RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL ILLNESS

RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL ILLNESS

RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM IS A WORLD WIDE DISEASE THAT IS AFFECTING CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM, JUDAISM ETC.

AS YOU AN SEE FROM THE COMMENTS ON THIS BLOG WE GET THE OCCASIONAL FUNDAMENTALIST BLOGGER ON HERE.

A FUNDAMENTALIST IS A MAN OR A WOMAN WHO HAS AN ABSOLUTELY BLIND BELIEF IN THEIR OWN RELIGION OR BELIEF SYSTEM - AND WHO WILL NOT TOLERATE THE THOUGHT THAT THEIR RELIGION / BELIEF SYSTEM MIGHT HAVE GRAVE FAULTS WITHIN IT.

FUNDAMENTALISM IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL DISEASE - AND EVEN OCCASIONALLY A DANGEROUS MENTAL DISEASE.

CATHOLIC FUNDAMENTALISTS BELIEVE THAT GOD IS A ROMAN CATHOLIC AND THAT THEIR CHURCH IS THE ONLY TRUE CHURCH - AND THAT OUTSIDE THAT CHURCH THERE IS NO CHANCE OF GOING TO HEAVEN. THEY BELIEVE THAT THEIR POPE, BISHOPS AND CLERGY CAN DO NO WRONG. THEY BELIEVE THAT THE BODY, WOMEN, SEX ETC ARE ALL "BAD". IN ONE WORD - THEY ARE SO PURE THEY ARE WICKED.

THE PROTESTANT BIBLE THUMPING EVANGELICALS ARE JUST AS BAD AND JUST AS CRAZY. THEY HATE CATHOLICS AND BELIEVE THAT CATHOLICS WILL GO TO HELL. THEY FEEL THE NEED TO IMPOSE THEIR NASTY, NARROW-MINDED THEORIES ON THE REST OF US. THEY ARE SELF-RIGHTEOUS AND IF YOU TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE THEY HAVE A KIND OF STRANGE GLAZE OVER THEIR EYES. THEY SPEND THEIR LIVES HATING PLEASURE AND TRYING TO GET THE REST OF US TO TURN OUR BACK ON PLEASURE. THEY ARE PATHETIC.

MIND YOU ITS VERY HARD TO BEAT THE MUSLIMS WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDAMENTALISM - WITH THEIR HOLY WARS, MARTYRS AND 72 VIRGINS WAITING THEM WHEN THEY DIE. WORLD WAR 111 WILL PROBABLE BE THE RESULT OF THE CLASH BETWEEN THE WEST AND ISLAM. 

AND THEN YOU HAVE THE CRAZY JEWS IN ISRAEL - WITH THEIR HATRED OF ISLAM, PALESTINE AND ALL THINGS ANTI-ISRAEL. SOMETIMES YOU GET THE FEELING THAT THEY ARE JUST ITCHING TO USE THEIR NUCLEAR WEAPONS :-(

I OFTEN ASK MYSELF WHERE RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM COMES FROM? I THINK IT COMES FROM THINGS LIKE:

1. WEAK MINDEDNESS - PEOPLE WHO ARE AFRAID TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES.

2. THE CRAVING FOR "CERTAINTY" - PEOPLE WHO CANNOT HANDLE LIFE'S            UNCERTAINTIES AND ALL THE "UNKNOWNS" ON LIFE'S JOURNIES.

3. LOW SELF ESTEEM - PEOPLE WHO THINK SO LITTLE OF THEMSELVES THAT THEY NEED TO BE PART OF A BIG GANG OR HERD THAT BULLIES OTHER PEOPLE.

4. PASSIVE- AGGRESSIVE DISORDER - PASSIVE PEOPLE TRYING TO HAVE POWER.

5. SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION - PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT MATURED SEXUALLY AND NEED TO DEPEND ON SOME GREAT BIG ETERNAL "DADDY"

ONE OF MY PROFESSORS IN THE SEMINARY USED TO SAY THAT IF SOMEBODY EVER CAME INTO CONFESSION AND TOLD US THAT THEY HAD A "FAITH" PROBLEM WE SHOULD IMMEDIATELY SUSPECT THAT THEY HAD A "SEXUAL PROBLEM.

6. THE FEAR OF PLEASURE.

7. THE FEAR OF DEATH AND BEING WIPED OUT.

I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY MORE CAUSES FOR RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM.

WHAT ARE THE CURES? I CAN SUGGEST A FEW:

1. EDUCATION.

2. EXPOSURE - OVER A LONG PERIOD TO OTHERS WHO THINK COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAT YOU DO.

3. HAVING SOME "BAD HABITS" - LIKE SMOKING OR DRINKING.

4. TAKE A COURSE IN HOW TO EMBRACE THE PLEASURES OF LIFE.

5. HAVE A REASONABLY SATISFACTORY SEX LIFE.

6. DEVELOP A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOUR AND BE ABLE TO LAUGH AT YOURSELF.

AFTER THAT - I'M OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS :-)

100 YEAR OLD NUN WANTS TO BE A PRIEST

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Chicago nun Vivian Ivantic turns 100 today. She’s spent 80 years at the St. Scholastica Monastery and throughout that time, she’s held onto her dream of becoming a priest.

A Chicago nun is celebrating her 100th birthday today — but there’s something missing.

Ever since she was 10 years old, Sister Vivian Ivantic has wanted to become a Catholic priest.

Ivantic joined the Benedictines when she was 20 years old and since then, she’s been hoping for a change in the Catholic Church’s policy toward female ordination.

"We need women in church offices," Ivantic told The Chicago Tribune. "It won't come in my lifetime, but it will come."

Ivantic argues that women have held important roles in the Church for a long time, as teachers, nurses and social workers. In her own lifetime, she’s seen women gain footholds in politics and in the workplace. She thinks it is time for a change in the Church, as well.

“I think the American church is outstanding," Ivantic said. "But I'm waiting for women's ordination.”

She’s not alone.

Several Catholic organizations have been vocal about halting what they see as an injustice. The Women’s Ordination Conference and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) have advocated for a change in the Church’s policy.

But the Church has sought to nip these campaigns in the bud. The LCWR was recently reprimanded by the Vatican for its views. Roy Bourgeois, a popular Maryknoll priest, was expelled from the Church last November for supporting the idea of female priest.

During Ivantic’s lifetime, several Protestant denominations, such as the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Episcopal churches, have welcomed women into the priesthood.

But the Catholic Church’s official stance toward female ordination hasn’t changed for centuries. Catholic priests are considered part of a long lineage of holy people, one that started with Jesus Christ. Since Jesus chose only male apostles, only men are allowed to carry on the legacy.

The late Pope John Paul II confirmed this teaching during his time at the helm of the Catholic Church. Even the tradition-breaking Pope Francis, whom many see as a breath of fresh air, said that the topic of female ordination wasn’t open for discussion.

“The Church has spoken and says no ... that door is closed,” the pontiff said.

But Ivantic hasn’t stopped hoping for a change, despite 90 years of waiting.

“She's fighting, but she's not walking away,” said Karen Ivantic, her niece. “So what that says to me is, 'Don't abandon everything but don't stop fighting for the change.'"

IS MASTURBATION A SIN?

IS MASTURBATION A SIN?

MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL VERY AFRAID TO OPENLY DISCUSS SEX AND SEXUAL ISSUES.

IN RECENT DAYS I HAVE HAD 30 - 40 AND 50 COMMENTS ON VARIOUS TOPICS.

MY BLOG YESTERDAY ON PROSTITUTION ATTRACTED ONLY 1 COMMENT ????

MASTURBATION

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN CATHOLIC IRELAND MASTURBATION WAS REGARDED AS A VERY BIG SIN. THAT SIN HAD PEOPLE RUNNING TO CONFESSION EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK BEGGING THE PRIEST'S FORGIVENESS. 

IN MY FIRST SEMINARY - CLONLIFFE IN DUBLIN - MASS WAS HELD AT 8 AM EVERY MORNING. AT 7.30 AM THE COLLEGE SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR SAT IN A SMALL ROOM AT THE CHAPEL ENTRANCE TO GIVE ABSOLUTION TO ANY SEMINARIAN WHO HAD MASTURBATED DURING THE NIGHT.

WE STUDENTS DISRESPECTFULLY CALLED IT "WANKERS CORNER"

CLONLIFFE SEMINARY

ARCHBISHOP JOHN CHARLES MC QUAID WHO WAS THE ARCHBISHOP OF DUBLIN TOLD ME ONE TIME THAT IF A SEMINARIAN WAS STILL MASTURBATING AT THE AGE OF 19 HE SHOULD BE DISMISSED FROM THE COLLEGE AS HE WAS NOT SUITABLE MATERIAL FOR THE PRIESTHOOD. 

ARCHBISHOP MC QUAID

OF COURSE I REALISED IN LATER YEARS THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF PRIESTS MASTURBATED - ESPECIALLY IF THEY DID NOT HAVE SECRET SEXUAL PARTNERS

MASTURBATION IS "NORMAL" AND HEALTHY"

MEDICINE AND SCIENCE TELLS US THAT MASTURBATION IS NORMAL AND HEALTHY.

SURVEYS SHOW US THAT MORE THAN 90% OF MEN AND MORE THAN 70% OF WOMEN MASTURBATE.

SCIENCE TELLS US THAT SOME OF THE GOOD EFFECTS OF MASTURBATION ARE:

1. THE RELEASE OF TENSION AND ANXIETY.

2. IT IS HELPFUL IN DEPRESSION.

3. IT LEADS TO A RISE IN SELF ESTEEM.

4. IT IS QUITE A POWERFUL PROTECTION AGAINST PROSTRATE CANCER.

5. IT LEADS TO REDUCED BLOOD PRESSURE.

6. IT GIVES PEOPLE CONFIDENCE AND EXPERIENCE IN CONTROLLING SEXUAL URGES.

COMPULSIVE MASTURBATION CAN SOMETIMES BE A PROBLEM - BUT NOT BECAUSE IT IS MASTURBATION - BUT BECAUSE OF THE COMPULSIVE ELEMENT.

MASTURBATION CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS HEART DISEASE.

EGYPT:

THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS BELIEVED THAT ONE OF THE GODS CREATED THE UNIVERSE IN AN ACT OF MASTURBATION. BECAUSE OF THAT THE PHARAOH WAS REQUIRED TO MASTURBATE IN THE NILE ON CEREMONIAL OCCASIONS.

RELIGION AND MASTURBATION:

MANY RELIGIONS CONDEMN MASTURBATION. THEY SAY THAT IS IT IS GIVING INTO SELF INDULGENCE AND THE URGES OF THE FLESH. 

ROMAN CATHOLICISM TEACHES THAT MASTURBATION IS A"GRAVE MORAL DISORDER".

CONCLUSION:

MASTURBATION IS NORMAL AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY HEALTHY. IT IS PARTICULARLY NORMAL DURING TEENAGE YEARS AND DURING PSYCHOSEXUAL DEVELOPMENT.

AND YET SADLY MANY PEOPLE I KNOW - ESPECIALLY PEOPLE BROUGHT UP IN A STRICT ROMAN CATHOLIC ENVIORNMENT REGARD IT AS A SIN AND AS A CAUSE FOR GUILT AND SHAME.  

SOME OLDER BACHELORS FROM RURAL IRELAND HAVE WRITTEN TO ME OVER THE YEARS IN GREAT DISTRESS - FEARING THAT THEIR HABIT WILL BRING THEM TO HELL WHEN THEY DIE !!!

EVEN ONE OR TWO OF THE TEENAGERS WHO COMMENTED ON THIS BLOG A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO FEARED THAT  THEY WERE COMMITTING A SERIOUS SIN THAT CUT THEM OFF FROM GOD

WE REALLY HAVE TO PUT AN END TO THIS AWFUL PREOCCUPATION WE CATHOLICS AND CHRISTIANS SEEM TO HAVE ABOUT SEX.

WE REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT GOD IS FAR MORE WORRIED ABOUT WAR, WORLD HUNGER, NATURAL DISASTERS, INJUSTICE, KILLING ETC THAN HE IS ABOUT SEX.

SEX IS ONLY A SIN WHEN WE USE OUR SEXUAL POWERS TO "USE" OR "ABUSE".

IN ORDER TO COMMIT A SIN BY MASTURBATING SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TO SAY THE FOLLOWING TO GOD:

"GOD - I AM NOW GOING TO MASTURBATE - AND I AM ONLY MASTURBATING FOR ONE REASON - AND THAT REASON IS TO SHOW CONTEMPT FOR YOU"

OF COURSE WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING SEXUAL PROBLEMS - OR FEELING LONELY, ISOLATED AND FRUSTRATED.

BUT WE SHOULD NOT BE ATTRIBUTING "SIN" TO SOMETHING THAT IS SO NORMAL, SO HEALTHY IN MANY WAYS AND IS ENGAGED IN BY PRIMATES, DOGS, HORSES, GOATS, LIONS, BATS, WALRUSES, SHEEP AND BIRDS.

WOODY ALLEN

I OFTEN THINK OF THE TIME WHEN WOODY ALAN WAS ASKED: "IS SEX OUTSIDE MARRIAGE A SIN"?

HE REPLIED: "ONLY IF ITS NOT DONE RIGHT"

THE GOD WHO CREATED THE VAST, DIVERSE UNIVERSE MUST SOMETIMES WONDER WHY WE MEN AND WOMEN MAKE SUCH A BIG DEAL ABOUT SUCH SMALL MATTERS.

"THE LORD WHO SITS IN THE HEAVENS WILL LAUGH THEM TO SCORN" (Psalm 2:4)

HOMOPHOBIA IS A SERIOUS SIN AND COULD KEEP YOU OUT OF HEAVEN

HOMOPHOBIA IS A SERIOUS SIN AND COULD KEEP YOU OUT OF HEAVEN

WHEN JESUS WAS CHALLENGED BY A LAWYER TO STATE WHAT THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT OF GOD WAS HE GAVE THE FOLLOWING ANSWER:

1. YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, ALL YOUR MIND AND ALL YOUR SOUL.

2. YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF

ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS STAND THE WHOLE LAW AND THE PROPHETS ALSO.

WHEN ANYONE IS HOMOPHOBIC THEY ARE BREAKING ONE OF THE TWO GREATEST COMMANDMENTS THAT JESUS GAVE THE WORLD. THAT MEANS THAT THAT HOMOPHOBIC PEOPLE ARE COMMITTING A VERY SERIOUS SIN.

IT IS A SIN AGAINST GOD TO HATE ANYONE - FOR ANY REASON. 

IN ANOTHER PLACE JESUS SAYS: "IF YOU DO NOT LOVE THE BROTHER THAT YOU CAN SEE - HOW CAN YOU EVER HOPE TO LOVE THE GOD THAT YOU CANNOT SEE".

IF YOU DO NOT LOVE SOMEONE BECAUSE THEY ARE GAY OR LESBIAN - THEN THAT PROVES THAT YOU DO NOT LOVE GOD.

SOME OF THE GREATEST HOMOPHOBES CAN BE FOUND IN THE SO CALLED "CHRISTIAN" CHURCHES.

IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH THERE ARE MANY HOMOPHOBES - AND SOME OF THESE HOMOPHOBES ARE GAY THEMSELVES" IS THAT NOT HYPOCRISY?

A VERY SIZEABLE NUMBER OF ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS AND PRIESTS ARE GAY AND ACTIVELY GAY - AND YET THEM CONDEMN GAY PEOPLE. CARDINAL KEITH O BRIEN IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF SUCH A HYPOCRITE AND PHARISEE

CARDINAL KEITH O BRIEN - CENTRE

O BRIEN DESERVED THE TITLE - "BIGOT OF THE YEAR".

AND THERE IS WIDESPREAD GUILT IN THE SO CALLED OTHER "CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.                      

THESE RIGHT WING CHRISTIANS TRY AND USE ISOLATED STATEMENTS FROM THE BIBLE TO JUSTIFY THEIR HOMOPHOBIA. 

ITS THE WORDS OF JESUS THAT COUNT. JESUS HAD VERY LITTLE TO SAY ABOUT SEX IN GENERAL AND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT ALL TO SAY ABOUT HOMOSECUALITY. 

YOU CAN DRAG IN OUT OF CONTEXT PASSAGES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT OR ST PAUL TO TRY AND JUSTIFY YOUR HOMOPHOBIA. BUT YOU ARE ONLY FOOLING YOURSELF. YOU CANNOT FOOL GOD.

THE BIBLE IS INDEED THE "WORD OF GOD". BUT IT WAS WRITTEN BY MEN. WHILE THE WORD AND SPIRIT OF GOD GOES RIGHT THROUGH THE BIBLE YOU ALSO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN WRITING DOWN THE WORD OF GOD THE MEN OF THE TIME - THATS RIGHT MEN - NOT WOMEN - ALSO BROUGHT THEIR OWN IGNORANCES, PREJUDICES AND LACK OF UNDERSTANDING TO WHAT THEY WERE WRITING. 

THAT WHY SCRIPTURE NEED INTERPRETATION.

YOU GENERALLY FIND THAT MANY OF THOSE WHO USE THE BIBLE TO JUSTIFY THEIR OWN HOMOPHOBIA ARE IGNORANT, UNEDUCATED OR SECRETLY HIDING FROM THEIR OWN STRONG HOMOSEXUAL DESIRES. 

THE FOLLOWING IS THE TRUTH:

1. GOD LOVES GAY PEOPLE AS MUCH AS HE LOVES ANYONE ELSE.

2. GOD MADE GAY PEOPLE - AND HE PROBABLY MADE THEM GAY.

3. HOMOPHOBIA IS A SIN.

4. HOMOPHOBIA MIGHT VERY WELL KEEP YOU FROM GETTING INTO HEAVEN 

BISHOP CIARAN BROADBERY IS NOW A HOMEOPATH IN KERRY

BISHOP CIARAN BROADBERY IS NOW A HOMEOPATH IN KERRY

BISHOP CIARAN BROADBERY

BISHOP CIARAN BROADBERY AND THE BROADBERY FAMILY RECENTLY CAME BACK INTO THE HIGHLIGHT WHEN THE FAMILY HEAD - MRS CATHERINE BROADBERY (RIP) DIED AND HER DAUGHTER PUBLISHED A GLOWING TRIBUTE TO HER MOTHER IN THE IRISH TIMES.

CATHERINE BROADBERY (RIP)

CATHERINE, LIKE MY OWN MOTHER, JO, HAD A VERY LARGE FAMILY. MY MOTHER HAD 17 CHILDREN. CATHERINE WENT ONE BETTER AND HAD 18 BABIES. TWO OF HER CHILDREN TRAGICALLY PREDECEASED HER.

THE BROADBERYS WERE A VERY RELIGIOUS FAMILY AND AS DEVOUT CATHOLICS THEY HAD GREAT DEVOTION TO THE VIRGIN MARY.

THEY LIVED IN DUBLIN FOR A WHILE AND BISHOP CIARAN BROADBERY ATTENDED SCHOOL AT THE MARIAN COLLEGE IN BALLSBRIDGE IN DUBLIN.

EVENTUALLY THEY MOVED TO WEXFORD WHERE THEY SEEMED TO RUN A CHIP SHOP IN GOREY.

IT SEEMS TO BE ABOUT THE TIME THAT THEY MOVED TO WEXFORD THAT THE BROADBERYS BECAME INVOLVED WITH THE TRIDENTINE CHURCH BASED IN SEVILLE IN SPAIN.

THE FOUNDER OF THAT CHURCH WAS A SPANISH CATHOLIC CALLED CLEMENTE DOMINGUEZ Y GOMEZ. 

THE PALMARIAN CHURCH STARTED OUT AS A CHURCH VERY MUCH DEDICATED TO THE VIRGIN MARY AND GOMEZ CLAIMED TO HAVE VISIONS AND MESSAGES FROM OUR LADY.

IN 1975 GOMEZ WAS ORDAINED A PRIEST AND CONSECRATED A BISHOP BY THE VERY FAMOUS ARCHBISHOP PETER MARTIN NGO-DINH THUC WHO WAS FROM VIETNAM.

ARCHBISHOP THUC

ARCHBISHOP THUS WAS A CONSERVATIVE BISHOP WHO FAVOURED THE RETENTION OF THE LATIN MASS. FOR ORDAINING GOMEZ ARCHBISHOP THUC WAS CENSORED BY THE VATICAN BUT WAS LATER RECONCILED WITH ROME - FOR A WHILE.

ON THE 9TH JANUARY 1977 GOMEZ VALIDLY ORDAINED CIARAN BROADBERY AS A CATHOLIC PRIEST.

ONE MONTH LATER GOMEZ VALIDLY CONSECRATED CIARAN BROADBERY AS A CATHOLIC BISHOP.

BISHOP GOMEZ

BISHOP BROADBERY STAYED WITH THE PALMARIAN CHURCH FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND ON THE 27TH APRIL 1982 HE CONSECRATED MICHAEL COX AS A VALID CATHOLIC BISHOP.

EVENTUALLY THE BROADBERYS SEEMED TO DRIFT FROM THE PALMARIANS AND EVENTUALLY CIARAN BROADBERY AND HIS WIFE SUSAN BECAME MEMBERS OF THE RIGHT WING ROMAN CATHOLIC CULT - THE SO CALLED NEOCATECHUMENATE.

I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER OR NOT CIARAN AND SUSAN ARE STILL MEMBERS OF THAT CULT?

RUMOUR HAS IT THAT CIARAN BROADBERY ASKED THE BISHOP OF FERNS, BISHOP DONAL HERLIHY, A NICE MAN WHO HAD A VERY BAD DRINK PROBLEM, TO INTERCEED WITH ROME FOR HIM AND HAVE HIM "LAICISED" AS A BISHOP AND PRIEST.

BISHOP DONAL HERLIHY

NOBODY HAS EVER SEEN ANY EVIDENCE THAT THIS SO CALLED LAICISATION OCCURED AND GIVEN BISHOP HERLIHY'S DRINK PROBLEM THERE IS A VERY LARGE POSSIBILITY THAT THE MATTER NEVER GOT AS FAR AS ROME.

BISHOP CIARAN BROADBERY IS NOW A HOMEOPATH IN KERRY AND SO ALSO IS HIS WIFE SUSAN. YOU CAN VIEW THEIR PROFILE ON FACEBOOK.

A ROBUST DEFENCE OF THE VALIDITY OF THE THUC ORDINATIONS / CONSECRATIONS CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT:

www.traditionalmass.org/articles/article.php?id=60&catname=13‎

CARDINAL KEITH O BRIEN - TEST FOR CHURCH AND POPE FRANCIS

ARCHBISHOP MARIO CONTI OF GLASGOW REVEALED YESTERDAY THAT THE DISGRACED CARDINAL KEITH O BRIEN PERSONALLY BLOCKED A NATIONAL ENQUIRY INTO SEX ABUSE IN THE SCOTTISH ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH !

OBVIOUSLY O BRIEN WAS AFRAID THAT IF SUCH AN ENQUIRY WENT AHEAD IT WOULD EXPOSE HIM AS ONE OF THE PRIME ABUSERS HIMSELF ! 

THIS LATEST REVELATION PROVES THAT EVEN IN 2013 - WITH ALL THE HORRIBLE STORIES THAT HAVE EMERGED - THERE ARE STILL SENIOR PEOPLE IN THE ROMAN CHURCH WHO ARE DETERMINED THAT THE SORDID TRUTHS REMAIN HIDDEN.

ONLY LAST YEAR - 2012 - CARDINAL O BRIEN WAS SWANNING AROUND AT THE INTERNATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS IN DUBLIN IN ALL HIS GLORY - AND EVERYBODY - BISHOPS, PRIESTS AND LAITY WERE FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER TO STAND AND HAVE THEIR PICTURE TAKING WITH THE SEXUAL PREDATOR.

BISHOP FARQUHAR (BELFAST) CARDINAL KEITH O BRIEN AND FR BRIAN WATERS (BELFAST)
(Pic courtesy of Fr Brian Waters)

I WONDER IF O BRIEN WOULD BE WELCOME FOR TEA IN FARQUHAR'S HOUSE TODAY?

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS LOST MOST OF ITS REPUTATION WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE DYED IN THE WOOL CATHOLICS WHO WILL ACCEPT ANYTHING FROM THE CHURCH.

KEITH O BRIEN HAS VIRTUALLY GIVEN THE TWO FINGER SIGN TO THE CATHOLIC PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND, TO HIS FELLOW SCOTTISH BISHOPS AND TO THE VATICAN AND POPE FRANCIS.

HE IS BASICALLY SAYING: "IF I WANT I CAN ABUSE SEMINARIANS AND PRIESTS FOR DECADES, I CAN STOP ALL ENQUIRIES INTO MY ABUSE AND I CAN STILL REMAIN A CARDINAL AND LIVE WHERE I WANT - DOING WHAT I WANT.

HE EVEN THOUGHT THAT AFTER A FEW WEEKS ON HOLIDAY HE COULD WALK BACK INTO A CHURCH PROPERTY IN SCOTLAND, RENOVATE IT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AND LIVE THERE LIKE THE PRINCE HE CONSIDERS HIMSELF TO BE.

HE IS BASICALLY SAYING F*** THE POPE; F*** THE VATICAN; F*** THE SCOTTISH BISHOPS; F*** THE PEOPLE - I AM DIFFERENT, I AM SPECIAL AND I WILL DO WHAT I WANT.

POPE FRANCIS' CREDIBILITY IS AT STAKE ON THIS ONE. KEITH O BRIEN SHOULD HAVE HIS CARDINALATE REMOVED AND HE SHOULD BE REDUCED TO THE "LAY STATE" LIKE ALL OTHER PRIEST ABUSERS ARE.

IF POPE FRANCIS AND THE VATICAN ALLOW HIM TO GET AWAY WITH HIS ABSOLUTE ARROGANCE - THEN THAT WILL BE THE LAST STRAW FOR THE CHURCH.

DOWN AND CONNOR BLOG VIEWED BY 842 READERS

DOWN AND CONNOR BLOG VIEWED BY 842 READERS

MY BLOG YESTERDAY ABOUT THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF DOWN AND CONNOR IN BELFAST RECEIVED THE LARGEST NUMBER OF READERS SINCE I STARTED THE BLOG OVER 6 MONTHS AGO. YESTERDAY I HAD 842 READERS - AND NONE OF THE COMMENTS WERE "NEGATIVE"

ALTOGETHER THE BLOG HAS ATTRACTED 31,932 READERS.

I DO NOT THINK I THE NUMBERS SUGGEST THAT I AM A PARTICULARLY GOOD BLOGGER. THEY REFLECT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED, CONCERNED AND WORRIED.

WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS IN DOWN AND CONNOR DIOCESE IN 2013?

PROBLEM 1: THE BISHOP:

POOR BISHOP NOEL TREANOR IS A VERY SQUARE PEG IN A VERY ROUND HOLE. HIS PERSONALITY TYPE IS COMPLETELY UNSUITED TO BEING A DIOCESAN BISHOP. HE IS EITHER VERY ARROGANT OR VERY SHY. HE IS COMPLETELY UNAPPROACHABLE. HE CANNOT SEEM TO HOLD A NORMAL CHATTY CONVERSATION. HE IS DISTANT FROM BOTH PRIESTS AND PEOPLE. HE SEEMS TO BE AWAY FROM THE DIOCESE A LOT. 

A BISHOP IS SUPPOSED TO BE A LOVING "FATHER" TO HIS PRIESTS AND PEOPLE. NOEL IS MORE LIKE A DISTANT SCHOOL PRINCIPAL WHO NEVER LEAVES THE OFFICE. 

I DO NOT KNOW IF NOEL IS IN PAIN HIMSELF ABOUT ALL OF THIS. BUT HIS PRIESTS AND PEOPLE ARE IN PAIN - THEY ARE LIKE CHILDREN WITH A DISTANT UNAPPROACHABLE FATHER. 

PROBLEM 2: PRIESTS OFF THE MISSION:

CURRENTLT THERE ARE THREE HIGH PROFILE CASES OF DOWN AND CONNOR PRIESTS WHO DO NOT HAVE DIOCESAN APPOINTMENTS - FATHER JOHN MC MANUS, FATHER HUGH KENNEDY AND FATHER PAUL SYMONDS.

THESE THREE PRIESTS HAVE CLOUDS OVER THEIR HEADS. THERE HAVE BEEN ACCUSATIONS AND RUMOURS. BUT IT SEEMS THAT ALL THREE PRIESTS HAVE BEEN CLEARED OF ANY WRONG DOING. AND YET IN A DIOCESE WITH A BIG SHORTAGE OF PRIESTS THESE PRIESTS ARE BEING LEFT IN LIMBO. WHY?

ABOVE FATHER HUGH KENNEDY, FATHER JOHN MC MANUS AND FATHER PAUL SYMONDS.

NONE OF THESE PRIESTS ARE FRIENDS OF MINE. SOME OF THEM WOULD NOT TALK TO ME IF THEY MET ME IN THE STREET. BUT THERE IS A JUSTICE ISSUE HERE. IF THEY HAVE DONE NO WRONG THEN THEY SHOULD BE RESTORED TO MINISTRY. IF THEY ARE UNFIT FOR MINISTRY THEN THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE TOLD SO AND WHY.

PROBLEM 3: PRIESTS ON THE MISSION:

I KNOW FROM COMMENTS TO THIS BLOG AND FROM MY OTHER CONTACTS WITH DOWN AND CONNOR PRIESTS, THAT THERE IS A GREAT DISILLUSIONMENT AMONG THE PRIESTS OF THE DIOCESE. THE PRIESTS HAVE NEVER BEEN AS DEMORALISED AS THEY ARE CURRENTLY.

THEY FEEL THEY HAVE NO REAL LEADERSHIP. THEY FEEL OVER WORKED AND UNDER VALUED. THE CLERICAL SEX ABUSE SCANDALS HAVE LEFT THEM FEARFUL OF ACCUSATIONS AND HOW THEY WILL BE TREATED IN THE FUTURE - ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE ACCUSED. THEY HAVE NO GUARANTEE THAT THE DIOCESE WILL PROTECT THEIR INNOCENCE. 

MANY OF THE PRIESTS ARE SUFFERING FROM STRESS, TENSION, BURN OUT AND SOME ARE ON THE VERGE OF BREAKDOWN. THE SAD SUICIDE OF FATHER MATT WALLACE HAS HEIGHTENED THEIR SENSE OF DREAD AND FEAR.

PROBLEM 4: LONLINESS AND SEXUALITY:

AS IS WITNESSED BY COMMENTS TO YESTERDAY'S BLOG MANY PRIESTS ARE VERY LONELY. MANY ARE NOW RUNNING ONE MAN PARISHES WITH NO OTHER CLERICAL COLLEAGUE.

IN THE PAST THERE WERE MANY SOCIAL GATHERINGS OF PRIESTS IN THE DIOCESE WHERE PRIESTS SHARED A MEAL, A DRINK, A LAUGH AND A GAME OF CARDS. THIS ALL SEEMS TO HAVE EVAPORATED.

MOST PRIESTS STRUGGLE WITH THEIR SEXUALITY. SOME PRIESTS, GAY AND STRAIGHT, HAVE REMAINED FAITHFUL TO CHASTITY AND CELIBACY BUT ARE VERY LONELY.

OTHER PRIESTS HAVE SECRET PARTNERS - WOMEN OR MEN - ARE ARE LIVING IN FEAR OF BEING FOUND OUT.

OTHER DOWN AND CONNOR PRIESTS ARE ACTIVE ON THE GAY SCENE - CRUISING GAY CRUISING AREAS, CRUISING TOILETS, GOING TO SAUNAS - OFTEN IN DUBLLIN. SOME HAVE ANNUAL GAY HOLIDAYS.


SOLUTIONS:

I'VE JUST HAD A COMMENT WHICH READS:

PAT, JUST A QUICK QUESTION. DO YOU THINK YOU BRING A CERTAIN DEGREE OF PRESURE TO US IN D&C WITH YOUR CONSTANT INFORMATION GATHERING AND PASSING TO LISBREEN. DO YOU REALLY OFFER US ANY HELP OR ARE YOU JUST ANOTHER NAIL IN OUR COFFIN. JUST A QUESTION. ASSISTANT.

MY FRIEND, I DO NOT GATHER INFORMATION. PEOPLE COME TO ME ALL THE TIME BECAUSE THEY HAVE GOT THEMSELVES INTO SITUATIONS AND FIND THEY HAVE NO ONE ELSE TO TALK TO. IF IT INVOLVES A PRIEST I TRY AND TALK TO THE PRIEST. NINE TIMES OUT OF THEN THAT PRIEST TELLS ME WHERE TO GO TO.

IN THE PAST IF THERE HAS BEEN A DANGER OF A PROSECUTION AND / OR PUBLIC EXPOSURE I HAVE ASKED PADDY WALSH TO TALK TO THE PRIEST - FOR HIS OWN PROTECTION.

WHAT AM I TO DO? LEAVE IT UNTIL THE PRIEST IS ARRESTED?

PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT DOWN AND CONNOR - BISHOPS AND PRIESTS HAVE DEMONISED ME.

BUT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I AM STILL A PRIEST AND I STILL CARE.

YOU MIGHT BE AMAZED TO KNOW HOW OFTEN I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP A PRIEST, QUIETLY, WHO DID NOT TELL ME TO F*** *** WHEN I APPROACHED HIM.

SOLUTIONS:

1. A CHANGED BISHOP - OR A NEW BISHOP - MAYBE EVEN DONAL BEING MADE THE VICAR FOR CLERGY?

2. SETTING UP A OFFICE OF MINISTRY TO PRIESTS - STAFFED BY SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS AND PROFESSIONALS WHO WOULD DEAL WITH EVERYTHING PRIVATELY AND WOULD NOT GIVE ANY FEEDBACK TO LISBREEN.

3. MORE CLERGY SOCIAL OCCASIONS, RETREATS AND DAYS OUT TOGETHER.

4. MORE TEAM MINISTRY - WITH PRIESTS LIVING IN LOOSE COMMUNITY.

5. PROPER DAYS OFF, WEEKENDS OFF AND ANNUAL HOLIDAYS - WITH THE THREE BISHOPS DOING WEEKEND PARISH WORK.

6. A PROPER PRIESTS COUNCIL - NOT JUST "ADVISORS" BUT WITH REAL DECISION MAKING FUNCTIONS.

7. MORE USE OF DEACONS AND LAY MINISTERIES.

8. PUTTING ALL ADMINISTRATION DUTIES - SCHOOLS ETC - IN THE HANDS OF QUALIFIED LAY PEOPLE AND LEVING THE PRIESTS TO BE PURE PASTORS.

9. SOME WAY FOR DIOCESAN PRIESTS AND BISHOPS TO PROPOSE CHANGE TO COMPULSORY CELIBACY TO THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH.

10. PRIESTS COMING TOGETHER IN GROUPS TO MAKE THEIR VIEWS FELT - SAFETY IN NUMBERS.

AND WHO KNOWS - MAYBE ORGANISED AND WIDESPREAD PRIEST MUTINY TO CHANGE BAD LAWS ?????

DOWN AND CONNOR CLERGY APPOINTMENTS

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF DOWN AND CONNOR - NOEL TREANOR - HAS ANNOUNCED HIS CLERGY CHANGES FOR THIS YEAR.

NOEL TREANOR ON ONE OF HIS MANY JOURNEYS

TWO DOWN AND CONNOR PRIESTS HAVE CONTACTED ME TO EXPRESS THEIR FRUSTRATION THAT THE CHANGES ARE "LACKING IN IMAGINATION" AND THAT A NUMBER OF PRIESTS ARE BEING LEFT HANGING OUT TO DRY AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN CLEARED OF ANY WRONG DOING.

THERE IS NO MENTION IN THE CHANGES OF FATHER HUGH KENNEDY WHO IS STILL LISTED IN THE DIOCESAN DIRECTORY AS ADMINISTRATOR OF ST PETER'S CATHEDRAL. FATHER KENNEDY WAS CLEARED OF ANY WRONG DOING BY A BELFAST COURT AND A CHURCH ENQUIRY. SURELY HE DESERVES TO HAVE HIS REPUTATION FULLY RESTORED BY BEEN GIVEN A PUBLIC APPOINTMENT?

HUGH KENNEDY

HE HAS BEEN SEEN IN HIS ALFA ROMEO AND IN CLERICAL ATTIRE NEAR THE CATHEDRAL. 

HIS SITUATION IS FURTHER CONFUSED BY THE FACT THAT THE PARISH PRIEST OF THE SACRED HEART PARISH FATHER CIARAN DALLAT - IN BELFAST APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN "DEMOTED" TO ASSISTANT PRIEST AND SENT TO THE CATHEDRAL.

CIARAN DALLAT

THEN THERE WAS NO APPOINTMENT FOR THE DIOCESAN CHANCELLOR WHO HAS BEEN MISSING FOR SOME TIME - WITH NO EXPLANATION TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD IN THE DIOCESE - FATHER JOHN MC MANUS

JOHN MC MANUS

21^st AUGUST 2013

DOWN AND CONNOR CLERICAL APPOINTMENTS

Having considered the pastoral needs of the people of the Diocese, Bishop Noel Treanor has made the following appointments which will take effect as of Thursday 22^nd August:

Fr Liam Blayney SPS    To be Administrator of Dunloy and Cloughmills

Fr Aidan Brankin            PP Dunloy, to be PP St Oliver Plunkett’s Parish

Fr Colin Crossey            Assistant Priest Holy Family Parish, to be Chaplain RVH

Fr Colm Curran              To be “Priest in Residence” Crumlin pro tempore

Fr Vincent Cushnahan   Assistant Priest Parish of the Nativity to pursue Licenciate studies in Canon Law at St Paul’s University, Ottawa, Canada.

Fr Ciaran Dallat              PP Sacred Heart Parish, to be Assistant Priest in St Peter’s Parish & Cathedral.

Fr Patrick Devlin             PP St Vincent de Paul, also to be Chaplain with Deaf persons

Fr Robert Fleck              PP Dunsford and Ardglass, to be PP Dundrum

Fr Patrick McCafferty    Chaplaincy team, Ulster Hospital, Dundonald

ITS VERY GOOD NEWS THAT PADDY MC CAFFERTY IS MOVING BACK FROM DUBLIN TO TAKE UP A POST IN HIS NATIVE DIOCESE

PADDY MC CAFFERTY

Fr Gerard McCloskey     Administrator Holy Family Parish, to be PP Dunsford and Ardglass

GERRY MC CLOSKEY GETS A WELCOME BREAK FROM CITY LIFE AS HE HEADS FOR COUNTY DOWN

GERRY MC CLOSKEY

HOWEVER HE WILL NO LONGER HAVE A CURATE SO HOPEFULLY HE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO GO OUT FOR THE ODD "SWA" AND SILL BE ABLE TO GET A WEE BREAK IN "SAN FRAN".

Fr Thomas McGlynn      Chaplain RVH to take a sabbatical semester leave for study

Fr Martin Magill              PP St Oliver Plunkett’s Parish, to be PP Sacred Heart Parish

Fr Patrick Neeson          To be PP Ardkeen (Kircubbin)

Fr Peter Owens              PP St Agnes, also to be Episcopal Vicar for Safeguarding

FATHER PETER OWENS NOW TAKES ON THE IMPORTANT JOB OF DIOCESAN SAFEGUARDING. BUT HE SHOULD STILL BE ABLE TO TAKE A BREAK AT HIS HOLIDAY HOME NEAR ME - JUST OUTSIDE LARNE.

Fr Brendan Smyth          Assistant Priest Glenavy and Crumlin, to be PP Holy Trinity Parish

Fr Paul Strain                 PP St John’s Parish, to be Administrator of Holy Family Parish

                                       Assistant Priest Holy Family Parish “appointment pending”

Fr Liam Toland               Assistant Priest Ballymena, to be PP St John’s Parish

MANY OF THE PRIESTS EXPECTED THAT FATHER BRIAN WATERS FROM DRUMBO PARISH WOULD BE MOVED THIS YEAR. BUT NOT SO APPARENTLY. GIVEN BRIAN'S EXPERTISE ON THE INTERNET AND WITH PHOTOGRAPHY SOME THINK THAT HIS TALENTS ARE BEING WASTED IN DRUMBO. SEE BRIAN'S PHOTOGRAPHY ON THE DRUMBO PARISH WEBSITE. 

BRIAN WATERS

AND WHY HAS FATHER PAUL SYMONDS NOT BEEN GIVEN A NEW APPOINTMENT?

PAUL SYMONDS

PAUL SYMONDS IS A GOOD MAN AND DID A LOT OF GOOD WORK IN BELFAST AND BALLYMENA

WITH SUCH A SHORTAGE OF PRIESTS PAUL SYMONDS, HUGH KENNEDY AND JOHN MC MANUS COULD BE RUNNING THREE PARISHES IN THE DIOCESE.

CAN PEDOPHILES BE CURED?

DURING THE NIGHT THE FOLLOWING COMMENT APPEARED ON THIS BLOG:

 Didn't Bishop Buckley give a roof, bed and shelter to the serial child abuser Martin. Kerr?

CHILD ABUSER - MARTIN KERR

THE SHORT, STRAIGHT ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION IS: "YES".

BUT LET US NOW TO ON TO DISCUSS THE WHOLE MATTER FULLY, OPENLY AND IN CONTEXT.

MARTIN KERR WAS BORN AND BROUGHT UP IN SORELLA STREET ON THE LOWER FALLS ROAD IN BELFAST. AS A PRIEST IN THE AREA I KNEW HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER WHO WAS NICKNAMED "MASH" KERR. MASH WAS AGGRESSIVE AND ROUGH. WHEN I WAS THERE THE IRA WAR WAS RAGING. MARTIN KERR WAS AN ALTAR BOY AT ST PETER'S CATHEDRAL AND WAS ALSO THE PARISH SCOUT LEADER!

WHAT CAUSES PEDOPHILIA?

EXPERTS HAVE YET TO DISCOVER THE CAUSE OF PEDOPHILIA. MANY EXPERTS IN THE AREA HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THINGS THAT ARE VERY COMMONLY FOUND IN PEDOPHILES: LOW SELF ESTEEM; POOR SOCIAL SKILLS; PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE PERSONALITY; COGNITIVE DISTORTION AND IMPAIRED SELF CONCEPT.

ABOUT 5% OF MEN ARE PEDOPHILES AND BETWEEN 0.4% AND 4% OF WOMEN ARE PEDOPHILES. 

OTHER COMMON PEDOPHILE TRAITS ARE: DIFFERENT BRAIN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION; LOW IQ; A RECORD OF FAILURE IN SCHOOL AND, STRANGELY ENOUGH, PEDOPHILES DO NOT SEEM TO GROW AS TALL AS NON PEDOPHILES.

MARTIN KERR HAS PROVEN HIMSELF TO BE A SERIAL PEDOPHILE AND ONE WHO DOES NOT WANT HELP.

WHEN HE WAS FIRST IN PRISON HE WROTE TO ME AND ASKED ME TO VISIT HIM IN PRISON. SHOULD I HAVE REFUSED? WHAT ABOUT THE GOSPEL - WHERE IT SAYS: "I WAS IN PRISON AND YOU VISITED ME".

WHEN HE GOT OUT OF PRISON HE TOLD ME THAT HE WANTED ME TO HELP HIM TO CHANGE AND NEVER HURT A CHILD AGAIN. I AM A CHRISTIAN AND A PRIEST. I WANT TO HELP PROTECT CHILDREN AND MAKE THE WORLD SAFER FOR THEM. OF COURSE I WANTED MARTIN KERR TO CHANGE HIS WAYS AND STAY AWAY FROM CHILDREN.

HE CAME TO STAY WITH ME FOR A FEW DAYS IN LARNE. "I WAS A STRANGER AND YOU MADE ME WELCOME. I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU FED ME."

I THEN GOT HIM A FLAT IN THE MAIN STREET OF LARNE - A BUSINESS AREA - WHERE NO FAMILIES OR CHILDREN LIVED.

I GOT HIM TO EMBARK ON A PEDOPHILE MANAGEMENT COURSE WHICH WAS ORGANISED BY THE SOCIAL SERVICES.

I ATTENDED THREE MONTHLY CHILD PROTECTION MEETINGS WITH THE POLICE, THE SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE PAROLE SERVICES - AS MARTIN KERR'S "WATCH MAN".

I ENCOURAGED HIM TO PRAY; TO REPENT OF HIS SINS AGAINST CHILDREN; TO AVOID ALL PLACES WHERE THERE WERE CHILDREN.

I ADVISED HIM NOT TO HAVE A COMPUTER OR A CAMERA. MY CONGREGATION IN LARNE AND I TOOK ON THE TASK OF WATCHING HIM AND WATCHING HIS MOVEMENTS. 

WE DID NOT LEAVE HIM ALONE ALL THE TIME - IN CASE ALONENESS AND LONLINESS DROVE HIM TO RE-OFFEND.

WE DID ALL WE COULD FOR HIM. BUT ALL TO NO AVAIL.

HE RE-OFFENDED. AS SOON AS I HEARD HE DID IT WAS I WHO REPORTED HIM TO THE POLICE. HE WAS IMMEDIATELY ARRESTED AND SENT TO PRISON. 

AND I REALISED, SADLY, THAT MARTIN KERR WAS ONE OF THOSE PEDOPHILES WHO DID NOT WANT HELP. HE DID NOT ACCEPT DEEP DOWN THE GREAT EVIL HE HAD DONE. HE WAS LIKE MANY PEDOPHILES - HE WANTED TO FOOL HIMSELF. THERE WAS NOTHING MORE I COULD DO FOR HIM.

TODAY I BELIEVE HE LIVES IN SOUTH BELFAST. I HAVE HEARD THAT FATHER GERRY REYNOLDS FROM CLONARD MONASTERY IN BELFAST MINISTERS TO HIM?   I HOPE THAT FATHER REYNOLDS IS NOT BEING TAKEN IN.

FATHER GERRY REYNOLDS

PEDOPHILIA IS ONE OF THOSE TOPICS THAT MOST PEOPLE APPEAR NOT ABLE TO DISCUSS WITHOUT BECOMING HYSTERICAL AND AGGRESSIVE.

HYSTERIA AND AGGRESSION DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WE MUST BE RATIONAL - EVEN ABOUT SUCH A DIFFICULT TOPIC.

THE TRUTH IS THIS:

A SMALL NUMBER OF PEDOPHILES WANT HELP AND DO NOT WANT TO RE-OFFEND.

MOST PEDOPHILES DO NOT WANT TO CHANGE.

PEDOPHILIA - AS WELL AS BEING A CRIME IS A MENTAL ILLNESS.

THOSE WHO WANT HELP SHOULD BE HELPED.

THOSE WHO DO NOT WANT HELP - NEED TO BE WATCHED, MONITORED, MADE LIVE AWAY FROM CHILDREN, CAUGHT, PUNISHED ETC.

IS THERE AN ARGUMENT FOR LOCKING THE WORST ONES AWAY PERMANENTLY? THERE PROBABLY IS.