No matter how heinous the crime the Catholic Church must be protected

Less than 24 hours after the Ryan Report into child abuse by the Catholic Church was published the country went into denial.

Instead of discussing the holocaust of horrors that took place within Catholic concentration camps the ruling elite and much of the media focused entirely on the question of how much extra money should be paid to the victims.

The same strategy is being followed with the publication of the Murphy Report.

Instead of immediately arresting the bishops involved including Cardinal Connell and putting them on trial the ruling elite and most of the media is focused entirely on the question of whether those involved should resign.

The dishonest and manipulative Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, said it’s up to the bishops themselves. The so called leader of our nation Brian Cowen says it’s up to the church, nothing to do with him and bishop Murray, one of those named, says it’s up to the people and priests of his parish.

The message is clear –the Catholic Church must be protected no matter how heinous the crime.

Archbishop Martin: A dishonest manipulator

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin is a dishonest, slyly manipulative defender of the obnoxious and evil organisation of which he is an enthusiastic member – the Catholic Church.

Martin and his church, with the full cooperation of the State, have been planning their strategy since last January to minimise the impact of this report and they have been largely successful in their aim.

Archbishop Martin is no different from his predecessors in that his principal concern is for the good of the Catholic Church rather than justice for the abused children.

Apologies slip easily off his well trained tongue but when hard questions are put to him he simply comments on the question or talks about something else. He launched his defence of the Catholic Church with these words:

As Archbishop of Dublin and as Diarmuid Martin a person I offer to each and every survivor my apology, my sorrow blah blah blah…

This was the only occasion when the Archbishop spoke of himself as a person rather than as a defender of the evil organisation that he represents.

For example when he was asked whether those responsible for the cover up should resign he couldn’t find it within himself to speak as an ordinary decent human. Instead he weakly mouthed that it was up to the bishops themselves.

A genuinely sympathetic human would instinctively know, and say, that those responsible for the horrific abuse of children should resign forthwith.

When asked on Prime Time how those who knew failed to act for so long he said:

Those who took those decisions knew what were crimes in Canon law and civil law and knew what was immoral and for some reason or other misread reality.

For some reason or other misread reality? Are these the words of a normal human being who fully understands the import of what has occurred – I don’t think so?

Abuse surviver Marie Collins, who rightly claims that the leadership of the Catholic Church is still the same, that nothing has changed, exposed Archbishop Martin’s dishonesty on Six One News (1st report 7th item).

The archbishop was asked if this could happen again and replied:

New norms are in place but they require that people really commit themselves. We have the possibility of the National Office and the HSE verifying any decisions I make. I’m pleased to have that double verification in place when I’m implementing the policies.

Marie Collins shot that down immediately:

The Vatican has not given recognition to the norms now in place which means they are not enforceable. This means there’s no sanction that can be taken against a bishop who decides not to follow the current norms.

Martin continued:

Anything I do can be examined by the national board and HSE and they can make matters public if I’m not carrying things out.

Again, Marie Collins exposed the lie.

The national board is not allowed to name a bishop or his diocese that are non compliant with the rules.

Archbishop Martin did not refute this claim but, characteristically, went on to talk about another matter.

This exchange tells us that the Catholic Church is still the same, still in denial, still refusing to put proper safeguards in place to protect children, still putting the interests of the church above everything.

It also tells us the State has learned nothing, that it has no problem in continuing to place the safety of children in the hands of a warped institution peopled by warped minds

Elaine Byrne and the Bebo revolution

I really do despair when I read the complete and utter rubbish sometimes written by opinion makers like Irish Times columnist Elaine Byrne.

In last Tuesday’s edition Byrne tells us that the youth of Ireland are on the march to create a better Ireland; that they are:

challenging the traditional orthodoxies that left the State with such a dearth of values.

What? Where are these young people? Where is this revolution? What challenges have they faced up to and overcome? Where are the visible and definitive signs that the youth of Ireland have made any impact whatsoever?

Byrne gives some examples of this ‘revolution’. Her sister took a photograph of a rock band member draped in the Irish flag and proudly posted it on her Bebo page.

Another young person speaks of the recession bringing forward a national self-awareness – where is this self awareness, I certainly have seen no evidence of it.

A law student from Galway says:

We may be children of the 1980s but we are not prisoners of the 1980s. We have the ability to lead and change this country.

Lead and change the country? Are we to expect a massive countrywide student demonstration that will bring the old (1980s) system crashing down to be replaced by an enlightened, progressive, fair and accountable regime?

Self-serving protests against the reintroduction of college fees are the only activity I’ve witnessed from students in recent times.

If the youth of Ireland are planning such a revolutionary change they must be planning it in a bunker deep within the Irish Times with immediate execution for anyone who lets the secret out because, to date, there’s absolutely no sign of action, passion or revolution from the youth of Ireland.

The same corrupt political system is still in place, the same corrupt financial sector is still in place, the same corrupt regulatory system is still in place, the same corrupt civil service is still in place and as we know only too well the same corrupt and still powerful church system is still in place.

Byrne continues with her praise of this mythical Irish youth with:

It has always been, throughout our history, the positivity and passion of young Ireland that has challenged the traditional orthodoxies of older generations.

Significantly, to support this ridiculous claim, she can only provide examples of revolutionary passion from people who were dead before the creation of our failed modern state.

People like Wolfe Tone, Robert Emmet, Parnell, Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins. Sean Lemass gets a mention and he did indeed make a positive contribution to modern Ireland but all his good work was negated when the criminal Haughey took power and laid the foundations for the overtly corrupt banana republic the youth of today are, according to Byrne, on the brink of revolutionising.

Byrne sees another strand of change in the transformation of the age profile in political parties. The suggestion being that the youth are coming to the fore in politics; that this transformation will result in major change in how things are done in Ireland.

Again, there is no evidence to support this claim; no evidence of a political youth revolution; we don’t even hear raised voices from this sector.

When is the last time we witnessed protests or street marches from the youth wing of Fianna Fail or indeed Fine Gael or Labour? The youth of all the main political parties parrot their masters, they do what they’re told and that, invariably, is to follow the party line.

Have a look at the performance of Fianna Fail TD Dara Calleary on a recent Frontline programme. He looks and performs like a robotic clone just off the assembly line faithfully regurgitating dishonest Fianna Fail speak that has become the dominant symbol of that corrupt party.

If Elaine Byrne and her ‘revolutionary’ youth were in any way connected to the reality of what Ireland has become they would be organizing the wrecking balls to demolish Leinster House to serve as a symbol of our failed state.

They would be banning all sitting politicians from public office for at least ten years for their betrayal of the Irish people and they would be implementing a programme of education that would see the Irish people finally understand that political power belongs to them and not to the rabble of crooks and shysters who have created and ruled over our pathetic little banana republic for far too many years.

Copy to:
Elaine Byrne

Catholic Church child abuse report published

The report of the Commission of Investigation into the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin has been published.

Over the next week or so we will see the usual Catholic fundamentalists coming out from under their rocks to deny, excuse and justify the horror that their particular superstition spawns.

People like Breda O’Brien, Mary Kenny, John Waters and David Quinn will spout the usual nauseating defence which, predictably, will include the following:

It wasn’t just the church; the State was to blame too.
Only a small percentage of priests were guilty of abuse.
It was the culture of the time.
All of society is to blame.
The church didn’t realise that abuse of children was wrong.

The dreaded C word that must not be uttered

Matt Cooper, Pat Leahy, Michael Clifford and Kevin Rafter all featured on RTEs Saturday View (21 Nov) to discuss and analyse the content of their recently published books which all deal with recent events in the political and financial spheres.

Despite the fact that corruption, both political and financial, is the principal reason for the destruction of our country not one of these alleged current affairs experts managed to utter the dreaded C word.

They talked about the fall of the economy, the fall of the banks, the part played by the various political parties and politicians, they spoke at length about the chancer Bertie Ahern, they spoke of the tribunals and even mentioned the criminal Haughey but, incredibly, over nearly an hour of intense discussion on recent Irish history they managed to avoid discussing the very basis of all their respective publications – the endemic corruption that lies at the root of all our problems.

That surely is an achievement greater than actually writing a book.

Roy Keane never forgets

Wasn’t Roy Keane’s reaction to the Thierry Henry handball incident hilarious? First he scolded the entire nation:

France are going to the World Cup Ireland is not, get over it.

He then proceeded to moan on (again) about his Saipan World Cup clash with the FAI – when was that – must be about 50 years ago now?

Nasty boys at AIB jump the gun

Oh dear, what an embarrassing position those nasty boys at AIB have created for our boys Brian and Brian.

Everything was going fine, the banks, bankers, developers, politicians and all the rest of the ruling elite had their wealth, power and positions insulated against the financial crisis.

The entire system, including much of the media, were well into a propaganda campaign designed to convince the peasants that it was all their fault and they must pay the price.

But those nasty AIB boys just couldn’t control their innate greed and have spoiled the party by jumping the gun too early. Now the wealthy ruling elite will have to wait a little longer while Brian and Brian revert once again to pretending that they’re working in the best interests of the peasantry.

A week or two should do it before a fudge can be cobbled together which will allow the AIB boys to get back to what they’re really good at – ripping off their customers.

Enda Kenny: Principles are conditional

Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny was asked a very simple question by Marian Finucane recently (7th November).

The question concerned the disgraceful deal negotiated by Dr. James Reilly while president of the Irish Medical Organisation which saw doctors receive €640 for every patient over the age of 70. Now, as Fine Gael spokesman on health, Dr. Reilly is arguing against the deal.

Marian Finucane: Do you find it in any way bizarre that the man who negotiated the deal for the over 70s is now arguing against the deal

Enda Kenny: Well, James Reilly knows his medical politics and he knows his political politics

MF: So is there no such thing as principle

EK: Of course there’s principle, Dr. Reilly did his job well when he was speaking for the GPs

MF: So principle doesn’t come into it

EK: He’s now doing his job well as Fine Gael spokesman, principle does come into it when you do the job you have to do. I appointed him to this job to do a job for us…

MF: And you don’t think principle matters

EK: Principle matters

MF: You don’t think that if you are representing the GPs you might say to yourself – I’ll get a good deal but not a savagely good deal because there is a responsibility here, it’s people’s health.

EK: When I appointed Dr. Reilly as spokesperson on health I said to him – James this is not an appointment for GPs you are now speaking for people all over the country not just doctors

MF: They still existed when he was doing that deal

EK: Yes they did and he fought his case when he was elected to speak for the doctors as he should, he’s now elected to speak for the people and that’s what he’s doing

This exchange tells us a very simple fact about practically all Irish politicians – Principles are conditional.

If you’re negotiating an obnoxiously greedy deal for doctors, principles can be discarded. If you’re health spokesman for Fine Gael the discarded principles can be cynically re-instated to pursue a political objective.

For Irish politicians principles are merely a means to an end, they are not an end in themselves. They are there to be manipulated and abused for political and/or monetary advantage

Kenny’s response also indicates a serious lack of political savvy. If he and Dr. Reilly were to simply admit that the deal was wrong and apologise they would receive praise and the matter would be over and done with.

By continuing to defend the indefensible they are merely confirming that Fine Gael remains comfortable operating within the corrupt Irish political system.

Copy to:
Enda Kenny
Dr. James Reilly

Seeking permisson to sell Mass cards

In February this year the Irish government enacted a law which makes it a criminal offence to sell a Mass card without the permission of a Catholic bishop (Charities Act 2009, Section 99).

Contained within the Act is a presumption of guilt until proved innocent. This runs contrary to Article 48 (1) of the European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights which states:

Everyone who has been charged shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.

In light of this new law I decided to engage in the selling of Mass cards and, being a law abiding citizen, wrote to my local bishop to ask for permission.

My local bishop is, temporarily, Archbishop Clifford. Bishop Magee is, er, busy with other matters.

Dear Archbishop Clifford,

As required under Section 99 of the Charities Act, 2009 I request permission to engage in the selling of Mass cards.
Yours sincerely.

Anthony Sheridan

I received the following reply from the pastoral co-ordinator in Cobh.

Dear Mr. Sheridan,

Archbishop Clifford has asked me to reply to your letter of 29th April 2009.

The Charities Act 2009 was signed into law by the President on February 28th 2009. However, the Act does not become operative until a commencement order has been issued.

Archbishop Clifford is advised that to date the relevant order has not been issued.

Yours sincerely

The relevant government department confirmed this was indeed the case. When the commencement order was issued I again wrote to the Archbishop for permission engage in the selling of Mass cards and he responded:

Dear Mr. Sheridan.

Archbishop Clifford has asked me to contact you concerning your recent letter to him in which you request permission to engage in the selling of Mass cards.

Before considering your request the Archbishop would like to know to what retail outlets this request refers.

Yours sincerely

My reply:

Dear Archbishop Clifford,

In response to your letter of 2nd October in which you request the names of retail outlets from which I intend selling Mass cards.

My understanding of section 99 (Charities Act, 2009) is that a citizen must first obtain permission from a bishop of the Church or a provincial of an order of priests before engaging in the selling of Mass cards.

I am unaware of any other regulations, laws or conditions (civil or religious) that must be adhered to in order engage in the selling of Mass cards. If such regulations, laws or conditions do exist I would be grateful if you could provide me with details so that I may be in proper compliance with the law.

Yours sincerely

Anthony Sheridan

Dear Mr. Sheridan,

Archbishop Clifford has instructed me to reply to your letter of October 20th concerning your request for permission to engage in the selling of Mass cards.

As you may be aware, the particular section of the Charities Act which requires this permission is at present being challenged in the High Court. Archbishop Clifford has decided to defer a final decision on your request pending the outcome of the relevant case.

Yours sincerely

This particular section of the Charities Act is indeed being challenged in the High Court but hopefully the matter will be resolved soon and I can once again apply to the Archbishop for permission to sell Mass cards.

Lenihan's (potato blight) guidelines

Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan, is amending Nama legislation to give himself power to issue guidelines to banks relating to the flow of credit to viable businesses.

The key word here is ‘guidelines’, there will be no legislation enacted that will force the banks to play their part in national recovery.

Lenihan’s guidelines mean absolutely nothing; he may as well be issuing guidelines to prevent potato blight on the moon.