Friday 16 March 2018

A SPIRITUAL BLOG?




Some comment makers on this Blog have been "going on" about how I never write a "spiritual" blog but am always writing blogs that are critical of churches, their hierarchies and their clerics. 

They want a blog about things like Lent or St. Patrick.

I think these people are very narrow in their definition of what is "spiritual".

Everything in existence is "spiritual" in the sense that everything has the capacity to touch the spiritual ( inner ) part of men and women.

Some people find churches and worship to be spiritual experiences.

Other's spirits are touched deeply by a mountain, a sky, a waterfall, an ocean etc.

Others find music and art as the entrance to the world of the spirit.

Others find a fine wine or a special meal to be spiritually uplifted.

For others, it's architecture, antiquity, travel, steam trains, beautiful cars, the miracle of air flight that opens up their spirits.


For animal lovers like me, we find spirituality in our bonds with our pets.

MY ALBINO JACK RUSSELL - ARIA - AFTER CHRISTMAS LUNCH 2017



So ALL is spiritual.

It's not just thoughts of the Sacred Heart of Jesus or the Immaculate Heart of Mary or Padre Pio's stigmata that are spiritual.

When we engage in constructive criticism of the Church and clerics we engage on the spiritual task of exposing the unholy and the scandalous as the first stage towards healing and perfecting. This, of course, can be spiritually painful and distressing to some. But pain and distress is the cornerstone of Christianity - the pain and distress of Calvary.




Is it not the case that very often the hand that hurts is the hand that heals?

While those looking on superficially can accuse us of hatred and scandal-mongering - is it not possible that unbeknown to onlookers, and even ourselves, the Spirit can be at work?

God's ways are indeed strange and His straighter writings often appear crooked to those who "do not have eyes to see".

Of course, a balanced spirituality requires us to encounter both the negative and the positive.

Sometimes we are not good at distinguishing the negative from the positive - AND - the doctor who cuts us open at the beginning of the surgery may not be the one who stitches us closed when it ends.

So, I contend this Blog is ALWAYS spiritual.

That does not mean that those reading it may recognize it as such!




89 comments:

  1. An excellent blog, Bishop P. .

    There is nothing on Earth that is not spiritual. How could it be otherwise? Since all that exists, whether material or otherwise, comes from the supreme spirit/spirituality: from God himself.

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  2. Pat, what a self serving piece of goobledy gook! You are using the word "spiritual" to justify your hatred of the Catholic Church. Your claim that those of us who don't agree with you are blind is bizarre. There's nothing spiritual in the langauge of judgment, condemnation or stoning people or walking them into the ground. Nothing spiritual about the vulgarity of Magna Blue or of others who use this blog to spew out their venom and poison. Take a particular gospel of Lent and e plire its relevance. Reflect on Holy Week. Reflect on St. Patrick....these feasts and moments provide deep well-springs for nourishing our inner spirit. Try it....

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    Replies
    1. That is not enough, Pat . You surely can make a better response to that poster than to accuse him of blindness.. Very disappointing.

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    2. Are you sinless, 01:00? Because the judgementalism, condemnation, and dismissiveness in your very post suggest it.

      Yes, I am vulgar at times; I don't deny it. But there are worse sins; much worse.

      Some of my posts have been deeply spiritual; others biblically insightful. And if you think this is blowing my own trumpet, then think again: the praise came from others, not from me.

      You, and those like you, see what you want to see about me. But by doing so you ignore the beautiful white damask all around that ugly stain.😆

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    3. 14.22: Magna, you have a long road to walk to find your inner redemption. You are vulgarity par excellence and your comment clearly demonstrates your self delusion. You have a weird, bizarre insight into yourself. If you have redeeming qualities, then act responsibly, maturely and intelligently. All too often you besmirch the integrity of readonable and balanced contributors by nasty words. Perhaps, you should listen to what others say.....and "reform" your heart and soul.

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    4. But Magna, when you attack other posters with all your nastiness and venom, it's not pretty.
      .... And it's certainly not excusable, make no mistake about that.

      Delete
  3. I have to agree about pets. I have learned a lot from our horse Rosie. She is a cob not a posh horse and she grew up with Travellers. About Spirituality I have noticed on the blog that many comments focus on having a go at individuals as opposed to putting the issue in the centre and referring to individuals to clarify the point in an appropriate way.

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  4. Bishop Buckley,
    I opened this article today thinking that there might be a change of tone, I genuinely looked forward to having some spiritual input from you. Only to be disappointed.
    Like you, I can genuinely see the spiritual content in all that exists: it can be either positive or negative. However, spirituality cannot be reduced to ‘Lent’ or ‘St Patrick’, neither is it confined to the realms of the Immaculate Heart or indeed the Sacred Heart. Spirituality surely is about our relationship with Jesus Christ (whose name wasn’t mentioned once in your article) and how we take him to the world in the manner of our lives.
    Spirituality however will not get you readers, sex and scandal will. I understand why you write what you do, I can sympathise with your hunger for justice, transparency and truth. I feel that you rejoice in the downfall of others though, something which is wholly unspiritual.

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    Replies
    1. Did you miss my reference to Calvary?

      Who was that about?

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    2. PS: Are you saying that anyone who does not have a relationship with Jesus Christ CANNOT be spiritual?

      Spirituality is bigger than Christianity.

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    3. 9.41: Now you're getting lost Pat! Think if the parables of the Prodigal Son, the Good Samritan etc..The scriptures of Holy Week provide great challenges.. just do it...

      Delete
    4. 7.06 ....... Please give us a spiritual paragraph with the same amount of words that you reprimanded Pat with.
      No one stopping you, come on let us have your spiritual words.
      We are all ears here.
      Waiting ??????

      Delete
  5. Who is Fr Seamus Reid deceased who abused an 11 year old boy at st Colmans?

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  6. St Joseph’s Newry ...a priest Fr Seamus Reid abusing boys for years.

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  7. Omg, a child sleeps in the woods because a priest abused him.
    Who in the Catholic Church knew that this was going on?
    Talk of St Joseph’s school in Newry.
    Abused in the confessional.

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    Replies
    1. A 73 year old man speaks for the first time on radio today about his abuse by Fr Reid.

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    2. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-43428021

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    3. It says: "Fr Seamus Reid died in 2001. In 2015 the Catholic Church confirmed a catalogue of allegations had been made against the priest."

      When were the first allegations reported? Probably years before he died.

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    4. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09v622y#play

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  8. How do you come up with this stuff?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jesus called it shining light into dark places.

      He also spoke about people who prefer the darkness to the light.

      Are you one of them?

      Delete
  9. Opus Dei,
    In the work of God all things are spiritual.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Strange goings-on can also be spiritually uplifting; inspiring happiness or hope for the individual(s) after +Pat reveals the truth about them.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The claim that the blog is not spiritual is rich coming from how we would be reading what is in Matthew 23 on Jesus' blog if he had one. Matthew 23 They do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

    5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries[a] wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

    8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.


    13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. [14] [b]

    15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.

    16 “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’ 17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18 You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ 19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. 22 And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.

    23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

    25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

    27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

    29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!

    33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can prove virtually anything if you copy wallops of the Bible out of context. Isn't that so poster @ 15.29?

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  12. You very busy copying and pasting..enjoy the rest of your day 15 .29

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  13. I was one who asked for more spirituality on this blog, which I think is a reasonable request, especially as you see yourself as a bishop, Pat.
    And like a number of people I am left wondering if I could ask about the homilies you preach, or your thoughts on the sacraments etc.... So often this blog descends into name calling and backbiting. I am not trying to defend anyone and I hand it to Sean Page and John King for having the courage to print their names. There are greater people than I am.

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  14. Pat, I was in Belfast City Centre this morning, walking along Bedford Street. I was wearing my clerical collar and a young man approached me and spat into my face and called me a dirty f**king paedo. I’m still in shock over it. I’ve never hurt, harmed or gave offence to any human being in my priestly life. It saddens me that we have been reduced to this, perhaps the other side of the story can be told - not all priests are paedophiles. It’s the likes of Stephen Nolan etc who isn’t highlighting this fact. I am totally disgusted at the abuse of children and young adults by Clergy, I’ve just decided not to wear my clerical dress in the streets again.

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    1. I’m ashamed Father @16.31 of the treatment you received. We are not all like that in N Ireland, I think the media need to know about this. I’m glad you were able to share it with Bishop Pat. I don’t think he would condone such a horrible action.

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    2. Sorry, Father you had that experience.

      It has happened to me too - and I've always called the police.

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    3. Priest at 16:50 - did you call the police? That is a hate crime.

      “Not all priests are paedophiles”, you say - which makes me wonder if this actually happened.

      The vast majority of priests are NOT paedophiles! The vast majority of priests have hurt no one.
      So instead of writing to Buckley’s blog, get on to the PSNI. There’s bound to be CCTV footage of this incident, if, in fact, it actually happened.

      If you don’t go to the police, you are colluding in the demonisation of all priests. Stop blaming Stephen Nolan. Go to the cops.

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    4. Stephen Nolan is an investigative radio presenter, at least that is what he is good at.He wouldn’t have such a big following if he only talked about the good some people do. So leave him out of your complaint.

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    5. This is a sad but all too familiar story. An abuser priest preyed on children in my parish — many years ago, before I was born. I was the first priest in decades to wear my clerical collar. It fostered a lot of unease initially, especially among the faithful who love their priests, and love the victims and survivors of those terrible crimes. I was advised to remove the collar. Instead, I've doubled my efforts at smiling at everyone, showing warmth and interest. My hope is that I can rehabilitate "the collar" — as in, rehabilitate "the priesthood," which is integral to sacramental life, after all. Perhaps I have failed, but at least I have tried.

      Many priests in my diocese resent my wearing the collar, which they very intentionally removed — again, before I was born. But I begrudge no one. If you have resolved, Anon @16.50, to permanently dispense with the collar, I can only greet you with words of respect and understanding. God be with you Father. Keep doing His work regardless.

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  15. Good idea16.50..after what we read and heard today on the early morning programme, can you expect t be greeted by respect.?????
    It’s the covering up andsilence by Mc Areavy and co that led to your encounter today.
    Leave the garb at home in future.
    Even on the altar I doubt if any priest is respected .
    What about all the 60 to 70 year olds in Newry, or who were educated in Newry....I’m so sad for them and others who were entrusted to the Rc schools...

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    1. You are totally representative of anti Church. A charlatan who speaks on the side lines but no guts when it comes down to it.

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  16. It’s too late for the other side to be told.
    The tar is spread with the same brush....blame lies firmly in the clerical hierarchy...they knew...they did nothing...absolutely nothing.
    All decent priests should resign enmass...no money on plates.
    It’s called standing up and being counted.

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  17. Priest @ 16.50 you deserve all you get.

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    Replies
    1. 18.09: I hope someday when you'll find yourself screaming for help and mercy that you will be left in pain, alone and in deep suffering. Try to imagine being spat upon! It happened to Christ....you probably follow him!! You are such an ignoramus. Go and educate yourself...

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    2. 21.12...what a disgraceful reply to 18.09, no I’m not that person, but an observer and poster.
      You sound as if u ‘praying prayers ‘on that poster.
      Why wd he/ she be screaming in pain for you...u are not a doctor.?...so if it happened to Christ, what did he do...pray prayers on the spitter.
      It certainly wasn’t a nice thing to happen, but what else can u expect...don’t blame the paedophiles either...they co7ld have been jailed immediately...yes even back then.
      No Blame the bishops ,blame the paedo’s colleagues ...they all covered up and allowed it to continue....hence the spitting.
      Anyone who covered up....Sean Brady....Mc Areavey...are as guilty as Finnegan and Reid.

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    3. 22.00 - You too should educate yourself. Your comment is weird and confusing. Calm down. More of the incitement to hatred....

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    4. I totally agree with 22.00

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  18. @16.50 I hope you reported this to the PSNI. This is a hate crime. A very worrying development. Not surprising after some have being using this to whip up anti clericalism and anti catholic priests.

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    1. So, 18:28, you are pro-clericalism? Because this is what your (confused?) post suggests. Or, more likely, is it just that you don't know what the word 'clericalism' means?

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    2. Please explain18 .28...who are these some.
      Neighbours and family of the abused are whipping up nothing.
      The people who covered up abusing paedos are the ones guilty here.
      Paedos are paedos...but those who KNEW what was going on are the guilty ones

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    3. Magna @20.52 No surprise from you. You're record never changes. Any dig at the Catholic Church and you are at the forefront with your rock.you don't cast the first stone but cast the second and even the third. You pathetic excuse of a human being.

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    4. Magna @ 20.52. Your ignorant answer doesn't need a response. Thank you



      M8

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  19. I am shocked by what you say Father at 16.50. No one deserves such vile treatment. You are not personally involved with these horrible cases of abuse. I hope Bishops Pat can reach out to you. This story needs to be exposed in the media and I think Bishop Pat, as my family agreed earlier. you need to go back on the Nolan Show.

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    Replies
    1. 18.35: Sadly, Pat has incited much hostility against the Church, much of his comments being justified. But his relentless outpouring of self righteous condemnation of the Church and its personnel does nothing to support, encourage or affirm the genuinely good priests. He has allowed some outrageous comments - poisonous and dangerous - to be posted on his blog. The overall impression portrayed is that the entire body is corrupt. We all accept just, honest and legitimate criticism, but the driven agenda by Pat incites a hatred of the Catholic Church and its priests. He carries too much past baggage and personal weaknesses to be fair, objective or balanced. We each need to look at ourselves honestly in our conscience before we throw rocks at others. I am sorry for the many priests who, because of the failures of some of their colleagues, are branded similarly. With a growing secularism and anti- Catholic bigotry, priests are often fearful in public. Pat most certainly will not be their protector!

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    2. Why on earth do you think Pat should go on the Stephen Nolan show
      The answer is not as obvious as you think though - - not nearly as obvious.

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    3. 21:08, are you living in a reality bubble? Roman Catholic priests themselves have 'incited much hostility against the Church' through sexual abuse of children and through its cover-up by their colleagues. Bishop Pat has merely reported this.

      You, truly, don't have a firm grip on reality.

      The only people who can redeem priests in people's eyes are priests themselves. This is not the time for them to engage in whining self-pity, but to invest their time, energy and prayer in personal reformation. But all the signs so far suggest that this is not happening. All the way from the Vatican to the streets of Belfast lies the trail of clerical arrogance. Priests will not change because they have no wish to do so, such is their love of power and prestige.

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    4. 18.35
      Feel sad if that is your tipple.
      Pat is a lovely man who says it like it is.
      It wasn’t him who covered up the abusing paedophiles.
      Finnegan and Reid destroyed so many lives.
      We can do without hypocrites in our church.
      The hypocrites were the ones who covered up for the evil men.
      It wasn’t the evil men who destroyed so many young boys, it was the ones who knew and did nothing.
      The evil men could have been thrown out after their first encounter.
      If the small abused boy had seen the evil man getting dismissed, he ,the small boy would have healed very quickly.

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    5. 22.12 you truly are a nasty person.
      I hope you are not in any profession where you connect with the public.

      Delete
    6. Magna at 22.19: When you come out of your den of hatred, bigotry and prejudice, then you might earn respect. Your reality is so narrow, skewed and dangerous, you are disabled in your humanity. You have limited emotional intelligence with anyone except with your nightly reliance on booze! You are a boorish, arrogant fool. I support, respect and value the ministry of priests, the majority of them being men of immense integrity, humanity and true commitment. Of course, having been defined as both unsuitable and undesirable- a danger - and rejected as a prospective priest, you haven't quite moved on in your life...or forgotten your humiliation.

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    7. 22.46: Just to allay your fears. Yes, I work in a caring profession with great care and comnitment. My integrity is never in doubt. But I hate the smart asses like 18.09. I'd enjoy their experience of pain and suffering because it might open their stewed minds, their hatred of orhers. I think my reasoning is rational. I do not tolerate gutter snipes like 18.09. Ever. And perhaps a torrent of spitting at him might bring sense to his cracked mind.

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    8. So you can’t pass a day on here without slagging off Magna23.02
      You define yourself when you call another poster a fool.calling a poster this word just denigrates you...not Magna.
      You have no respect for yourself using the above language, so don’t start saying who you have respect for.
      Not a day goes past but you just have to post and lower yourself deeper each day by your words.
      How humiliating for you.

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    9. MourneManMichael17 March 2018 at 02:10

      I wonder how much presumption there is in describing Magna as "unsuitable and undesirable"?
      I simply ask that in consideration of his many previous comments which, to me, show evidence of a highly intelligent questioning frame of mind unafraid to seek answers to difficult and uncomfortable questions.
      As we well know, the traditional RC establishment does not like to be questioned. Could it be that in earlier days a less mature Magna simply proved too difficult for the small minded reactionary establishment of his seminary, in consequence of which they took the easy option of getting rid of "the problem"?
      Or alternatively, might it just be, as in my own case, he chose to leave of his own volition in consequence of finding too many unsatisfactory, unreasonable requirements, both in terms of religious belief and behavioural expectations?
      I don't know. But in asking, I now leave aside, (without criticism or comment), what commentators point out as Magna being abusive and confrontational. Irrespective of that, I find many of his comments very apt,insightful, and informative, and I prefer to learn from them rather than criticise his 'off piste' comments.
      It may well be that Magna's sometimes acerbic responses derive from well founded hurt at misunderstandings, such as have been also levelled at +Pat. Perhaps criticisms ought to well bear such consideration in mind.
      MMM

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    10. MMM at 2.10: Magna has proved all too often his vulgarity, detestation and hatred of others. His language is offensive. He's incapable of calm, fair and balanced argument. For very complex reasons, he does not possess respect for himself or others. You may wish to attribute a kindness of understanding to his behaviour. That's fine, but the truth is he has a disordered personality, leading to bizarre outbursts, crazy, hateful rants and much bigotry. He needs to use his intellect in a more benificial, positive way. Anf yes, he was deemed unsuitable and undesirable - and for good reason. That I know.

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    11. 01.01: 17 March: Magna deserves harsh criticism and all the opprobrium poured on him. He invites it upon himself with his offensive and vulgar outbursts, laced with hatred, poison and prejudice. When he learns self rezpect and respect for others, then that respect will be reciprocated. Why should any category of people endure his hatred and abuse? He has been justly criticised by many contributors, if you have eyes to see! And justifiably so...

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  20. Only for Stephen Nolan, we would all be genuflecting to bishops....the covereruppers...they are disgraced.

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    1. Stephen Nolan - people in glasshouses

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  21. Bishop Pat, I wouldn’t want you to be subjected to this abuse let alone another Priest. He seems very distressed by it all. A Priest abused on the streets of Northern Ireland - I can’t believe it.

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    1. You can't believe it, 18:58? I can't believe you can't believe it.

      You're really old, aren't you? I mean R-E-A-L-L-Y old, to have such unqualified (such obsequious) reverence for Roman Catholic priests?😎

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    2. Many priests have been subjected to abuse on the streets of N Ireland . Many lay people have been abused too..
      I dare say many of those lay people wish that the abuse had only consisted of a one-off spit .. But it didn't.
      It was repeated again and again and it went on for years.. There is no comparison .

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    3. People get abused on the streets all the time.
      If you wear a particular football top in the wrong area...you could expect abuse.
      If you carrying a placard objecting to new ways of being....you can be abused.
      So no I’m not in the least surprised by the person wearing the clerical collar getting abused in certain streets of Belfast.Bedford st is a quiet st, so I suppose the person knew he wd get away with it.
      I have a friend who is a priest, he wd never shop downtown with his collar on, not since the time of Fortune or those others, especially those who abused in Belfast.

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    4. When did lay people wear clerical garb

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    5. Many differences between you and I Magna @ 20.58. Sorry to lower my tone to the gutter, like you, I wasn't kicked out of the Priesthood.

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    6. I wasn’t wearing a fottball Top

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    7. @22.27 Can you name any of the “many” Priests you claim were subjected to abuse on the streets? Name one please.

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    8. My uncle, Edward Murphy CC (May he rest in peace)and Fr Ed. Daly in Derry and I frequently saw abuse in the 1980s..But there were many instances..

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    9. It was par for the course in certain areas of the city and still is...

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  22. Well if this isn't the greatest load of tosh! A pathetic convoluted attempt to justify the mean spiritedness and warped mindedness that characterises so much of this blog.Honestly Pat you are what you are, don't try to justify your hatred of the church and your bitter spirit with flannel.

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  23. Yes,, the old days of clerical dress being worn with pride are long gone.. Sadly now it's the badge of shame that turns people's stomachs. You can thank some of your colleagues for that I'm afraid and there is no point in blaming Stephen Nolan.

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    Replies
    1. I wear it with pride now, I never wore it before much.

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  24. Yes,, the old days of clerical dress being worn with pride are long gone.. Sadly now it's the badge of shame that turns people's stomachs. You can thank some of your colleagues for that I'm afraid and there is no point in blaming Stephen Nolan.

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    1. You know 21.12 you are actually more bad than the person who spat.
      To threaten / wish pain on another poster on a blog is dreadful.
      Where has our Christianity gone?

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    2. 23.08: When 18.09 said the priest deserved the spitting, I imagine him to be an utter, macho, thug, deserving of contempt. It's thugs like bim who care for no one's feelings and probably ridicules all before him. While I am a pacifist by nature, people like 18.09 deserve to suffer in pain for their crass ignorance and hatred. Prison perhaps....

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    3. Are you a Christian? You turn my Stomach!!

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    4. I never said I wore my clerical dress with pride - you said it

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    5. If you can't wear your clerical dress with pride, then don't wear it at all. Have some backbone,man!

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  25. I imagine readers will be wondering what tomorrow's blog will be about, especially after today's Nolan Show on the radio.

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    Replies
    1. Seems like you imagined wrong.
      Pat doesn’t like playing second fiddle to Stephen.
      Anyway there wasn’t anything that could be added to the programme.
      I was in tears listening to those men.
      It was beyond distressing....no wonder there was spitting in Bedford st.

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  26. Bishop Pat, I was with my wife in a Restaurant in Aughnacloy today and there was a young Priest dressed in his collar. He was with 2 females having a laugh. A refreshing sign

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    1. Yes indeed.... Well I suppose Aughnacloy is Aughnacloy...

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  27. I dont wear the badge of shame very much at all but I wear it more now because of bigots like you.

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    Replies
    1. "bigots like you.."@. 00.12
      That is aggressive rash judgement of your reader .
      Your motivation for wearing clerical clothing is immature and not at all what it should be. No wonder you find it so difficult to empathise with the hurt and disillusionment of your reader! You have a long way to go before you can ever begin to regard your formation as being successful. You should have left such attitudes behind in, at the very latest, the 6th Form. Very sad but in some ways, not surprising.

      Delete
  28. Seems that Pat isn’t going to add to Nolan show, Stephen has stole Pats limelight there...or is that ...stole his thunder.
    Pat wouldn’t even acknowledge any posts on his blog today referring to Reid.

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  29. To be honest, Bishop Pat, I think those critics are perhaps a bit unfair, who lament that there's nothing spiritual about your blog. You do post your homilies fairly regularly, which abound in spiritual content and supernatural outlook.

    I don't agree with you on much. You see the popes as part of the problem; I view them as sincere, albeit imperfect, reformers. But I ALWAYS take heed of your homilies. They are resonant, and demonstrative of your prayer life. If this blog becomes more supernaturally minded, and less critical, then we will all of us benefit from your wisdom.

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  30. 23.58
    You aren’t behaving like a Christian.
    None of us can be a judge and jury.
    Just pray for the poster who annoyed you, or if you can’t just ignore.
    Maybe the both of you like using very descriptive words, I don’t understand either of you.

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