughout history, and across the ages and by doing so have prevented the light from being extinguished by the darkness of this world. Many have fallen, even turned away from the light, but in time have come back to it, to continue the journey in faith and hope. So, Jacersagain, be careful of painting "broad" brushstrokes which dismiss the journeys in faith of so many, so easily. Dont end up in the Pig Sty by default!!
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bailtone | Feb 18, 2012, 04:42 PM EST
The pope is to nice now the damage is done, may be I'm only saying, may be he might be looking to the Irish fools for a bail out shortly. Its about time the Irish saw the other side of the catholic church, they ran the country all down through the years and left people without food shame on them. May be if I could live my life over again I would love to be a priest, just to see what was going on with the holy men.Its them should be put in the Gas chamber. Keep up the pressure Mr Enda Kenny you were the only one to shout and please no turning back not like the other arsh lickers. God be good to them and let the devil at them.
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barneyjo | Feb 18, 2012, 04:19 PM EST
@jacersagain - "My soul goes looking for some drop of human pity, but they leave me alone under the weight of their indifference. The ingratitude and the sleep of my ministers increase the agony for me. They badly respond to my love! The greater torment for me is that these people add their contempt to their indifference and disbelief. How many times my wrath was to strike them like lightning, but I was stopped by the angels and the souls who love me."(Saint Pio- from his Apparitions) Kind of prophetic when you consider this was written in 1914. Would it be your intention to direct a Saint of our Church to the Pig sty also??
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Collette2 | Feb 18, 2012, 03:27 PM EST
jaceragain, I don't very often disagree with you, but one letter mass produced with a stamped signature wouldn't be enough for me.
The doors of the Vatican would have to be thrown open to millions and the wearing of sackcloth and ashes for generations to come as a reminder of the lives destroyed to even begin to impress me.
The recent elevating of new 22 cardinals to shore up support for the seat of Peter, in line with the staus quo, tells me nothing will change.
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jacersagain | Feb 18, 2012, 09:52 AM EST
The Pope is the only person on our planet who walks in the shoes of The Fisherman, St. Peter – the one appointed by Jesus Christ to lead his followers and “Go tell everyone...” Of course the Pope wants to re-build the damaged relationship with Irish people, especially us Catholics. He wrote a personal letter of apology to me and every parishioner in Ireland not long ago... doesn’t anyone remember it? Now he wants to follow that apology up with action. No one can blame him for that and we welcome it. The lot below who sneer at our Pope can go and stuff their noses in a pig sty where their comments belong and cease commenting on Catholic matters that have no relevance for them.
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gordongoblin | Feb 18, 2012, 04:56 AM EST
Wanting a close relationship with someone who doesn't want you is fine, but pushing it is stalker-y
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SeamusMartin | Feb 17, 2012, 02:40 PM EST
Maybe a Paper Ambassador is what Ireland needs -- just a lifesize cardboard cutout. It won't cost much. Won't say anything of importance. It'll just be there to remind us all as to who thinks they're in charge.
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Collette2 | Feb 17, 2012, 12:31 PM EST
I agree Rock, with the Eucharist Congress comng up, it's a PR excercise too good to be missed.
Nothing more than spiritual and emotional blackmail.
It's as if there was not a concern to be had, even with Martins play with words.
There must be collective fools written across foreheads is all I can say.
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