Diarmuid Martin may not last as Irish church savior says top reporter
Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 10:01 AM
Larger Text
Print
E-mail
54 Comments
RSS 
Recent Posts
- President Obama’s visit to North comes at a critical time for peace process - Hopes that he can help stop slow slide into the dark side
- Boston Irish Immigration Center continues to lie about their role in turning woman in to State Department
- Why no effort to repair damage to Irish Famine memorial in New York nearly one year after? - Car slammed into memorial and ugly plywood and metal barricades still mark the site
- How sports helped defeat the 'No Irish Need Apply' racism in America - Top baseball exec Tim Brosnan tells Irish Sports 50 how Irish served as example
- Sandy scourged Rockaways is on the mend with a little help from community spirit and perseverance
Archives
John Allen is perhaps the most influential reporter on Catholic issues in AmericaAs the senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) in Rome he had a key assignment and broke many exclusive stories such as Rome's response to the American sexual abuse crisis, the Vatican's opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq, the death of John Paul II and the election of Benedict XVI.
Now based in New York, Allen is still a major figure in church coverage.
So his decision to visit Ireland and comment on the state of the church there, which he did in NCR this week, is an interesting one.
What did he find?
In one word anger.
In a few more words, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, the reforming Archbishop of Dublin is seen as the only hope for many Catholics there but he may not be around long enough.
He writes: "Anger bred by the crisis is never very far from the surface in Ireland, among survivors themselves, inside the Catholic fold, and among a broad cross-section of the general public."
He also talks about the extraordinary stature of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin,considered to be the last remaining decent church leader in Ireland because of his determined work to ensure that responsibility is taken for the pedophile crisis.
Allen says: "Although it takes time to catch on, there’s a striking bit of Catholic locution in Ireland. When someone refers to “the bishops” or “the hierarchy,” they generally mean everyone but Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin. In the abstract, one might expect the leader of the country’s largest and most influential diocese to set the tone for perceptions of the bishops. Instead, he’s seen as an outlier for his strong approach on the crisis, including his commitment to holding church leadership accountable."
He says Martin, who is now 66 has ten years left in Dublin but may be moved sooner
As a result he writes it could be race against time for Martin to impose his will on the church in Ireland
"At 66, Martin could be in charge in Dublin for ten more years, though there’s the possibility he could be moved in the meantime. (A veteran of the Vatican diplomatic corps, he’s occasionally tipped for openings either in Rome or as a nuncio in another country.)
The question is whether Martin will be able to institutionalize his vision before he eventually moves on, or whether ten years from now Irish Catholics will still be talking about “the bishops” and meaning everyone but Diarmuid Martin."
Allen returns to the anger theme throughout his lengthy article.
He cites a priest who was himself abused speaking out at a conference in Milltown, Dublin.
"At one stage during the Milltown conference, an Irish priest and abuse survivor named Fr. Patrick McCafferty began to shout while invoking the Biblical image of the “abomination of desolation.” An audience member asked him to dial down the anger, to which his heartfelt, and transparently honest, reply was: “I am angry. I am so angry, sorry.”
When he asked members of a protest group what would satisfy then , one replied it would be seeing Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh in handcuffs. (Brady has drawn fire for his role in a church investigation in 1975)
Martin remains the only hope for many Catholics Allen finds. At the end of a TV program he took part in he says: "an articulate and well-known survivor seated next to me, Marie Collins, interjected: “He’s the only bishop who has the support of the people!”
Incredible but true in a country that once deified its clergy.
54 comments
jacersagain | Apr 18, 2011, 08:21 PM EDT
(...more) In this Holy Week for Christians, as we approach Spy Wednesday, our own unholy Thursday, our Christ’s ‘Good’ (wha???) Friday and all that reminds us of, as we approach our Saturday, wondering, like the Apostles and the doubtful, if He would achieve what he said He would do on the third day after his death, as we approach our Easter Sunday and all that reminds us of, let us as Christians be at peace with each other in the truth of Christ’s Passion for us all and in the truth of His Resurrection, that which proved that He was the Son of God, therefore of God and, thereby, God personified. Dogbytes might wake up and resurrect to the reality of Christ this week too. Amen.
Report abuse
jacersagain | Apr 18, 2011, 06:25 PM EDT
@barneyjo– First may I say that my post of Apr 16, 07.42pm EDT was not an answer to yr question on 01.01pmEDT – my words should have made that obvious but unreservedly, I give it now. On reading yr question, I immediately thought of Fr. Amorth, the Vatican’s Chief Exorcist and what he said last year about Satan being at work in Vatican circles. However, June Annette has correctly pointed to that, so no need for me to expand on Fr. Amorth. I do agree that Satan works against all levels within the Church. He tirelessly attacked St. Padre Pio after he received the stigmata. And then let’s not forget the biggiest person of them all tha Satan attacked – Jesus Christ Himself with those temptations in the deserts. > None of us are safe, which why we need to constantly pray for our safe guardianship in the words that Jesus taught us – “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil”. There could not be a stronger defence against Satan’s attempts to inveigle our minds, since those words are directed to Our Father in Heaven. But I am human, am tempted often and I’m certainly no holy jacers! Yet, I retain my faith in Jesus and have no qualms about practicing that faith through the prayers and Holy Sacraments of our Roman Catholic Church, despite human faults within it. It is still one, still holy, still catholic, still apostolic and will ever be, thanks to Jesus’ own promise that the gates of hell will never prevail against it. That’s an absolute, so may I pray you, me and others Catholics angry with our Church stay safe with the Sacraments of the RCC.
Report abuse
jacersagain | Apr 18, 2011, 06:17 PM EDT
I regret to say that I will not be responding to any posts by JuneAnnette because it is clear to me that she is brainwashed and one cannot get through to such a person through internet posts. Indeed, it is frightening that she quotes bible words in such selective ways as to completely distort the meaning of the words in the context that Jesus, His Apostles and Evangelists intended them to be understood. It is even more frightening that she appears unable to make an original thoughtful comment of her own without recourse to bible passages, or books written by other human beings merely expressing their opinions. So I have to offer apologies and say sorry to JA but I won’t enjoin in further discourse with her posts (no one’s gonna miss me on that account!) But I will say to JuneA, “Slán, agus go mbeidh Dia leatsa agus liomsa le chéile” (“Good health and May God go with you and me together” - an old Irish way of saying goodbye and wishing well to somebody whose away and the one staying behind). >>> NOW TO THE SERIOUS STUFF - I’m a bloke but nearly in tears writing this – talk about abuse! Barneyjo has kindly reminded June that she may be another victim of the Koresh/Jones philosophy. JuneAnnette, get out while you can or make that phone call to save your own life for your own future - and not the one you’ve been brainwashed into. Is anyone waking up to the possibility that June Annette needs help? Does anyone know where she lives? And get there to JA before it’s too late?
Report abuse
dogbytes | Apr 18, 2011, 01:09 PM EDT
I always find it very funny to watch people arguing over interpretations of a fictional book. It's pretty obvious that stories of this Jesus character were vastly exagerated. You guys need to live in the real world.
Report abuse
JuneAnnette | Apr 17, 2011, 09:01 PM EDT
barneyjo . . An excerpt of a testimony entitled 'Knowing Jesus my Saviour . . By Dr Abraham Cutajar'. Entire transscript at 'Just for Catholics' website. ***EXCERPT: 'Just take and read the Scriptures. Then decide what is TRUEST to the Word of God:- What you have seen us do and heard us preach OR What you see Rome doing and preaching ?'Months of troubled searching in the Scriptures showed me clearly that the Roman Catholic religion is ALIEN and at times AGAINST the Word of God. To be true to my conscience I had to leave Romanism. Yet till the Lord took hold of me I clung to Rome with all my might.
The Lord persuaded me to go and read the Scriptures I feared, Romans 3 and the epistle to the Hebrews. It was so clear. I read the Bible more and more, trying to clutch at straws. I found none. Purgatory, Marian devotion, indulgences, salvation by works, infant sprinkling, Peter going to Rome, Sacraments....I found NONE, none at all. Was the mass anywhere to be found? It is so central to Roman Catholicism. Did I find once an exhortation to go to Mass? No. Not once.Instead I found out about sovereign election by free grace, the ONCE ONLY Sacrifice of the ONE and ONLY Saviour Jesus Christ."
Report abuse
JuneAnnette | Apr 17, 2011, 07:40 PM EDT
barneyjo . . As I stated in my prior comment, "You are right both cannot be TRUE! Biblical Christianity is antithetical to Roman Catholicism. They cannot be reconciled" *** I would point you to an article entitled 'Remaining in the Catholic Church' by Joe Mizzi, a doctor and former R.C. who resides in Malta. His website is called "Just for Catholics". There are many other helpful articles there as well. I came across this site only a couple of years ago. His conversion experience tallies with mine and is summed up in this sentence from the article: "Yet others may be truly saved and yet remain for a time in the Catholic Church. Some do so for lack of knowledge. Later on they see the inconsistencies and contradictions between the teaching of the Bible and the Catholic Church and are forced by their conscience to leave. A genuine Christian should join a Bible-believing church to worship God with his brethren and for mutual edification." *** I did not leave the R.C.C. without much prayerful consideration and study of God's Word. However, after coming under strong conviction by the Holy Spirit, I was compelled to leave. May you know the leading of the Holy Spirit in these solemn matters.
Report abuse
barneyjo | Apr 17, 2011, 05:43 PM EDT
@JuneAnnette - this last post from you underpins the point I made earlier. You quote from scriptures to validate your "Absolute view" As a practicing (but struggling) Catholic I attended a Palm Sunday Service in my local church; a service of Penance and Reconcilliation which upwards of 800 other Catholics attended. In this regard I am reminded of Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the middle of them" So on the one hand, you quote scripture which says that Roman Catholocism is in violation of that same scripture, yet according to Matthew, where there are two or three gathered in his name, Jesus said he would be present; and I was present with 800 others to give praise!!
Report abuse
JuneAnnette | Apr 17, 2011, 02:26 PM EDT
Barneyjo. . . In reply to your comment below: “Which of you is right and which is wrong?”
You are right both cannot be TRUE! Biblical Christianity is antithetical to Roman Catholicism. They cannot be reconciled. Time and time again it can be proven that Rom. Cath. Tradition contradicts the Scriptures.***
Case in point and in the context of the present Rom. Cath. clergy abuse scandal:
1 Tim. 4:1-3
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”****Mark 7:9, 13
v. 9 “And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”
v. 13: “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”***
Report abuse
JuneAnnette | Apr 17, 2011, 11:37 AM EDT
Gearoid4 . . In reply to your comment:
@June~Annette, the ex-Fr Bennett has obviously apostatized and had been caught in the clutches of a so called 'biblical' fundamentalist sect.*****From the article above:
"At one stage during the Milltown conference, an Irish priest and abuse survivor named Fr. Patrick McCafferty began to shout while invoking the Biblical image of the “abomination of desolation.” An audience member asked him to dial down the anger, to which his heartfelt, and transparently honest, reply was: “I am angry. I am so angry, sorry.”*****From R. Bennett's Article: Biblical Unity or Papal Conformity?*****“Seen in the light of
Scripture, the RCC Pope who claims to be Christian, clearly is one "Who opposeth and exalteth
himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple
of God, showing himself that he is God” (II Thess. 2:4) The Pope of the RCC goes further when by
taking to himself the title of “The Vicar of Christ”, he presumes to take the place of Christ Himself,
teacher, shepherd, and priest. This also is clearly tantamount to “as God sit[ting] in the
temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” The assertion is not simply made, for the Pope's
law gives it teeth in exacting submission of mind and will and promising punitive action against
those who fail to obey, as Canon 752 and 1311 document. He is the worst and greatest enemy of
Christ who under the pretence of service to Christ, presumes to undermine His unique offices by
covertly usurping His position and power.”
Report abuse
barneyjo | Apr 16, 2011, 08:21 PM EDT
@jacersagain - no, sorry,and respectfully, thats just to much of a pat and neat answer. I would suggest that you have no real reason to make such an assertion other than that or your own perceptions, or worse still prejudice. You are correct however in your assertion about me and my freedom. I remain a practicing Catholic, content and sure in my belief in the God of us all, but very disillusioned with the Church in which I was raised. As with JuneAnnette I would wish to restate my view to an absolute certainty in a knowledge of Christ, and in doing so, repeat my question to you already stated in an earlier post.
Report abuse
jacersagain | Apr 16, 2011, 07:42 PM EDT
All of JuneAnnette’s posts prove that she is brain-washed. May I suggest that she takes a lead from barneyjo.. and allow herself to be free once again.
Report abuse
barneyjo | Apr 16, 2011, 06:37 PM EDT
@JuneAnnette - thank you for your reply. I would wish to re-state my view on the adoption of an Absolute. For both yourself and Jacersagain, each of you claim to have knowledge of an "Absolute" Truth. Yet each of you are intent on challenging the validity of that absolute truth that the other holds. Which of you is right and which is wrong? Or could it be that you are both right? After all did Jesus not claim that where "two or three" gathered in his name, he would also be present?
Report abuse
JuneAnnette | Apr 16, 2011, 05:10 PM EDT
barneyjo . . In response to your comment:
"but of course the same could be said of any Christian Minister that claims to know and speak the word of God."******No argument from me there. There are many "wolves in sheep's clothing" (Matt. 7:15) who "wrest the scriptures" to their own advantage.
Christ warned that many "false prophets would rise and deceive many" (Matt. 24:11) . . and as you say, they are not relegated to a specific denomination.
That is why we must know His Word in order to "try the spirits" whether they be of God or not.
1 John 4:1
Report abuse
barneyjo | Apr 16, 2011, 03:20 PM EDT
@JuneAnnette - but of course the same could be said of any Christian Minister that claims to know and speak the word of God. I'm thinking of examples like Jim Jones(?) David Koresh who have in their own way incited their followers to commit acts in the name of God that by definition would be totally against the very teachings of Christ in the first place. I have made the point frequently in many posts on the IC site as to the danger of taking an "Absolute" position in the interpretation of the word of God in Scripture. For example "And if your eye offend you, pluck it out, and cast it from you: it is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire" (Matthew 18:9) And again "And if your right hand offend you, cut it off, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell" (Matthew 5:30) The point being is this what Jesus entreated us to; corporeal dissection as a means of avoiding the peril of eternal damnation? Did Jesus intend this to be a figurative or literal entreatment of his followers? Absolutes can be a double edged sword in my opinion!!
Report abuse
- Michelle Obama and daughters trace their...
- President Obama’s visit to North comes at...
- Body of Irish immigrant tossed in medical...
- Former church spokesman criticised for using...
- Sinn Fein deputy leader speaks out against...
- Daily Mail unloads on 'drunken young' Paddys...
- Irish kids receive almost $700 in Holy Communio
- North’s Minister for Finance accuses Republic...
- Shock as Irish priest praises Prime Minister’s.
- President Obama urges all of Northern Ireland...
Report abuse