NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish in US Politics Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > News > Why they don't want any good news about the Catholic Church over here

Why they don't want any good news about the Catholic Church over here

MARY CATHERINE BROUDER,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, August 30, 2010, 8:07 AM

Updated Monday, August 30, 2010, 10:00 AM

Larger Text

E-mail

28 Comments

Abbeyleix Church Latin Mass Prayers

There it was again. The cool sting of rejection, like an unexpected slap across the face.

I’d just met with a potential financier for a documentary film I’ve been working on with my sister, and after he viewed the product of our eight months of hard labor, he had brushed it off with a few words.

‘I don’t know how to say this... it’s just not what we’re looking for.’

An edit room never felt so cold. I looked at the hundreds of soundbites on my Final Cut timeline scornfully, for not proving they were worth their salt. And down at my hands, for the same. My sister and I are both from America the land of can do -- in Ireland it’s can’t do it seems--especially where the church is concerned.

The film is about the life and death of an Irish missionary priest who was murdered less than a year ago in Africa. It’s not finished; the purpose of the meeting was to determine whether this representative of a film funding program was interested enough in the story to send me to abroad to investigate the brutal circumstances of the priest’s death.

He added, ‘He does sound like a good man, who did good things, and it is interesting... I just don’t know if anybody who doesn’t support the Catholic church would be interested in seeing it.’

Translation: Nobody in Ireland wants to hear anything positive about the Catholic church nowadays.

Yes, members of the Catholic church have committed horrendous deeds. Yes. Between priests abusing youngsters, their clergy brothers covering it up for decades, and now, the Pope’s rejection of the resignations of two bishops who served when all of this was occurring, for obvious reasons, nobody is a fan of the Catholic church lately. Absolutely understandable.

But not all Catholic priests are child molesters. Nor are they all men involved in corrupt cover-ups. And for the record, to those who oppose the construction of an Islamic Center near Ground Zero, let me assure you, not every Muslim is a terrorist. These are indisputable facts that you can confirm personally by visiting churches and mosques, and then talking with the faithful. If you do, as I have, you’ll find yourself surrounded by worshippers who are heartbroken and disgusted by the heinous criminals who have sullied all that they ever held sacred.

No one and no thing has been either all black or all white since we were introduced to the Crayola 12 pack in elementary school. People, and the institutions they belong to, always come in shades of grey.

‘Maybe if there was just a little less gushing about him. Like 90 percent of what people are saying about him can be cut,’ my movie industry insider explains. ‘And if you ask the people questions about him again, so that there’s more of a cynical take on his life, maybe...’

But, I counter, ‘Even if I interviewed everyone again, I doubt I would get anything but people saying he was a wonderful man. I mean, by all accounts, he was a wonderful man.’

1 2 3 Next page >

Nster.com

E-mail

28 Comments

See all comments

roseofengland | Sep 01, 2010, 04:02 PM EDT

I think you should have been more sensitive to the feelings of many of the faithful in Ireland at present - rage, anger, disgust, shock, bewilderment, anxiety. This is probably not the time to extol the virtues of a Catholic priest, however good a man he was. Be patient, the tide will turn as so many of us know and love our faith and will remain within the church in spite of all the hurt and dismay we feel at the moment. Some of the posts here offer sensible comments, such as writing yourself about this priest and the good he has done. The best advice I can offer is - do your best to gain your objective, refusing to be put down by others, but remember the final result is in God's hands, not yours. God bless you.

Report abuse

figtirish | Sep 01, 2010, 01:36 PM EDT

I think it is a shame that this director acted in this way but I am hardly surprised. I agree with himThe church has brought down all of its hierarchy and priests bad and good with its behavior.There are no saving graces anymore. Don't forget they choose a pope they knew was up to his neck in covering up pedophilia crimes. Hardly surprising they are in this mess now

Report abuse

MaryM232 | Sep 01, 2010, 11:24 AM EDT

You have several options, firstly, not suggesting you sink to the levels of other groups, but holding their feet to the fire. Accuse them of discrimination. They wouldn't suggest to those making a documentary about a muslim or anyone of another faith to make the subject "less gushing", even that term is indicative of a bias against the faith of the subject. I don't know if they have any legal organizations in Ireland like the Thomas More Law Center to assist you, but I'd suggest you look into it. You should raise a ruckus in the media. While this person and his agency might wish to imply Ireland isn't receptive to positive stories on Catholics and the church, that isn't the case among the general population. Don't fall for their propaganda. Also, you can try to get private funding as well. Chin up, and keep up your efforts to get your documentary made.

Report abuse

DeaconJack | Sep 01, 2010, 10:41 AM EDT

Why don't you just give it to God,totally and fully, and let HIm decide if it will fire hearts to read your manuscript???

Report abuse

Buffalobrave | Sep 01, 2010, 08:10 AM EDT

So if you judge the Catholic Church by the evil actions of a few, then I guess the population of the USA are a bunch of stupid morons. After all the G.W. Bush and his cohorts in government were all morons!

Report abuse

Strongbow | Aug 31, 2010, 06:10 PM EDT

Stop whinging. So your business deal fell through. Pick yourself up and move on and while you're at it give Mel Gibson a ring. He might be interested.

Report abuse

Bonniekara | Aug 31, 2010, 10:17 AM EDT

The minute the cover-up and the rejection of the resignation occurred, I was finished. After all of the overly strict baloney and uptight lies we have been told as kids, I'm finished. Guilt trips laid on us by a bunch of corrupt hierarchy. Enough.

Report abuse

Windmaker | Aug 31, 2010, 10:11 AM EDT

Posted by MavisPike on Aug 30, 2010, 09:41 PM EDT If ever you wanted evidence of how out of touch "Irish" Americans are with genuine Irish people then here it is. Go home, darling. We're not interested. Lovely condescension MavisPike. It says a lot about you. In what way is the writer out of touch? You mean with proper vlaues. Do you mean that the writer has failed to tarr all priests with the same brush? Do you mean perhaps that just because a good man happens to be a catholic priest, his story does not deserve to be told? Little narrow minded wouldnt you say. Dont deign to speak for all Irish by saying we arent interested.

Report abuse

JOHNTOBIN | Aug 30, 2010, 10:05 PM EDT

I would like to remind glorybe1929 again that the Catholic Church wrote the HOLY BIBLE in the first place.

Report abuse

MavisPike | Aug 30, 2010, 09:41 PM EDT

If ever you wanted evidence of how out of touch "Irish" Americans are with genuine Irish people then here it is. Go home, darling. We're not interested.

Report abuse

quixotic | Aug 30, 2010, 09:21 PM EDT

While I am simply overwhelmed by the evil that pedophile priests and callous biships have foisted on children, believers, and the very church itself (and whoever is handling the PR for the church had better quickly convince their CEO and CFO to resign immediately), i must make a point. My Uncle recently died as a long-time OMI in Inchicore. He was a remarkable man. I attended his funeral, and shortly after that of his brother, and met many of the retired priests of that order. I assure you, we will never see such again. These remarkable men are pillars of virture and dignity. They represent the best of what was once Ireland. They, also, are appaled by what has transpired. However, I assure you they are incredible testimony to the best of Irish Catholicism. The church is responsible for what has happened to our church because of they knowingly practiced training of young men for the priesthood in pre-puberty years denying them any access to family and the outside world. They hid those who were transformed by the process and covered up the evil because the Institution of the Church was more valued than the mission Christ gave it. They continue today to deny, minimized the evil. They actually think that it is more important to deny woman their rightful place than to recognize the tremendous violence perpetuated by priests on children. However, go in Inchicore; meet the OMIs there (especially Father Liam) and tell me their is no respect left for the Irish Priest.

Report abuse

murphy66 | Aug 30, 2010, 03:46 PM EDT

glorybe1929, my bet is that you will beg for a priest at the end.

Report abuse

2BorNot2B | Aug 30, 2010, 02:18 PM EDT

@glorybe1929 - You obviously have no idea that Catholics not only read the 'good book,' but were it not for the CC you would have nothing to read or base your pot shots on. --Here's a bit of advice for you since at your age it would behoove you to take a second look at the faith you abandoned because of bitterness, anger and misinformation. Your comfort in the soon to come afterlife depends on it. -- You seem to forget one of the cardinal rules found in that book the Catholic Church was kind enough to facilitate for you. When you judge the entire Church by the actions of a very few you are in fact slandering, defaming and doing what Jesus said NOT to: Judge not, lest you yourself be judged. -- As an evangelical you are nothing more than typical: full of hate and misinformation. You should read Karl Keating's book "Catholicism and Fundamentalism - The Attack on 'Romanism' by 'Bible Christians'" and see who in fact is the one that is 'full of fear and brainwashed.'

Report abuse

glorybe1929 | Aug 30, 2010, 01:50 PM EDT

When you,(James Murphy) say a few, what do you mean? After millenium[s] think of how many have been Spiritually Murdered by a trusted man who claims he is the Representative of Christ Jesus, here on Earth.These people groom so many at a time, as they grow up and they can no longer keep them from telling. Then the Bishop finds out someone is talking and transfers them to groom even more, so the supply never ends. Isn't this a disgusting thought, when it comes to the innocent of our world? These are and have been Crimes Against Humanity. No one will watch the movie except those who will use the good priests ideas for a cover up of their own diabolical deeds. The Good News is the HOLY BIBLE!Read it.

Report abuse

JamesMurphy | Aug 30, 2010, 01:29 PM EDT

It's a case of the majority being demonized by the evil acts of the few. On the other hand, good news rarely sells well. Take,for example, the effort some years ago to publish a newspaper entitled "The Good News." It lasted barely a week. Controversy sells and nothing sells like controversial subjects involving the church, e.g "The Da Vinci Code." Perhaps a movie about Opus Dei would do well. Now, there's a controversial topic for you.

Report abuse