An interesting statement from Willie Walsh last night to a specially convened press conference in Dublin in which he , 'put it on the line: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8360523.stm Bishop Walsh seems to have a very long line of grievances including over the Church's attitudes to homosexuality, the return of Latin to the Mass, divorce, allowing Protestants to take communion, priestly celibacy and women priests. To top it off he seems to want to have another Church Council to institute a whole new series of 'Reforms' ...and goodness knows what they might be. It seems very,very unusual to see an Irish Catholic Bishop, 'Speaking out' in this way. For the Irish hierarchy are of course historically famous for their loyalty to Rome and the Church. But it seems thus far to be a 'one off' as no other Bishop has issued any statements of support or went with him to his one man press conference. I suspect that what may have fired him off on the road to Dublin may have been recent events in the USA , especially the very public row between the Bishop of Providence, Rhode Island and one of the famous Irish American Kennedy clan, young Patrick Kennedy : http://www.commonwealmagazine.org/blog/?p=5348 Bishop Thomas Tobin's massage to Patrick Kennedy appears to be an astonishingly frank one of 'Love it of leave it' to Patrick Kennedy. There are so many interesting things about all this. Usually the Church likes to do things quietly, but, especially in the USA things seem to have been coming more and more 'out into the open' with an increasing very heated and acrimonious debate . I suspect more and more this is coming to boiling point within the Church at all levels and this is what drove Bishop Willie Walsh to jump in his automobile and drive to Dublin to hold his very,very own Press Conference. People are choosing sides. I don't think really this is a bad thing. For too long the poison in the Church has remained hidden, its better it should all come out, though it will be very,very painful for us all. cf: http://www.catholica.com.au/breakingnews/025_bn_231108.php
Padraig, Bishop Willie Walsh is in the dioceses next to ours. He is a problem bishop and of course the media loves him as he plays to their gallery all the time. I know holy priests who suffer in his area because they have the temerity to preach on the issues that he has problems with. I honestly dont know why he is still a bishop or even a catholic. It beggars belief that he suggests that celibacy is possibly at the root of child abuse. He never talks about the requirement for holiness or prayer or any of these things he should be very concerned with. I hope the Vatican moves on him because it seems the Irish hierarchy are afraid to take him on. He is now 70 years old. He should think seriously about his end. I am praying for the scales to fall from his eyes. Mary
I did not know until a short time ago, Mary that he is retiring in January, now he is 70. so maybe this is just a few parting shots. I came across a clip of him on utube and to be honest he strikes me a being lost and not too coherent {in fact I suspect he is, maybe not too well} maybe even a little bit spooky:. I'll tell you another thing that is spooky, this constant hate of the Latin Mass and the use of Latin
The prophecies in Garabandal are coming true in front of our eyes, 'bishop' against 'bishop' and 'cardinal' against 'cardinal'. There is unforunately a deep schism in the hearts of many, and many have apostacied from the truth.
