Messages

I dont have a solution, but, i do admire the problem

Horrific behaviour which has been acknowledged by the Church  and atonement sought. We cannot change the past, but seek to ensure that it never happens again

Shows a definite lack of committment and discipline. It probably wont effect us against Leitrim, but there is a principle involved, are management controlling the panel properly

Surely the purpose of an investigation is to gather evidence if a credible complaint has been made. As for being sworn to secrecy, do you have any evidence that this happened in the cases you are quoting, it would certainly be against current church policy, and it is unlikely they would anyone bound by such an oath

It is a criminal offence to interfere with or with-hold evidence in a criminal investigation, and Police have powers to seize such evidence.

As a number of priests have been faced with allegations which were later proved to be totally false and malicious, it is important that the Church exercise its duty of care towards its  employees. As things stand, when an allegation is made against a Priest, he is immediately suspended from office, and faces a long wait to have his name cleared. Whether the case reaches court or not, the damage has already been done, by the no smoke without fire brigade. How many of us would choose to work in such a vulnerable situation. The enormous efforts of the Church to rectify and adress its problems or continually being undermined by false sensationalist reporting by lazy journalists who will not let facts get in the way of their story. Where there is a reasonable degree of evidence, the Church must co-operate to the fullest extent with any investigation, but it should not throw its employees to the baying mob.

Crowley is just another on the make Gombeen Man

Lads there is a huge measure of agreement between everyone participating in this discussion. Everyone accepts that many priests and virtually all of the Hierarchy dragged the Church into disrepute. The question at issue is what is to be done about it. The response of some people is to walk away and castigate the whole Church. For my part i believe, if you have something of value which has become stained and dirty, you would not just break it or cast it aside, you would try to clean it and restore it to former glory. By former glory i do not mean power or prominence, rather it is the humility of service of a Church broken but maintaining a repository of truth and the accumulated wisdom of centuries. Reform is necessary and i believe worth fighting for. Others take a different view preferring the destruction of the Church. To them i have nothing to say ,other than i dont envy them the society they will be left with,if they prevail. There have been many dark episodes in the Church throughout its history, and doubtless there will be many more. That is the nature of Man, but the Church is also divine, and this will ensure its survival. Our first priority must be to address and redress as far as humanly possibly the victims of our failure. Then and only then can we move forward with renewed joy and optimism

It baffles me how a rational,intelligent man like Hardy can become so irrational when a subject involves the Church. Is his understanding of Church so poor that he persists with such a narrow definition, or is merely trying to rationalise his own beliefs,doubts and fears. It could be that the real target for his ire is Tony Fearon, and he is attacking the Man rather than the Ball, a practise very common in Meath. If this is the case he should start another thread

The decline in Religion generally has led to a society where there is no longer any moral or even civic values. The so called freedoms espoused by the liberal media, stand exposed as nothing but licence to indulge in any form of licentiousness or corruption. Attacks on young and old are treated as trivial offences in our Courts, even the daily murders are tolerated. A society that has no respect for itself, can hardly be called upon too respect others. The outrage in the Good Shepherd was Blasphemy Which used to be a crime deserving off moral outrage. Today it is no longer a crime and we are too acceptively permissive,  think ourselves too intelligent , cool and trendy, to even feign any sense of outrage. God help our children and grand-children we are bequeathing them some legacy

Should be a stroll in the Park for all the Ulster Counties involved

Observations from a Down Man
                                               There is not an All Ireland in that Mayo team
                                              We will be seeing a lot more of that talented bunch of Rossies

Back Door draw tomorrow 8-30AM, fingers crossed lads

Cavan were clearly guilty and should bear the brunt of what will hopefully be severe punishments. We dont need this sort of loutish behaviour.

The day the G.A.A. becomes all about money, will be the day that begins its decline