Galway Cathedral protest

by sorcha Mon Nov 30, 2009 22:03

May they be the first of many!

by Peter Tue Dec 01, 2009 01:12

It would be positive if further events like this were to take place. Well done to those involved.

by neutered moran Tue Dec 01, 2009 12:02

The Count Me Out website is a source of information for those considering leaving the Roman Catholic Church (RCC).
For many who no longer practise, remaining "lapsed" is not sufficient; a clean break is needed.

by Fred Johnston Tue Dec 01, 2009 15:32

There is no excuse whatever for the government hesitating to expel the Papal Nuncio. This gesture would show once and for all that the State does not bend the knee to the Catholic Church. This will take courage, of course, and we don't have a government possessed of courage or any sense of 'doing the right thing.' Two elements of public life have for far too long restricted the growth and moral development of this country: Fianna Fáil and the Catholic Church. Both were enemies of imagination, progress and individual thought. They are inextricably linked. They must go.

by Kevin Higgins Tue Dec 01, 2009 16:10

Yes, most of the blame can be laid on Fianna Fail, as they were in office more than anyone else. However - and it's a very big however - Cumann na ngaedheal (Fine Gael's predecessors) were in power from the foundation of the state in 1922 until 1932. Cumann na ngaedheal set up the cosy arrangement between church and state which led to these abuses being covered up.

Labour served in the two inter-party coalition governments, 1948-51 and 1954-57. Labour leader William Norton had not a word to say about paedophile priests during his six years as a member of those two governments.

Sean McBride of Clann na Poblachta, who also served in the inter-party government of 1948-51, never, as far as I'm aware, had a word to say on this issue.

And Labour was back in government alongside Fine Gael 1973-77, 1981-82 & 1982-87 and did nothing whatsoever to raise or investigate these issues while in government.

More importantly, they did not raise the issue when they were in opposition either, hence putting no pressure at all on the various Fianna Fail governments to do anything about it.

So it would be more correct to say that the cover up of clerical child sex abuse in Ireland was a silent conspiracy involving ALL the main political parties. Yes, it is Fianna Fail's fault. But it is also Fine Gael's fault. And it is the Labour Party's fault too (what did their then leader, and TD for Wexford, Brendan Corish ever have to say about this issue: nothing.) And it is Sean McBride's fault. And the fault of every other politician who ever bowed down to kiss a bishop's ring.

by Aidan - Concerned Citizen Thu Apr 22, 2010 21:18 a.harte2 at nuigalway dot ie

Would anybody like to organise another one? I was involved in the first one, but we had no media coverage unfortunately! Only guards....

by kevin flanagan - religiousabusetruth Fri Apr 23, 2010 10:01

hi aidan we will support you in any protest if you contact us there is lots you can do

by Galwegian. Mon Apr 26, 2010 12:27

The funniest thing about Galway Cathederal is The John F. Kennedy fresco grotto.

JFK and his wife Jackie look towards the heavens.

Like Saints.

(The cathederal was built shortly after JFK was murdered and there was a whiff of sainthood about JFK at the time.)

After KFK. was found to be less than an ideal husband the grotto was covered up.

The grotto is still there though.......look behind some carefully positioned plants!

by Fred Johnston Mon Apr 26, 2010 18:52

No, it's worse than that - it's a side-altar over which Kennedy looks at Pádraic Pearse, as I recall: or else it was a damned ugly mosaic! Kennedy didn't look much at Jackie when he was alive, so why should he in death? I think Roman emperors were made into gods; so it shows how much grovelling and panting the Church here was willing to do to a lecherous American president in the days when it was second nature to abuse children in the Church's care.