42 Comments

• KatieMurphy | Apr 06, 2012, 03:11 PM EDT

  Someone said the pope is like Nero who fiddled while Rome burned...............Sorry but thats hardly correct - its much WORSE.................You can find with google how the pope actively hid the molestation of our children..........You can find how the pope UNexcommunicated Bishop Williamson, a holocaust denier.......You can find how the vatican bank was involved in multiple scandals, some of which seem to include laundering money for the mafioso..............And dont expect any change............The pope has effectively run the church for 20 years while JPII traveled. Benedict has filled the curia and I bet also the cardinals with like minded people who want to go back to the dark ages..........Time to leave the church once and for all. Find a Christian church that practices Jesus 2nd commandment to love thy neighbor as thy self.

• KatieMurphy | Mar 27, 2012, 06:40 PM EDT

  the sooner the better. I'm sure we can make room in our 'big houses" for the hierarchy that permitted and hid these horrible crimes........................ And for the Pope who in 2009 UNexcommunciated Bishop Williamson, a holocaust denier........................ (google "Pope UNexcommunicates holocaust denier" ) It sure seems to almost all of our extended family that membership in the catholic church is the super-highway to purgatory or hell.

• ronnie4u2o | Mar 10, 2011, 02:28 AM EST

  Pope coming to Ireland ? What for ? the Church of Rome ia already Doomed its over 20 yrs too late for the church.Most of the churches are empty of teens and young adults. you find Old ladies alone without their Husbands.they young people of today are too Educated to fall for all the BS the Church spews.all the cover ups of the sins of the church and its Bishops & Priests. I say Hit the Vatican in the Pocketbook Give them nothing. until they change their ways and repent. Its the RCC that has lost its way not the people.

• STUMPTOWN | Mar 07, 2011, 12:40 PM EST

  The next time your in RC church at a mass, note the percent of old vrs. the young, the females vrs the males, and ask a few of the young people why they are there as well as their views on the RCC as well as their friends views. The old will be gone before you know it and if the RCC does not change for the young, they will vote with their feet. I bet BEN16 would be upset of what RC members knew and or thought of what teachings of the RCC that the members did know. Ben16 blew it by not to have Brady retire and make the one that never SILENCE THE TRUTH TO PROTECT THE IMAGE as the cardinal of Ireland who was MARTIN of Dublin. The RCC must change for the young people of the world for time changes all and waits for no one.

• McNamara31 | Mar 07, 2011, 11:13 AM EST

  Ulster1 "Our Irish Cathoic Church" goes back to long before 468 when Brigit of Kildare became the leader of a center of religious learning, and developed into a cathedral city. This women founded two monastic institutions, one for men, and the other for women, and appointed Saint Conleth "to govern the church along with herself". Thus, for centuries, Kildare was ruled by a double line of abbot-bishops and of abbesses, the Abbess of Kildare being regarded as superior general of the monasteries in Ireland. Looking back, it would have been better if Rome followed the Irish lead, rather than the road that brought us to where we are today.

• McNamara31 | Mar 07, 2011, 10:00 AM EST

  Every time I read another article about the effects of the abuse and how the present day Vatican Management chose to handle it, I become so very sad and I think of my grandparents and their devout faith. This modern day Vatican Corporation in the last 25 years has ruined a once great church and faith that sustained generations. From Boston to Dublin one truth was evident this church was dragged kicking to do the "right thing" and now they find it is to late to undo the destruction "they" created. Like many I have seperated my faith from the corporate style leadership that I no longer respect. I am looking for a place where I can take the "good" from my Irish Catholic faith and live it where it is not controlled by a group of men who have lost there way. I also think about all the beautiful churches and schools that were built by the immigrants that are now closing aroud me and think of what this Vatican has done to their legacy and the future education of generations to come.

• barneyjo | Feb 18, 2011, 06:27 AM EST

  Victimhood?? victims of what exactly?

• Prevailer | Feb 18, 2011, 06:16 AM EST

  Pedophiles hidden by hyprocrisy is a mortal sin by any standards. The Church needs married vocations for the ministry of faith. Mary Magdalen was a leader and a follower. The Church needs to open its door to woman of faith. Example: Mother Theresa. We need fresh air.

• FallsRNat | Feb 18, 2011, 05:30 AM EST

  youse guys are taking an awful chance getting rid of the catholic church, in the backwaters of the peoples republic who is going to remind you of your victimhood & the presence of the empire

• barneyjo | Feb 17, 2011, 04:12 PM EST

  Personally speaking, I have long been of the view that the Catholic Church has further to fall, both in Ireland, and elsewhere for that matter. Simply put, there are still far too many senior Clergy across the Catholic world who, even now, still dont "GET IT"!!!; the "IT" being that the disappointed and disenchanted Faithful are no longer willing to give unualified allegiance nor indeed financial nor moral support to their church when it has shown itself to be the very anthesis of the message it has preached throughout its existence. I am still a practicing member of the Church, but from now on, I will apply the following yardstick to every and any issue of concern that arises; the question "Where is Christ in this?" For too long now, and in so many ways, I believe that Christ has not been present in the hearts and minds of many Clergy, at all levels, in the leadership of my church. And, to be frank, I do not see that changing dramatically, any time soon!!

• STUMPTOWN | Feb 16, 2011, 11:41 AM EST

  Why did not BEN16 force BRADY into retirement and give the IRISH RED HAT to MARTIN of DUBLIN who was always truthful? That would of smooth things out greatly in Ireland. The sexual crimes against the children in Ireland and force some to take a oath of silence, what where they thinking of? The RC members that do not want to hear of it and look the other way are part of the problem just as the RCC administrators that silence the truth to protect the image. And they though moveable type was bad. I feel sorry for the good religious but not the abusers or the ones that cover up the crime. Why do you think the VATICAN is a nation?

• jamieLM | Feb 16, 2011, 10:29 AM EST

  Maybe a more extensive psychological screening process of the applicants applying for the priesthood would help. The applicants should be made to understand in no uncertain terms - NO PEDOPHILES NEED APPLY! - and Ordination does NOT mean, "anything goes."

• southcountykelly | Feb 16, 2011, 07:33 AM EST

  Add on...my comment regarding the fact that the catholic church allows priests from other religions to practice within the catholic church...exemplifies the underlying hypocracy that needs to be exposed.

• southcountykelly | Feb 16, 2011, 07:27 AM EST

  My comment regarding the fact that the Catholic Church allows married priests from other religions to practice within the Catholic Church in the U.S., should have noted the sheer hypocricy of the institution.

• southcountykelly | Feb 16, 2011, 07:21 AM EST

  Not surprising data. In the U.S. the Catholic Church is allowing married priests from other religions to practice within the Catholic Church. I do not think Jesus came down to establish canon law. I'm just amazed at how many catholics follow so blindly what the Catholic Church mandates on so many levels. Take a look at the Book of Revelation...the word, 'churches' is used, not the one true....

• ronnie4u2o | Feb 16, 2011, 01:21 AM EST

  What does the Vatican expect. they have had their head in the sand for the past 30 yrs, they have ignored the fact the church is not doing its job . they should have addressed the Pedophile preist problems. and protcted the children from the monsters who call themself men of God lol what sad joke the church has become . The Pope is like Nero he Fiddles while the church burns. and its people suffer from the pain inflected by corrupt Bishops & Priests

• seagreen | Feb 15, 2011, 11:08 PM EST

  To the administrators of the site...Do you have the capability to screen these commercial hawkers from marketing their crap on this site/

• Ulster1 | Feb 15, 2011, 11:00 PM EST

  "The Church of Ireland in the Republic has shown substantial growth in the last two national censuses; its membership is now back to the levels of sixty years ago (albeit with fewer churches as many have been closed). Church membership increased by 8.7% in the period 2002–2006, during which the population as a whole increased by only 8.2%." according to Wikipedia.

• Ulster1 | Feb 15, 2011, 10:45 PM EST

  Dear Dara: It's NOT the "Irish Catholic Church"; it's the ROMAN Catholic Church in Ireland. The Church of Ireland (in which I was christened many years ago now) is the Irish Catholic Church. Please, do your research--don't be ignorant. Christchurch and St. Patrick's Cathedral's are catholic but not Roman.

• jacersagain | Feb 15, 2011, 09:11 PM EST

  @Liamkeyes at 07.15pm, Feb 15 – you’re right. Allowing priests to marry will not stop paedophilia. All sectors of humankind, religious and non-religious, men and women included, have this 'affliction'. Statistically, on average, it is about 2 to 3% of any population of any country, any religion and of any family. Arab countries are known to have much more higher percentages of paedophiliac abuses.

• JimThompson | Feb 15, 2011, 09:04 PM EST

  Possible we will see a Church of Ireland as with the present Church of England if the Pope doesn't start to improve relations.

• peterson | Feb 15, 2011, 08:57 PM EST

  The internal morality has really contributed to this situation.

• ballyhip | Feb 15, 2011, 07:58 PM EST

  jacersagain is correct in pointing out the paucity of vocations in the Western Church. As for Africa, it might be wise to reserve judgement since they have their own problems with priests who do not quite recognize celibacy...and why should they? Much of what we think of as "true and apostolic" arose not from Jesus but the institution of the Church. Who chose the four gospels and only those four and when were they written? Best to read church history and not the gospels for an answer.

• Liamkeyes | Feb 15, 2011, 07:19 PM EST

  I don't know how many times I have to say this but will some one, pray tell me, how allowing Priests to marry would stop Pedoephilia. If a person is Mentally ill with the sickness, it means that he is sexually attracted to young boys not womwen in general and allowing him to marry (which he would'nt want to do) is a fallacy right there.

• PhlutiePhan | Feb 15, 2011, 07:13 PM EST

  When did this all start? It is now obvious that this started with Vatican II. Malachi Martin presaged the entire scenario as did "whispers" from Our Lady of Fatima. How is this any different than the rebellion against Moses and the building of a "golden calf" which was a symbol of another god. Dissident elements in the Vatican are working out a world socialist merger in the quest for a new world order. The perfect utopia will have "no sin" and be psychological based. A gay constabulary has already taken over the inner workings of the Church. Now, you can see why the American Church toned down "abortion sermons", ran Burke out of town, and supports the socialist policies of the present administration.

• jacersagain | Feb 15, 2011, 06:32 PM EST

  (...more) A man, a Catholic native of Gozo, was a NYC firefighter in the Twin Towers that fateful day. He had a chain with a medal of the Whispering Lady of Ta’ Pinu around his neck as he worked to save lives... but he got lost in the thick smoke amidst screams of panic. He prayed, as many do in the moments of terror facing a terrible death. Then he heard a woman’s whispering voice, saying “Go this way... now, go that way...” He then called out to others to follow him and, guided by the mystery woman’s whispers, led many people out of the Tower to safety. >> Very soon after, he returned to Gozo to give his thanks to the “Whispering Lady” and leave his hand-written testimony for all who visit Ta’ Pinu to read, as I was privileged to. People with faith are never let down. Irish and all true Catholics will not be let down despite the present turmoil, doubts and fears for the future. There will be no collapse of the Irish Church or the Catholic Church as a whole. It will change, surely, but it will not collapse.

• jacersagain | Feb 15, 2011, 06:26 PM EST

  The real ‘edge of the cliff collapse’ crisis for Irish Catholics, looming for at least the past 30 years now, has been the dramatic drop in the numbers of young Irish men entering the priesthood (and women, the nunneries). This is not a problem unique to Ireland. Scotland’s, England’s and the USA’s Catholics had the same problem a generation ago. Many UK parishes are now ‘staffed’ (pardon the pun – *shepherd’s staff*?) by priests from Gozo, Malta’s neighbouring island, which continues to produce scores of English-speaking priests every year, despite it being just a tiny island in the vast Mediterranean Sea. Gozo is famous for its Ta’ Pinu shrine, that of the mysterious whispering lady (Our Lady) which wrought many miracles since first heard by a woman working the meadows near a little church there. Let me tell you a true story... (More...)

• jacersagain | Feb 15, 2011, 06:23 PM EST

  Some good many years ago, I heard my former parish priest say, on Vocation Sundays, that he could see the day when Ireland’s parishes would be served by African and other foreign priests – a turnaround from Ireland’s fame for producing Missionary priests. Indeed, African priests are already missionaries returning the favour, serving in some Catholic parishes in Ireland. This is how the short-term future of the Irish Church is going to be and what Popes in the Vatican have already been aware of for quite some time. Reform will happen... but, methinks, not in the way popular demands shout for.

• jacersagain | Feb 15, 2011, 06:11 PM EST

  I agree with Gearoid4. FallsNRat may see it his way but I’d ask - did Mary Magdelene or Sarah or Anna or Monica or any of the other women privileged to be in the presence of Christ as He lived amongst them ever say that Christ was sexist? No, they didn’t. – ‘cos He wasn’t. Anyway, ‘sexist’ is a phrase coined by modern day media people and many fall for that. Media see something great and describe it as “sexy... like an iPhone, or motor car, or the computer your reading this post off is described as ‘sexy’ by reporters or reviewers in the media. Media readers think if media people think it’s sexy, then it must be and then go to say everything is ‘sexy’... like Lady Gaga in an Egg. Media people and pop stars play on the stupidity of masses of people and take the masses’ money while they they’re blinking their starred eyes, making them miss the whole point of an issue or topic.

• KidShelleen | Feb 15, 2011, 06:08 PM EST

  The RC Church bent on “improving” its subjects News has all the signs of "improving." The RC Church bent on “improving” its subjects. -- The "Pope told Irish church is ‘on the edge of collapse’" -- is a sign the subjects have found decision making liberty and recognise the doctrines delivered from corrupt Vatican ministry, Popes, Bishops and Clergy has had a corrosive effect on peoples morals and wellbeing and with collective mind have decided the catalogue of 'moral corruptions' written and abridged by decadents cease delivery forthwith. Take notice our reason for terminating our account with the church and in contemplation are considering employ advice for the purpose to perusing financial compensation on the grounds your product is a scam and not fit for purpose. Our council shall be instructed to investigate seeking compensation sufficient for 1800 years backlog from squandering our heritage and should our demands not be met in full will pursue our claim by seizing assets and building the people have in monies invested, be sold to raise compensation sufficient to make up any shortfall in compensation and our legal costs. KS

• IrishCanuck | Feb 15, 2011, 05:52 PM EST

  Gearoid4 you are partly right it isn't the immediate answer but I feel that it would have cut the problem to 95% or more. It is hard(excuse me) for a man to stay celebate(sorry not sure of spelling) for ever.

• FallsRNat | Feb 15, 2011, 02:27 PM EST

  well, the monolithic sexist, kiddy fiddlers are finally being brought down to earth, i always knew despite being brought up as a catholic that it was one of the most insiderous/corrupt organisations on the planet. after all, jesus lived a pauper's life whereas the pope lives in a palace. No more church appointments to state schools non denominational schools in future women priests in chursh matters it should be irish catholic rules for the irish fully accountable to the state, roman rules for the vatican only.

• Gearoid4 | Feb 15, 2011, 01:39 PM EST

  I don't think that married priests, IrishCanuck, is the immediate answer to eradicating the presence of pedophilia amongst the clergy as the majority of cases involving this evil occurs within families. In relation to Cardinal O'Malley's report, I think that he has put his finger on one of the glaring deficiencies in the Irish Church. The absence of laity is most conspicuous at the decision-making level. We need the combined talents of laity and clergy/religious to re-energize the church at local and national level. This now must be a priority for the pope and his advisors. This does not mean that we clericalize the laity or laicize the clergy. There is a priesthood of all the faithful but this does not involve sacerdotal duties or holy orders. There has been a quiet but considerable revolution involving lay-people furthering their own religious involvement within church circles e.g. studying theology. This involvement needs to be widened and deepened. Possibly local diocesan synod followed by a national gathering is a pathway to follow.

• CER1940 | Feb 15, 2011, 01:31 PM EST

  The heirarchy cares only that the structure continues to stand in their life time. They will prop it up where necessary to keep it standing. After the heirarchy has reaped their earthly rewards and passed on it is the next generation of heirarchy's problem. They are not about heavenly rewards, they are about living like royals in this world.

• Intercessor | Feb 15, 2011, 12:42 PM EST

  Wake up, Vatican! The Church has already lost Her relevancy in daily life. Daily, all around the world, we see lawsuits coming forth in the courts, accusing the Church's Hierarchy of coverups, for the sexual abuses of Her priests. Worldwide credibility of the Church is at the lowest point it has ever been in history, and yet the Vatican and Her bishops, archbishops and cardinals (and even the Pope) refuse to see the proverbial "Writing on the wall:" Mene, Mene, Tekel Pharsin, translated means, "You are weighed in the balance and found wanting!" Many it's time for an anointed laity to take over their church, as they probably couldn't do any worse than the High-hatted Clerics, who have been running it.

• IrishCanuck | Feb 15, 2011, 12:15 PM EST

  This about time that the Catholics came up to the 21 century. If they had allowed the priests to marry non of the molesting of children would have happened. I really wonder sometimes if God isn't busting a gut up there with all the stupid legalities that man has put on the churches, ie do you think that God cares if women or lay people preach or not. I don' think so, as long as they are spreading the good news he is not going to care, so why should we.

• antoman | Feb 15, 2011, 12:01 PM EST

  Reinvent the mass rock of old.The buildings are rotten as are the priests and bishops of Ireland.

• mimi3324 | Feb 15, 2011, 11:03 AM EST

  Not very "confidential" is it?

• seagreen | Feb 15, 2011, 10:52 AM EST

  Allowing priest to marry, might be the only way to save what is happening. It would be a good thing for priests to have that option, but perhaps more of a benefit for parishoners who would regain confidence in the social sector of the church. Wives may be one thing, but the church dealing with children may be another?

• peterquinn | Feb 15, 2011, 10:31 AM EST

  The American Catholic Church isn't far behind. The American hierarchy should resign en masse. Their management—or more correctly, mismanagement—of the sexual abuse crisis has crossed the border from inept to criminal. (See recent revelations in Philadelphia.) Beyond the horrific molestation and rape of thousands of Catholic children that they allowed to go on and the terrible damage they've done to the morale of ordinary Catholics, they've bankrupted entire dioceses and incurred $2 billion in settlement costs. But so far only one of them has resigned—and been rewarded with a sinecure in Rome. They should ask the laity for forgiveness, leave their palaces and go to work among the poor. That, at leas, would be a start.

• cillowen | Feb 15, 2011, 10:08 AM EST

  throw out the bums and return to the purity of the church founded by st patrick in ol erin. then the folks voted on who would be bishop ,,,,,,,,,,,,

• Portia777 | Feb 15, 2011, 09:14 AM EST

  Best news ever. The Vatican death cult topples. That is what happens when the brainwashed sheeple wake up to the truth of how the Roman Church murdered millions in its effort to rule and control the world. Ireland was the jewel in the Vatican crown because of its "religion" of Love with its epicentre in Tara. The Mother of LIFE has awakened.