57 Comments

• jnewnam | Jul 03, 2011, 06:34 PM EDT

  wtf

• JimMcGarity | May 11, 2011, 06:09 PM EDT

  Wow talk about the IRISH drinking to much lol

• cynicus | May 10, 2011, 06:51 PM EDT

  Hi, Probably never heard of Bin Laden! Plonkers one and all!

• edmundburke | May 10, 2011, 03:44 PM EDT

  This is right up there with Eamonn De Valera publicly sending his condolences to the German Embassy in May 1945 on the "death" of Adolf Hitler. (Yes, jmkelley, it did indeed happen.)

• AliciaL. | May 10, 2011, 10:10 AM EDT

  The result of a "prank"? I doubt that very much. They are just upset that it received the reaction that it did.

• Chiefjustice | May 10, 2011, 08:51 AM EDT

  Don't the church Ladys read the mail???

• DaithiSuibhne | May 10, 2011, 08:44 AM EDT

  It truly is a sad day if we are to start the martyrdom of Bin Laden in Ireland!

• Irishphotograph | May 10, 2011, 07:28 AM EDT

  Embrace Jesus Christ NOT the Roman church,

• oldboreen | May 10, 2011, 07:18 AM EDT

  God help Ireland!!! Is the priest in Howth fully in command of his senses?? Bet he checks the parish newsletter from now on!!

• antoman | May 10, 2011, 06:36 AM EDT

  @cillowen-David Norris?

• cillowen | May 09, 2011, 11:48 PM EDT

  the sickness is spreading far and wide - ireland in hell for sure - their queen will sort it out for them.

• warrenpoint00 | May 09, 2011, 10:01 PM EDT

  Gerry Adams 3000 Margaret Thatcher 300,000 Che Guvera 300? Adolph Hitler 3,ml Pinochet 1,ml Stalin 1ml Osama bin Laden 3000 George Bush 300,000 ,Harry Trueman 1ml JFK 30,000 Tony Blair 30,000 Kruzychev 30,000 Saddam Hussein 300,000 .Garrett Fitzgerald 2.You Earthlings. Now will the real terrorists of the 21st century Please stand up.

• mamaginnty | May 09, 2011, 09:00 PM EDT

  MICHEALS, if you were living in Ireland I'd be the first to give you a few clips around the mouth.

• micheals | May 09, 2011, 08:25 PM EDT

  maggiebags if freedom of speech is alive and well in ireland how comeno body questioned BIFFO LENIHAN THE BANKERS DEVELOPERS OR THE E U LOANSHARKS

• micheals | May 09, 2011, 08:21 PM EDT

  i wonder who will have the bigger crowd moneygall for our brave president or mass for osama

• micheals | May 09, 2011, 08:19 PM EDT

  the jackeens win one hurling game and now they are prayingfor osama total bollax,s

• micheals | May 09, 2011, 08:16 PM EDT

  To baltoirishgirl the us was onthe same planet as the irish bankers and the E U pay up girl

• antoman | May 09, 2011, 07:54 PM EDT

  Ten days.I reckon that's how long 72 virgin women would last me.Sex day in and day out is'nt much of a reward.I'd like to do other things like a spot of fishing or have a few jars with the lads.Come to think of it stumbling in the door from the pub and being confronted by 72 angry women would cause my hair to fall off.Think I'll stick with just the one here on earth.

• sirpeter | May 09, 2011, 06:35 PM EDT

  I'd say he's up in heaven with his 70 virgin women all shouting Me Next!!Me Next!!Me Next!!and premenstrual tension all over the place.To be honest he doesn't look up to it. Bet they all want to be held after too.Bet he's saying this could be heaven or this could be hell.;)

• jacersagain | May 09, 2011, 06:28 PM EDT

  (...more) I would say in response: Read the description of Hell given by Sister Lucia, one of the children of Fatima who was given a vision of Hell so that the world should know what it is like (read the book: ‘Fatima – in Lucia’s Own Words’). ObL was first driven to end the evil rule in his native country, Saudi Arabia, and later fled that country to Afghanistan to take his fight further, using fax machines back then to spread his message. Thereafter, he was completely driven to destroy all countries that supported the rule of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which we all know includes the USA, UK and France – all of which have seen carnage resulting from his aims. So one must ask – was ObL a revolutionary soldier like Castro and Che Guevara, bent on destroying what they all saw as an iniquity? I’m just posing the question, not judging or supporting ObL and certainly not rejecting prayers for the mercy of God to be bestowed upon a soul possibly lost to Hell, whatever the deeds or however intended. We Christians pray for people on Death Row, don't we?

• jacersagain | May 09, 2011, 06:23 PM EDT

  I've read of this in Irish newspapers, of the denials and of the claims that it was a prank. For what it's worth, I think it might be true. I've gone to church presbyteries asking for Masses to be said for departed relatives and friends. I give the name of the deceased, I make an donation to the church, I pick a Mass Card, sign it and deliver it to the deceased person's relatives to let them know that I have at least being mindful of the deceased's afterlife spiritual wellbeing as I would hope someone will be of mine after I die. The person accepting my request in the presbytery never asks why I should be making the request for the Offering of the Mass for that person in the first place; it is just accepted that my intentions for the deceased are good and should be respected by having the Mass said for that person. It would not surprise me if some honest-to-God person sought for a Mass to be said for ObL's spiritual soul saving. If you knew what hell is like, you would not wish it on your own worst enemy. “And, tell me, jacers, how would you know what hell is like?” you might say. (more...)

• jacersagain | May 09, 2011, 06:19 PM EDT

  "Eye for an eye" is old Testament teaching. It was replaced by the New Testament teaching of Christ "Love God, love your neighbours, even if they persecute you".

• ginger1 | May 09, 2011, 05:48 PM EDT

  Doesn't the Bible also say, an eye for an eye? Good riddance.

• sham1977 | May 09, 2011, 05:10 PM EDT

  Doesn't anybody read these articles past the headline and first few lines??? It was a prank - sent in to the newsletter/bulletin as a JOKE! Granted, it should never have made it as far as it did, but it did!!!

• McNamara31 | May 09, 2011, 05:06 PM EDT

  micheals.... One solitary church in Dublin North has a prank slip by and you want to boycott "all things Irish" what sense does that make?

• Gearoid4 | May 09, 2011, 04:44 PM EDT

  IC never misses a trick in digging up a story which ridicules the Catholic church, no matter how outlandish. This surely must be a wind-up due to the obvious controversies which have surrounded the deceased for whom the purported memorial mass would have been for. But the local PP has stated that it was a 'mistake' but 'prank' seems nearer the mark.

• royobrien | May 09, 2011, 04:41 PM EDT

  Which is the lesser of two evils: a catholic priest who has molested innocent children or a terrorist who has slaughtered innocent people ? you decide..................

• micheals | May 09, 2011, 04:39 PM EDT

  I SAY boycott ireland and all things irish after all that the USA HAS DONE FOR IRELAND FROM THE FAMINE TIMES TO THE PRESENTAND THEY COME UP WITH THIS BULLSHIT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN IRELAND HATE THE U S A .

• cpdpi0716 | May 09, 2011, 03:43 PM EDT

  This is upsurd just like his burial at sea. Why don't we just have a mass for all victims of terrorism worldwide. Bin Laden has already had to account to his maker for his deeds on earth lets not bring anymore attention to this demon. Thankfully he is gone! Bravo US Navy seals!

• oaklongan | May 09, 2011, 03:09 PM EDT

  My Irish-American Grandfather, who served in both World Wars must be turning in his grave right now! Not to mention my Mother! No wonder he ran away from a Catholic Boys School.

• Conor86 | May 09, 2011, 02:21 PM EDT

  Somebody put it in as a joke.

• Towngate | May 09, 2011, 01:49 PM EDT

  Well, that's the Christians for you! ~ full of God's Love,Mercy and Forgivness. ... actually @ Nicomax the Credo states "One, true, catholic, and Apostolic church" ~ that 'catholic' means 'all-embracing' ~ so Osama is certainly a member of it. It goes on to state ... " the communion of Saints, the Forgivness of sins ..." God will surely forgive Obsama and while he's at it, he might even forgive America!

• jmKelley | May 09, 2011, 01:48 PM EDT

  We can pray for our enemies and ask God's mercy for them privately, but we do not hold a public Mass for mass-murderers. What's next -- a memorial Mass for Adolf Hitler?

• kateomprint | May 09, 2011, 01:40 PM EDT

  I am assuming this was somebody's idea of a joke on the Church.

• badolan | May 09, 2011, 01:37 PM EDT

  and what shall they call it, mass for an ass?

• simplesandy | May 09, 2011, 01:35 PM EDT

  I look at pictures of this man who was someone’s child at one time, and I wonder where it all went wrong. I have had some bad dealings in my life and even though it made me bitter I still found comfort in God and asking him to forgive my trespassers for they know not what they are doing. it is so very hard to forgive someone who has done so much wrong. From b/l to Hitler. I have to think what it was like when their soul left their evil body here on earth. and them standing there wondering what demons possessed them.. No one..Let me repeat this NO ONE knows what happens when we die we all have our own Ideas. I would never put you down or call you names because of your beliefs. As I would hope you respect mine. I believe when we die we will have to answer for all we have done here on this earth and we will feel the pain we put upon the people in our lives. We will feel their pain and hurt. All of it maybe 10 fold, we don’t know our purgatory will be the pain we inflicted on others..It will burn like fire in our souls to see how we offended our Lord God..I am no angel and I do not want to be the judge of this man who was clearly possessed by something very evil. But when he left his body I believe he realized what he did was wrong and for that I believe this man needs prayers..We all will be held accountable for our own actions..I pray for him and all those who he inflicted pain upon. This world is going down fast..People stop hating, and please do some soul searching. Ask God to give you the strength to forgive those that hurt you.. Amen

• GeorgeDillon | May 09, 2011, 01:28 PM EDT

  "Does God hate this man? No I do not think so.He loves all of us in our brokeness. Where his soul lives on is not for us to judge but God's." Elainp, I was going to post on this topic and then I saw your post. You have articulated Christ's Law. Just let me add the words HE Himself said: "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?"

• Nicomax | May 09, 2011, 12:56 PM EDT

  The good pastor must have forgotten that indeed the Catholic Church refers to itself as 'The one, true, and Apostolic church.' OBL was not a member.

• ochshane | May 09, 2011, 12:31 PM EDT

  Money talks.

• Trealach | May 09, 2011, 12:26 PM EDT

  @ BaltoIrishGirl - What planet was the US on in training the Terrorists to fly the 4 planes on 9/11, when they showed no interest on how to LAND them? People in glasshouses shouldn't throw stones.

• Trealach | May 09, 2011, 12:06 PM EDT

  @maggiebags - It is NONE of America's business. Unlike the US, we do NOT betray our countrymen, irrespective of their actions or thoughts. Freedom of Speech is NOT restricted to the US, nor is it within their remit as to who can exercise that right. You can rest assured this will go no further. It was a Prank, so get over it!

• noraatyeo1 | May 09, 2011, 11:54 AM EDT

  Who on God's green earth would even consider a Mass for someone who killed thousands of people on 9/11? Remember a goodly many of them were of Irish decent.

• CitizenWhy | May 09, 2011, 11:51 AM EDT

  Christian forgiveness urges us to pray that an evil-doer repent of his/her misdeeds and turn to God or humanity for forgiveness, thus gaining salvation for his/her soul. If possible, reparation should also be made. Meanwhile, Christian/human justice calls for us to take action to stop the evil-doer from further misdeeds. Obama has done well by his Christian religion and his obligations as the President of the USA.

• kittyok | May 09, 2011, 11:42 AM EDT

  hahahahahahahaha

• maggiebags | May 09, 2011, 11:32 AM EDT

  It was stated that the person who asked for this mass is known to the church - I hope that person is identified to US security - this person may well be a terrorist. How could something like that have "slipped through"? Are there no idiot editors at the parish newsletter? I am not necessarily dancing on Bin Laden's watery grave but I am glad he's gone - he/his influence has killed thousands and thousands of people throughout the world - he hasn't deserved to live for decades. I want to believe that Bin Laden and Hitler are going to be crawling around in the muck of some smelly pond for at least a few million years. You pray for him if that's what your heart dictates. Personally I'm feeling sorry for the fish who eat his remains. That could be some serious indigestion!

• haikued2 | May 09, 2011, 11:30 AM EDT

  Interesting...you can love your enemies, but you don't have to celebrate their lives, nor do you have to stick their evil ways in the faces of people they have vowed to destroy. If you want to pray for his soul, I personally think it is way too late, but only God knows, then do so, but don't rub the noses of everyone else in their evil actions. In a world where Political Correctness and niceness has gotten to the point that a track coach in the USA is fired for allowing his boys track team to run without shirts because "it made a few girls uncomfortable" it seems so disingenuous to in someway suggest that the Church should say masses for bin Laden...what about Hitler, Mao, Pol Pot, Castro, etc, etc.

• Ms.Gail | May 09, 2011, 11:26 AM EDT

  I beleive that God has a plan for every one of His children. It is for Him, not us, to decide how each of us spends eternity. God bless those who follow His plan and weep for those who don't. God must plan for some to protect and defend against those who do not follow His plan.

• clonmel21 | May 09, 2011, 11:26 AM EDT

  TO elainep. Was it not God who destroyed Soddom & Gomorrah, Open the Red Sea, the list goes on.

• MDFinnigan | May 09, 2011, 10:48 AM EDT

  This is a thought provoking point. At Mass yesterday, our priest mentioned during his sermon the difficulty of following the Christian principle of loving one's enimies -even mentioning the difficulty we have - of even mentioning Bin Laden. I have no problem with the killing of Bin Laden, but as a Christian don't we have a responsibilty to follow Christian doctrine of loving one's enimies and as an extension of that priciple praying for the soul of the deceased? P.S. I am by no means a weak kneed liberal and lose no sleep over what transpired, but to paraphrase Mark Twain - "I never pray for a man's death, but I do find amusement in reading his obituary.

• BaltoIrishGirl | May 09, 2011, 10:25 AM EDT

  This was a joke, right? I certainly hope so. As an Irish-American who lost friends when the plane crashed into the Pentagon (for those of you who don't know...the Pentagon houses a LOT of military, like my son, and also top gov't officials.) I can not believe poeople in that church actually let it slip through... This is a case of ignorance NOT being bliss. What planet is that church on anyway?? Geesh!

• SeamusMor | May 09, 2011, 10:20 AM EDT

  Thanks to SEAL Team 6 Osama went from plotting jihad in Pakastan to eating lamb in paradise. They should have dumped him in Lake Superior with the 72 sturgeons.

• antoman | May 09, 2011, 10:12 AM EDT

  Jackeens.

• elainep | May 09, 2011, 10:07 AM EDT

  I had a hard time after hearing about Bin Laden. Not because I have a great love for this misguided soul. I thought about how God must feel when His children cannot find mercy in there hearts to say a prayer for someone everyone hates. Does God hate this man? No I do not think so.He loves all of us in our brokeness. Where his soul lives on is not for us to judge but God's. We must pray for the Muslim people for they are in bondage.

• kincora | May 09, 2011, 09:52 AM EDT

  It shouldn't do him any harm provided he doesn't inhale.

• IAPRINCESS | May 09, 2011, 09:45 AM EDT

  Sure, turn away Catholics who disagree with Rome from communion but honor a fiend???????????????

• PhilipOHayda | May 09, 2011, 09:43 AM EDT

  I seen that as well, I thought it was same one putting it up as a joke.

• stephendoyle | May 09, 2011, 09:33 AM EDT

  Someone needs to do a much better job of proof reading their parish newsletter. idiots!