The news that Father Sheehey received a standing ovation, with only a few walk-outs, is heart-warming. I had thought they were all gone mad down in Kerry. I should have known better!
Media here are goin mad on this.It be funny if it wasn't so serious. The government are bringing in hate speech laws and the catholic church will be prime target.
Ireland’s proposed ‘hate speech’ laws will lead to the criminalisation of religious beliefs and Church teaching Last week in Ireland proposed legislation was put forward to create a new crime under Irish law: “hate speech”. Under the new law, “a person shall be guilty of an offence if “(a) the person— (i) communicates material to the public or a section of the public, or (ii) behaves in a public place in a manner, that is likely to incite violence or hatred against a person or a group of persons on account of their protected characteristics or any of those characteristics, and (b) does so with intent to incite violence or hatred against such a person or group of persons on account of those characteristics https://catholicherald.co.uk/irelan...a-direct-attack-on-christians-and-the-church/
Has a Catholic priest in Ireland really been cancelled by his Bishop for preaching against sin? Do not be under any doubt as to the seriousness of what the Bishop has done here. It is one thing to be condemned by the Irish Times, or RTE or the folks on twitter, but for a priest to be cancelled by his own Bishop for warning his flock about sinful behaviour is a disaster. It has been reported that the offending priest, is to be “taken off Masses”. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/...hops-rebuke-of-offending-homily-42112054.html What this means, is that other priests have been put on notice that they are not to condemn sin. They are not to call out behaviour that risks your soul. The Bishop is happy to just leave the faithful to it, risking even more souls. What the Bishop has done is abandon his flock, stopping other priests from guiding their parishioners and thereby risking their salvation. This is the question of whether you go to heaven or hell. The stakes couldn’t be higher. https://catholicherald.co.uk/has-a-...lled-by-his-bishop-for-preaching-against-sin/
Sorry Bobby although Fr Sheehy spoke the truth in his sermon I can no longer give him any credence, sadly today I learned that back in 2009 Fr Sheehy stood publicly and shook the hand of Danny Foley who was convicted of rapping a 22 year old girl. when questioned why he shook his hand Fr Sheehy said he just wanted to support him and show he wasn't alone.. For what is hidden shall be revealed.
I know my heart sunk to my boots as I know this will not end well the enemy will use this to their advantage we are in for a rough ride .. Persecutions Are Coming 16“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 18You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. 21“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! 26Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.
Yes, I think these so-called hate-speech laws are being introduced to silence Christians and pro-life Catholics in particular. We are very rapidly entering totalitarianism as in Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany - the spirit of anti-Christ. https://catholicherald.co.uk/irelan...a-direct-attack-on-christians-and-the-church/
The truth is a bitter pill when you've been justifying sin to suit your own needs. We're all sinners but denying it is a fatal flaw. I applaud this honest priest. We need more like him. He's our modern day John the baptist.
I think he is a good priest too, and the earlier incident I wouldn't hold so much against him. I think priests, and laity, are called to help all including sinners. That guy who raped the girl, if he was guilty, is still a human being and if his character really was good before the incident then the priest, who apparently knew him all his life, is entitled to give a character witness to that effect without people descending on him in the way that they did then and do now.
I believe he is a good priest. He did not condemn anyone he admonished sinners as he is called to do. That is an act of charity. As for shaking hands with a condemned man, he was reaching out to a sinner. The commander of Auswitch concentration camp had a Catholic priest hear his confession and was given last rights before his execution. People especially Jews were incensed at the priest as hell wasn't hot enough for him. The priest has always to be open to the sinner because God's mercy is there for all who repent. It's a great mystery. The funny thing is Fr Sean Sheehy gave a sermon in Listowel and now he has given it to the whole country whether they like it or not. Maybe he will get some reconsider their life choices. If he can call back even one sinner it will be a good days work.
Nope I'm sorry I have to disagree and I speak from experience. How would you feel if that was your daughter and a priest shook the hand of her rapist publicly at the court trial. He should have done it either in the privacy of the confessional or at the prison cell..
It would be brutal to witness that--I agree. It was bad judgement to do it so publicly but maybe he felt the culprit needed it at that moment. But it still leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
I don't think this affects the legitimacy of his sermon. But you are right. I was not aware of the details and that it was at the court trial. This would have caused immense hurt to the victim and her family.
The optics are bad, in the context of the modern world. However, this is a world in which the pope can praise a woman responsible for countless innocent deaths and most people don't bat an eye-lid. Ultimately, these decisions must be made on the basis of reason, rather than sentimentality, as someone else pointed out today. I agree that he shouldn't have done this publicly, but not because this act is intrinsically wrong, rather because he handed the usual suspects a rod with which they can, and now will, beat him.
Jo John, Just noticed that you have some personal experience. I'm sorry, I do not mean to add to your distress. God bless you a and all your good work. My prayers to all who are hurting here.
As I said his sermon and the reaction form the bishop is a totally different subject but the priest has left himself wide open for ridicule and also has gave satans minions a very large stick to beat us all.. He stood in a line with 50 others from the town in public support for the rapest because he was a bouncer in the town and had a bit of respect. They all stood and shook his hand as he went into court. The poor girl had to witness that.. A priest has no place in a line like that
