A special day!

Saint Patrick's Confessio: Read what St. Patrick actually wrote in his own words

And happy St. Patrick's day to all my Irish relatives, friends and everyone Irish!

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Though a cynic

I certainly don't question people's faith, nor do I deny miracles, I just want to know why?

Madonna Mania

"In Ballinspittle I saw an inanimate statue of the Virgin Mary sway from side to side..."

If (bear that word in mind always) God is doing this, why is God doing this? Is God truly affecting hearts? Why does one person see something and another person not? Why doesn't God do something that would be undeniably miraculous and observed by many, the fervent believers as well as the scoffers? I just can't understand that...

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I'm glad he fought back

Wronged Irish priest says life was horrific after accusation of rape

"
DNA test revealed he did not father teenager’s child in Africa"

Every time this sort of thing happens they should take it to court. It's too easy for both the media and individuals to fall into the 'he's been accused, so he must be guilty' mentality that believes the accuser before the accused is convicted...

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So,

is it about the money, is it about the abuse crisis or is it really that politicians are distancing themselves from something they consider archaic and useless?

Vatican stunned by Irish embassy closure

"Catholic Ireland's stunning decision to close its embassy to the Vatican is a huge blow to the Holy See's prestige and may be followed by other countries which feel the missions are too expensive, diplomatic sources said on Friday."

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Another mystery for the world

'First Irish case' of death by spontaneous combustion

"A man who burned to death in his home died as a result of spontaneous combustion, an Irish coroner has ruled."

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The Irish Catholic Church

Stifled by weight of Rome's pomp, power and stubborn patriarchy

"The Irish Church seems to be mobilising itself for a schismatic war, writes Carol Hunt "

Or, some people may be making more of this than necessary.

While I admit that Catholicism has had a different, and somewhat divergent, history in Ireland, we are in the 21st Century. I'm not sure that one can apply the 'ancient ways' to current situations...

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God bless them


Irish priests reject suggestion that they break seal of confession

The Irish Church has had its share of troubles now too, but I'm glad to see the priests taking their vows and promises seriously.

I still wish someone would start a look into the scandal of sexual abuse by teachers. It would help people realize that there are groups that have been even worse than Catholic priests for percentage of abusers.

Ehhh, how would people sue the disparate school entities, though? It's really all about the money now anyway...

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An Irish theologian

has written a new book discussing the state of the Church...


A New Vision for the Catholic Church: A View from Ireland

...with a particular view from Ireland.

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Poetry

that brings the mind to a peaceful place,

Skellig Michael

but makes one wish to know more...

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Thank you.

Anglican Head Apologizes for Catholic Church Remarks

Just... Thank You.

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Happy St. Patrick's Day!


Saint Patrick's Day

Be sure to check out the right sidebar for an example of one of the extremes gone to on this day, this one in Chicago. The photo of the Chicago River says it all...

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The fanatics

are still out there trying to accomplish their insane murders.

Irish arrests over 'plot to kill Swedish cartoonist'

"Seven people have been arrested in the Irish Republic over an alleged plot to kill a Swedish cartoonist for depicting the Prophet Muhammad, police say."

They received political asylum to live in Ireland. Perhaps they'd be better off in Yemen and Morocco where they came from? I don't think just any immigrant should be expelled by any means, but those who abuse the very freedoms that they left their home countries to find are just proving that they prefer the repression of their home countries. Perhaps after they serve their prison terms they should be 'repatriated' to their home countries. They'd probably call that inhumane and against their civil rights...

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Yeah, c'mon Mel,

it's your namesake's Cathedral and your Mother may have gone there at some time...

Irish bishop's desperate plea to Mel Gibson to restore gutted St. Mel's Cathedral

And you might have a bit of money...

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This issue

is so big. It's a good thing that it's come about, though. The Church needed to deal with it, and to deal with it in a different way than they had been dealing with it!

Vatican will be asked to remove four bishops if they don’t quit

It's good to see that the Church is starting to hold people responsible for their parts in the scandal, as well. I feel badly for the Church, but I also know that the Church will weather it and make it through. Fortunately, I'm not one of the people directly affected by the scandal other than as a baptized Catholic...

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People have to realize

that God would not want them to hurt their health by chasing visions...

Hundreds left disappointed as Knock apparition is 'no-show'

The people they mention keep saying that they only came there to pray, but it would be nice to see the apparition. I would say that they were there for the apparition, even though they are people of prayer as well. The most telling statement in the article is:

"Meanwhile, a consultant ophthalmologist surgeon in University Hospital Galway said last week he had seen five cases of solar retinopathy connected with people who had been looking directly at the sun while waiting for an apparition in Knock."

It's so sad that apparitions have become connected with movements of the sun. Now people stare at the sun to see the miracles, harming themself in the process. Is God asking for that? Is the Blessed Mother asking her children to hurt themselves to prove their faith? I don't think so...

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Ummmm, oops?

I suspect he's 'soon-to-be-retired Bishop Walsh' anyway...


Bishop questions ban on women priests

He can question things, anyway. That's pretty much allowed. What isn't is doing things about them...

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This sounds

more like self-promotion than something for the glory of God.

'The Virgin Mary is very angry . . .'

He appears to be trying to leave a New Age persona behind to cling to a religious one. I'd say, 'listen to your Bishop'...

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