Carol of the Bells Celtic Woman

One of my favourite carols here sung by Celtic Woman…enjoy!

Vatican protocol rules….

Foreign Minister Micheal Martin is to meet the Pope’s ambassador to Ireland after the Vatican’s refusal to deal directly with the Dublin Archdiocese child sex abuse investigation.

The Murphy report disclosed that two letters to the Papal Nuncio seeking information went unanswered.

A similar request to Rome led to a missive to the Department of Foreign Affairs claiming proper diplomatic procedures were not being followed.  

One can’t help but feel a more pastoral approach would be in order,  given the seriousness of the situation in Ireland.  Most ordinary people are not interested in  Vatican diplomatic protocols or language, they don’t want the church to be detached and distant in the face of human suffering, they look to the Church to show leadership in the quest for truth and justice. To be dynamic and courageous as we all strive to make sense of how the abuse of children was allowed to spread from parish to parish. To expect from leaders more humility and less defensiveness as we alow the truth to set us free.

It’s going to be a white Christmas…on my blog!

Sorry I love everything about Christmas…… I couldn’t resist a little snow

The shakers simple song…and message.

Always loved the melody,  although never liked the Lord of the dance version. The original words capture the simplicity of the message……have a listen see if it speaks to you.

Just back from Rome

Just back from Rome where I spent a delightful week with fellow Passionists from the great continent of Africa. The men had gathered for a months renewal which took place at the Basilica of St’s John and Paul. Fr. Pat Duffy and myself joined forces to facilitate one week of the training event. Our theme covered human and spiritual development  and included introducing them to the benefits of Focusing a mind/body system.

The men are primarily engaged in the Formation of Passionist students. I was greatly impressed with their commitment to their work and their loyalty to the Passionist Congregation.  Whilst we in Europe display a tired and at time lifeless church the African Church seems energised and eager to take its place and make its own unique contribution.

Listen to Richard Rohr tell this story…..

I came across this short video of Richard Rohr recently. What caught my attention was the opening story he uses, it’s one I often used on school retreats . It’s a great story and metaphor that challenges tired churches,  governments etc.,  to rediscover their original mission…..have a listen.

Radical Catholicism celebrates

 

 

Whilst we all rejoice in the great gathering of the youth in Australia, lets not lose sight of another significant gathering of radical Catholic activists – The Catholic Workers Movement.

The National Catholic Reporter writes:  In the 75 years since Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin began feeding the destitute men of New York’s Bowery and speaking out against militarism, the Catholic Worker has grown tremendously. It now includes at least 180 communities, among them dozens of small, organic farms growing food for community pantries and hungry neighbors, an art gallery, scores of houses of hospitality offering long- and short-term shelter to undocumented immigrants, women fleeing domestic violence, people exiting prison and those without a place to sleep or belong. It has produced four generations of Catholics living gleefully in opposition to a dominant culture of consumerism and violence.

For more info try googling catholic worker movement

Happy 4th July

This has to be one of the biggest flags yet!  I want to wish all my friends in the US a happy 4th of July celebration. I know for many of them they find a certain uncomfortableness celebrating independence and freedom whilst US troops. along with the British, occupy Iraq.

The peace and justice movements continue to draw our attention to the horrific human cost particularly to the women and children of Iraq.  We pray for the day when Iraq too will celebrate its own Independence day in the not too distant future

Comic wisdom

 

 

I was talking to a colleague who recently attended a Billy Connolly Show here in Belfast. She informed me that he addressed the recent controversy over Iris and her gay-cure psychiatrist friend. Apparently Billy  enquired if Iris knew  “any nice  psychiatrists who could cure bigots as well.”

Iris Robinson contributes to the problem!

 

As we wave goodbye to the Paisley dynasty, in steps the Robinson dynasty to take it’s place.  If anyone expects that this one will be any more enlightened or humane,  then the statements of  Iris will dash those hopes. On the very day we received a harrowing report of a young man being horrifically beaten because he was gay,  instead of supporting this young man’s right to be himself, Iris contributes to the horror by exposing her own prejudice.  Referring to Homosexuality as an abomination, she revealed that her top medical adviser, a Christian psychiatrist,  believes he can change gay people’s sexual orientation.  Why is he wasting his time on something that is not a mental health issue in itself,  isn’t he aware  that In 1973 the American Psychiatric Association concluded there was no scientific evidence that homosexuality was a disorder and removed it from its diagnostic glossary of mental disorders. The International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organisation followed suit in 1992.

Maybe he’s going down the road of some kind of Christian cloning……….
 

 I can just hear the perpetrators of the horrific beating saying …….there you see, even politicians agree that these disgusting gays….these abominations, shouldn’t  exist….they should be modified…..changed……into heterosexuals like the rest of the population.

 May the God of Creation, who created such diversity and who rejoices in it all.….may  He help us to embrace difference that we too may rejoice in the complexity  and beauty of all   His creation…..without exception.  AMEN