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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Irish Bishop in glasshouse throws stone at gay partners

Posted on Sunday, July 11, 2010 at 07:23 AM

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For sheer hypocrisy it would be very difficult to beat Bishop Christopher Jones of the Irish hierarchy who yesterday slammed the new civil partnership bill which would allow gay couples some of the benefits of marriage in Ireland.

At a time when the actions of pedophile priests and cover-ups by fellow bishops have helped destroy the social fabric of so much in Ireland, Jones says the new bill will destroy Irish society.

This is despite the fact that numerous countries have such civil partnership laws now and societies are doing just fine with them in place.

Clearly the Bishop of Elphin in Roscommon , pictured above at an Irish Army function must live in a glass house after reading his comments.

This is the same bishop who loudly lamented media coverage of the pedophile issue saying the church has been singled out.
" The cover-up has gone on for centuries, not just in the Church … it’s going on today in families, in communities, in societies. Why are you singling out the Church?”

Well because you set yourselves up as moral guardians, is one reason. And because it is rampant in your institution for another.

With comments like that you would wonder what planet Bishop Jones lives on.

Having the Irish hierarchy with the exception of Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin who has been forthright and outspoken on the pedophile crisis, speak on matters of morals is a little like listening to Donald Trump preach on the virtues of modesty.

Here are some of them of the comments by Bishop Jones;

: "Today we all know stories of drugs delinquency and crime in our society. People say put more gardai on the streets and more cells in prisons. The battle for a healthy, happy society into the future will be won and lost in marriage and family life."

"Once the State makes something legal, people automatically think it is OK for them. That is why the introduction of divorce has such a negative effect on our understanding of marriage. People think that if the State sees nothing wrong with the law, then it is morally right. That is how new laws can change the perceptions of people."

"Surely all of this is saying to our young people of the future, 'Yes you are right to cohabit outside of marriage. Yes, you are right to form same sex unions and we, as the State, will support you as we support marriage itself'.

"Of course once the bill goes through, marital status will be replaced by civil status in legislation. Civil status will head up census forms and all official forms and marriage will be just one other category of relationship with cohabitees and same-sex unions.

"However, we appeal to young people to rediscover that marriage is the only way forward for happiness.

"By living with each other outside of marriage, you may be meeting your own physical and emotional needs but you are refusing to formalise your relationship.

"You are not prepared to make the commitment for life that married love demands. You are rejecting the direction of both Church and State to create the stable and secure environment into which children are born."
: "Everything I have tried to say about marriage and family founded on marriage has been recognised by our State through decades and has been enshrined in our Constitution.

"That means that our State or our Government is obliged to protect and care for marriage and for family founded on marriage."

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2BorNot2B | Jul 27, 2010, 01:27 PM EDT

To TrueCelt11 -- Good post.

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2BorNot2B | Jul 27, 2010, 01:23 PM EDT

Sez JOHNTOBIN: "Typical anti-Catholic commentary by Irish Central.I wonder if we will ever see anything written favouring the Catholic Church." -- Don't hold your breath John, gossipy, banal and hollow writing only hold people's attention for so long... slander, misinformation and sensationalism keep them coming especially if it involves what must in the end be a failed attempt by this channel to bring down a cherished institution to the Irish: the Catholic Church.

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2BorNot2B | Jul 27, 2010, 01:11 PM EDT

To CitizenWhy--Pathetic??? Pathetic indeed!! However, the adjective refers most likely to your 'wiseacre line of thinking.'-- Here's a piece of advice, whatever you do keep your day job and do not attempt to go into PR, Marketing or any job where the survival of the company involves preserving its customers and its base. -- So your relative bishop advised your cousin to convert to Judaism and that, according to you was 'smart progessive church thinking'? -- While you're at it why don't you change your handle to 'CitizenWhyNOT' and advise the general American populace to act against the written Constitution and betray the principles under which country operates.-- Oh, but wait... that's already being done by the present admin.

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barneyjo | Jul 13, 2010, 08:12 PM EDT

Here's a further thought for consideration. Does anybody seriously not believe that right at this momenent there are still priests within the catholic church who are abusing children,who are sexually active in both gay and hetrosexual relationships, here in Ireland, and elsewhere?

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barneyjo | Jul 13, 2010, 08:08 PM EDT

George, there is very clear evidence documented over 10 centuries that Clerical abuse has been a problem faced by the Church.I am not disagreeing with you but I feel I should point this out

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barneyjo | Jul 13, 2010, 04:43 PM EDT

I have no intention of leaving my church alone Pat52rk. It is "MY" Church just as much as it is yours and everyone elses. And it breaks my heart to see how so much good has been tarnished and cheapened by successive generations of hirearchy who have lost the run of themselves by determining that the institution was and is more important than the message. Jesus NEVER intended that an establishe elite should have ultimate tenure of his word and message. Indeed quite the opposite is the case. Jesus, during his ministry challenged the established order who saw themselves as an elite. Contrary to the law, he opened himself to sinners, outcasts, and rejects (tax collectors, lepers and prostitutes) He drove moneylenders and hawkers from the "holy place" He did this no doubt because he was offended by this abuse.So if Jesus felt justified in challenging the "establishment" by asking them is this is the best they could be, then I have absolutely no qualms or hesitation in doing the same. My faith. My Church. My belief!!

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Carroll09 | Jul 12, 2010, 06:37 PM EDT

pat52rk said: "as for gay marriage they would be stoned to death in the old days.." - indeed, I think such a punishment is still commonplace in a number of Middle Eastern countries ruled by Islamic governments, where (incidentally) Catholicism is often illegal too...

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pat52rk | Jul 12, 2010, 04:53 PM EDT

leave our church alone ,it has been the backbone of our society now for 1600 years and will be for the next 1600..just because there are a few rotten apples does not mean we throw away the barrel..as for gay marriage they would be stoned to death in the old days..

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cvmichael | Jul 12, 2010, 12:04 PM EDT

Too bad it wasn't Adam and Bruce in the Garden of Eden - we would not have any of these problems...

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TrueCelt11 | Jul 12, 2010, 09:50 AM EDT

I agree with some of the issues Bishop Jones raised, about the decline in Irish society & I am surprised that 'Irish' central doesnt direct its spotlight towards the spiralling crime, social & family collapse, and drug use. I am not posting here to defend Paedophile priests or the bishops who covered up what was happening, I am shocked & disgusted by their actions, & what happened needs to be exposed & the guilty brought to justice. However Bishop Jones has a point about the media (particularly the Irish media's coverage) of the scandal - they are using it to club the Catholic church in Ireland about the head whilst conveniently ignoring the huge amount of child abuse which has gone on in the Protestant churches,by Jewish Rabbis & within Islam (if you dont beleive me, just do a search on those religions in connection with sex abuse of children) The Irish media is determined to destroy the Catholic church in Ireland, an institution with its faults, the same as any institution composed of human beings, but one which has contributed so much to Irish society & its history. What the Church needs is Renewal & a new Sprituality, & might I suggest that this is what Ireland needs too ? The Church is not some separate entity - it is composed of the people & some seem to forget that the priests, religious & bishops came from amongst the general population. I think that the abuse of children by clergy is a symptom of an increasing sickness within society generally. Where I disagree with the Bishop is that I am all for legalising civil partnerships for Gay & Lesbian people. A renewed spirituality could also mean placing more emphasis on Christ's actual teachings & less on the primitive stories of the Old Testament, produced by primitive tribes living in the deserts.

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GeorgeDavis | Jul 12, 2010, 08:29 AM EDT

barneyjo: Good post. I would disagree about the decline in numbers atteBut nding. That happened years ago, and in fact I am always struck when I am in Ireland by the fact that there is a hard core of people still attending. But you're right that the Church has gone astray. I myself think it started when they were incorporated into the Irish establishment with the foundation of Maynooth in 1795. That put an end to the martyr church that suffered with the people in the Penal Days and earlier.

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GeorgeDavis | Jul 12, 2010, 08:25 AM EDT

Watereskill: " Everything just grand with dances on the village green". Utter nonsense. If you knew anything about Irish history you'd know that the Church did all it could to stop public dances. And if you knew anything about Irish geography you'd know that very few Irish villages have a green (maybe you don't know the difference between Ireland and England). The traditional dance in rural Ireland was held outside the village, often at a crossroads.

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JOHNTOBIN | Jul 12, 2010, 06:19 AM EDT

Typical anti-Catholic commentary by Irish Central.I wonder if we will ever see anything written favouring the Catholic Church.

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barneyjo | Jul 12, 2010, 05:42 AM EDT

Well well, they do say "The Devil is in the Detail".....

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Carroll09 | Jul 12, 2010, 05:31 AM EDT

Hollabackgurl-how can you be sure that Christ's teaching didn't include anything about homosexuality?Just because it's not written in the Bible?Well the Bible doesn't account for everything Christ did and said-the very last line of John's Gospel confirms this.Teaching in the Early Church was by Oral Tradition which is why St Paul says that all Scripture is PROFITABLE (not sufficient) for teaching.Also,Christ did not just say "love one another"-He said "love one another JUST AS I HAVE LOVED YOU",which is very different:Christ did not have an "anything goes" attitude just to keep the masses happy.Also,please show readers what the Church ACTUALLY teaches in relation to homosexuals by reference to the Catechism-the last thing you'll find are words of condemnation.

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