Wednesday 3 January 2018

CATHOLIC BISHOP DEFENDS GAY COMEDIAN





Patsy McGarry The Irish Times.

A Catholic bishop has called for “balance, proper proportion and fair play” so that comedian Al Porter “may feel free and welcome to make us laugh again”.

Bishop Eamonn Walsh, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin whose area of responsibility includes Tallaght, referred to Mr. Porter as “our local comedian”.

He hoped 2018 would “be the year that we allow justice take its course and not usurp it through public condemnation, humiliation, and sentence without trial. May heads on plates be off the menu in 2018.”

He said “darkness” was visited on comedian “before justice to all could be processed”.
Last November Mr Porter, who will be 25 on Sunday, resigned from Today FM where he had presented a lunchtime show since February of last year, after four separate complaints from men alleging that he touched them inappropriately in incidents dating back to 2012. 




Further allegations followed.

Mr. Porter also stepped down from his lead role in the Olympia Theatre Christmas pantomime, and a planned repeat of the final episode of TV3’s Blind Date on November 18th, which he hosted, was pulled. The station said it would be inappropriate to broadcast it.
On November 19th, Mr. Porter said he was “completely taken aback by reports in the media and on the social networks . . . and by the scale and tone of the vitriol”.


PAT SAYS:

I like Al Porter and his type of humour and indeed the way he makes us laugh at the Catholic Church and bishops and priests.

However, serious allegations have been made against him and he has retired, for now, from public life.

If the allegations have any criminal overtones then they should be referred to the Garda.

If people feel that Al Porter hurt them in some "civil" manner then they have recourse to the lawyers and the courts.


It is strange that a Catholic bishop has come out in such very public support of Mr. Porter given various things he has said about the Catholic Church and it's clergy.

Things like:


Irish Times. 01.12.2016.
"When did he lose his faith? “I went over to World Youth Day in Madrid. And I smoked weed for the first time and I was drinking and I was really attracted to this young priest who was there. And there were other people on the pilgrimage who were shaking and crying and saying they had experienced something divine. I felt nothing. It was really overcrowded, and Pope Benedict was quite underwhelming, and I remember thinking, ‘Everything I’ve been talking about that’s divine is really human.’
“And then I ended up having a night of booze and weed and sleeping with that priest. We had wild, euphoric, wonderful sex, and I went, ‘You know what? [Being a priest] is not for me.’”


It seems a bit strange to me that a Catholic Bishop would come out in public support of a comedian who said he spent Catholic World Youth Day in Madrid:


- Smoking weed.

- Boozing.

- Having a night of "WILD, EUPHORIC, WONDERFUL SEX" with a young Catholic priest.




39 comments:

  1. Disgusted Dublin ADM3 January 2018 at 00:51

    Pat, what a strange comment from a Dublin Bishop, this same Bishop who never cried foul when priests were accused, this same bishop who never uttered one word in support of priests later shown to be unjustly accused. The said comedian's humor is vulgar and offensive to many and decidedly unfunny. We can only wonder at the bishop's motivation in his defense, lets hope he hasn't eaten of this particular (rotten) fruit.

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    1. He's the invisible man. I can't believe that careerist Dermot Farrell is to be the bishop of Ossory.

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    2. Pat 11.48: Your glib comment is totally unfair. Such a summation is harsh, unkind and UNTRUE. Pat, why such a crappy remark? Compared to your CV, I'd implicitly trust Bishop Walsh anytime. I have great respect for him and all he can be accused of in his comments about Al Porter is Christian charity and mercy, qualities that you do not possess when people are on the ground!!

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    3. @ 18:01 If that useless bastard of a bishop was really interested in "Christian charity and mercy" then why the hell does he not speak up for the likes of Katie Ascough and many others who have suffered injustices for only doing what is right?? If the useless bastard of a bishop was really interested in "Christian charity and mercy" then why the hell does he not speak up for the many seminarians who are unmercilessly thrown out of Maynooth simply for expressing an orthodox catholic faith??? Poster at 18:01 you are an absolute hypocritical deceiving lying twisted imbecile who wouldn't recognise authentic "Christian charity and mercy" in a million years..

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  2. You're right to say it sounds strange that a Catholic bishop should come out in 'public support' of Al Porter: let's face it, these men are not collectively known now for their love of justice, especially justice for gay people. (In the States, some of these bishops continue to sack, from Church employment, workers who come out either as gay, or as married to a same-sex partner.)

    So what is Bishop Walsh's motivation here? Is it possible its nothing more sinister than that he's just a decent fellow...unlike too many of his episcopal colleagues? I suppose time will leave us none the wiser. As usual.

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  3. It's a strange one. If there is any suitable substance in the allegations against Mr Porter they need to be addressed. I wonder why Mr Porter backed down so easily. Justice is for everyone. Let's hope 218 is a good year

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  4. A bishop preaching the gospel. Reminiscent of John 7.53-8.11.

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  5. A dear priest friend of mine now departed this life was the victim of a sex abuse allegation which was later found to be false. To say that man suffered is an understatement, he went through hell. He was stood down from ministry and a statement read from the altar in his parish. The church he served so faithfully for nearly 50 years now treated him like shit. Why didn't the said bishop write to his flock then in defence of a man who has given far more to Irish society than any two-bit comedian. The sad thing is these guys just don't get it.
    My friend worked hard not to allow his experience make him bitter but his experience of being treated as the lowest of the low by the church he loved wounded him deeply. So Bishop Walsh should spare us his cri de coeur, and mock indignation.

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    1. 8.58 You make a valid point. Those accused in the wrong should be vindicated

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  6. If there are serious allegations, then the Law will have to take its course. It should be the very same justice for everyone and not depend on whether or not the accused is a famous comedian or TV personality etc. That was the mistake that was made with Jimmy Saville... Oh no!.. we can't go blaming him.. He's too famous to be done without!

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  7. A very dear priest friend of mine now departed once told me about his experiences at the hands of a Canon in Belfast who bullied the young priests in his parish. He was a big man who used his size and demeanor to intimidate. By contrast a small skinny whippet of a Bishop - well regarded as a scholar ordered the same priest back from holiday after just two days to say evening mass in a church in Belfast. The same Bishop did this not because he had no choice but because he took a dislike to said priest. My dear priest friend gave his life to the priesthood and was one of the best men I ever knew. His goodness overshadowed these so called leaders of priests. What happens to men when they take on higher office? Or are they already of a type that guarantees them promotion in an organization dominated by bullying and bombastic leaders?

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    1. "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear"

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    2. Must be short of issues in Ireland when the need is to feature an elderly retired Bishop who has had his day.
      Must be more to talk about in Ireland than this Bishop.

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    3. I stand corrected and admit my mistake I have got the Walsh's mixed up he is the one who resigned and Pope benedict did not accept it.

      Strange appointment with the new Bishop of Ossory given history of the Maynooth.

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    4. there are dark forces in Maynooth

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    5. Pat, your silly one liner, stupid comments do nothing for your "intelligence". They are stupid. Act a little more discerningly.

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  8. There is little real fraternity or loving charity in diocesean priesthood unless you’re part of the “in crowd”. So said my brother a priest of 43 years when he died.

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    1. I have come across that sort of thing in my own lay profession.
      Can I tell you how I dealt with and would do so again if I found myself not part of the 'in crowd "?
      The trick is to begin to forge friendships with at first one other outsider and then a second one - - In other words, create your own"in crowd"!
      Before you know it people will be wanting to be in your loop.
      If you are a friendly communicative sort of person you can do this in almost work or club situation in which you find yourself. A little bit of initial quiet effort...
      I nearly forgot to mention the most important thing..! Don't regard the original "in crowd" as somehow being the opposition or the "enemy"! Don't ostracise any of them.. They're just a separate grouping of friends but you have now got your group too!

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  9. If Walsh were a member of cabinet he'd likely have resigned by now and RTE Prime Time would be airing a long hour special on him. sad sad sad man. Eamonn ABUSE IS ABUSE.

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  10. he will likely give another mealy mouthed apology. Dublin will release some kind of generic apology that's been pulled from the desk of Martin Long in Maynooth. Its not good enough. Eamonn Walsh has effectively condoned the abusive nature of sexual harassment etc

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  11. All these guys with the pointy hats in Ireland have something in common. They are slow learners. Ireland is done with them and their ilk. No matter how much posturing they do or events they run the people of this country have seen them for what they are and what they represent and are calling time. Look inside the empty churches and look how many young people follow the band now! Enough said.

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    1. 15.55: your clumsily expressed venom and hate sentiments do not contribute in an intelligent way to the seriousness of issues re: Al Porter. You should flush your hate where you flush all other dirt that comes from your body. To use your own words..."enough said"...Trust you get the message.

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    2. Was your Church empty even at Christmas?

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    3. 21.37: No, my Church was overflowing at Christmas,thank God for all six masses. Incredible crowds who showed amazing generosity! I am grateful for the encouragement given to me by many, including young people. You may be surprised but it truly was a lovely Christmas in my Parish.

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    4. I couldnt see any venom in the original comment, just a statement of fact

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  12. I wonder is Dublin afraid Al will squeal about the priest he had sex with at WYD when he was 18? And Eamonn is trying to keep him sweet?

    In any case, it is simply bizarre, Walsh’s intervention.

    Does Eamonn perhaps enjoy ”funny”, “dirty yarns” told by young gay men?

    A lot of people don’t find Porter at all funny.

    If he was taking uninvited sexual liberties with others then that is a criminal offence. Eamonn Walsh would have been wiser to keep his mouth shut whilst the matter is investigated by competent authorities.

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    1. How come Al Porter's alleged "uninvited sexual liberties with others then that is a criminal offence", and Keith O'Brien uninvited sexual liberties with others were not? I wonder.

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    2. Strange that, eh?

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    3. I’m sure if they had complained to the police they would have been investigated as such?

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    4. Did O’Brien’s accusers got to the police? Porter’s did. The police can only investigate if they receive a complaint.

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  13. Bishop Walsh is right to remind us of the gospel imperatives of justice, truth, common decency and fairness. However, I believe he has made an error of judgment re: Al Porter. This comedian has made very vulgar jokes about Church and priesthood, has mocked religion, is very coarse and has crossed boundaries in his behaviour with people. Sexual harassment is always a serious matter and public calls by Bishop Walshe for "mercy" for Al Porter are inappropriate as the impression is given that we should all roll out the red carpet of welcome irrespective of allegations, which, if levelled against a priest, would instantly require him standing aside. And, no Bishop would ever call for "fairness", "kindness" or "understanding" be given to the priest. I have no difficulty with Bishop Walsh giving support by calling privately to Porter's family but on this issue, I believe he is totally wrong. Ask any priest who has been falsely accused. Far from receiving any kindness, they have been abandoned and treated like pariahs by the Bishops.

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  14. Yes a former president of Maynooth getting his reward.

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  15. Perhaps Porter or his representative actively sought out the bishop's good reference if he thought it would influence the Court.
    The law should be completely fair in its application whether or not someone is famous. The bishop must have heard of the Jimmy Saville case. Jimmy Saville was such a well-known personality that no one wanted to spill the beans on him, or rather, anyone who tried to speak out was immediately shushed up.

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  16. Sorry, Bishop Pat, to go off topic for a moment, but on the subject of Martin Luther, blog readers might be interested in a two-part docudrama on YouTube: Martin Luther, Driven to Defiance (part 1); and Martin Luther, The Reluctant Revolutionary (part 2). Both programmes are narrated, very well indeed, by our own Liam Neeson. Luther is portrayed by Timothy West.

    A reader informed yesterday's blog of the docudrama about Luther currently available on Netflix. While it is a good production on balance (and I am grateful to the reader for this info), the YouTube docudrama is considerably better on a number of levels.

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  17. Bishop Walsh is a qualified Barrister-at-law and would not throw his mitre into the ring lightly. I suspect he was put under pressure from the pink gin ladies of Dublin diocese.

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  18. Eamonn Walsh addressed the Maynooth intake of 1986, all eighty-seven of us. As I recall he went down really badly and was querulous and most certainly not a comedian.

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  19. I have no knowledge of this case but reading between the lines, could it be that Eamonn Walsh is doing the decent thing because instead of staying aloof he has had to face that this young professional may be in danger of total despair and its consequences and that appeals have been made to him personally.

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