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PDF versionIreland closes Vatican embassy
by John L Allen Jr on Nov. 03, 2011
By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
In a move that will likely be taken in some quarters as a snub, Ireland has decided to close its embassy to the Holy See. In effect, the move means that Ireland will no longer have full-time diplomatic representation at the Vatican.
Even after the embassy's closure, Ireland will still have full diplomatic relations with the Vatican. Today’s move was announced in tandem with the closure of two other Irish diplomatic missions, in Iran and in East Timor.
An Irish official said that the country was obliged to make budget cuts in accord with the terms of an EU/IMF rescue plan, and that while the embassy to the Vatican was one of Ireland’s oldest embassies, its work could be performed by a non-resident official.
Though both the Irish government and the Vatican made statements today insisting that the relationship is on a solid footing, the closure nevertheless comes against the backdrop of mounting diplomatic tension between the two parties, primarily fueled by the sexual abuse crisis in the once ultra-Catholic nation.
In July, a government investigation of the Cloyne diocese in Ireland found cases of sexual abuse which were allegedly mishandled as recently as 2009. Many Irish commentators faulted the Vatican for its handling of the crisis, including Prime Minister Enda Kenny, who publicly blasted what he called the “dysfunction, disconnection and elitism, the narcissism, that dominates the culture of the Vatican to this day.”
Some Irish politicians floated the idea of extending criminal penalties for failure to report accusations of abuse even to the sacrament of the confessional.
In the wake of the furor touched off by the Cloyne report and Kenny’s remarks, the Vatican announced it was recalling its ambassador to Ireland for “consultations.”
In September, the Vatican issued an usually detailed 11,000-word response to Kenny’s criticism. Among other things, it argued that a 1997 letter from a Vatican official to the Irish bishops, warning them that mandatory reporter policies could conflict with church law, was not intended to prevent the bishops from reporting child abuse to the police. Instead, the Vatican said, the point was to make sure that abusers could not evade ecclesial punishment on a technicality.
In the context of that back-and-forth, some observers may be tempted to see the closure of the Irish embassy as a further rebuke by the government.
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Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh, by tradition the Primate of Ireland, today expressed "profound disappointment" over the move.
"This decision seems to show little regard for the important role played by the Holy See in international relations and of the historic ties between the Irish people and the Holy See over many centuries," Brady said.
Apart from the specifics of the Irish situation, some Vatican-watchers might wonder if today's decision could be a harbinger of things to come. Last year, veteran Italian journalist Massimo Franco published a book titled Once Upon a Time, There was a Vatican,arguing that the Holy See's international influence is in decline.
Franco described a scene at a diplomatic reception in Rome in which one Western ambassador to the Vatican looked around the room at his colleagues, and openly wondered how many of those governments would still have embassies to the Vatican in ten years' time.
Under Pope John Paul II, the number of nations with which the Vatican has diplomatic relations grew significantly, and today stands at 179. Of those, only 80 have ambassadors living in Rome. Most of the rest assign responsibility for the relationship to a diplomat in another country.
Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesperson, issued a statement today about the decision. The full text of that statement, in an NCR translation, appears below.
Vatican Statement on Closure of Irish Embassy
The Holy See takes note of the decision of Ireland to close its Embassy to the Holy See in Rome. Naturally, every state that has diplomatic relations with the Holy See is free to decide, on the basis of its possibilities and its interests, whether to have an Ambassador to the Holy See resident in Rome or in another country. What’s important are the diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the states, and these are not in question with regard to Ireland.
I am saddened as an Irishman
I am saddened as an Irishman by our Taoiseachs actions today as a result I will be returning my Irish passport and will take up a British pasport until we have a different more competent goverment
Just like you Liam, I too am
Just like you Liam, I too am disgusted but then what else would you expect from communists in power under the party name of Labour and a professed atheist and communist called Eamon Gilmore.
As a life-long member of Fianna Fáil (My late father was one of the founding members and was one of the few who were able to call Eamon DeValera, Eamon!)I returned my Irish Passport to the current leader, Micheál Martin, and a weak leader at that, of Fianna Fáil to his Constituency office in Cork and told him that on account of over-ruling me at an FF Officers Meeting in HQ in Mount Street, Dublin, when I attempted to get the Party backing in not supporting that speech by weakling Kenny (we had a copy 2 days in advance) but I was told that FF would support and even add to what Kenny said and if any Officer did not like that then he/she should "leave now".
I told Martin what I thought of what he had just said telling him of my disgust at FF and my absolute disgust of Ireland. I then told him to expect my Passport and I left the meeting.
That night when I returned home I basically destroyed my Irish Passport and the following brought over the Border to Dundalk where I posted what remained of it, for his attention in his Constituency office.
I now, under the Belfast Agreement, have a UL (British) Passport.
I also wrote to Cardinal Brady in Armagh and to Archbishop Martin in Dublin lending my support.
I also toyed with the idea of OD but stepped back when I discovered that it was personal and not group orientated.
Somebody has to do something now, not tomorrow but now but at 80 I feel a bit too old to do it myself.
Liam, I know exactly how you feel.
"UP THE IRISH" ............
"UP THE IRISH" ............ I am proud to be an Irishman today, John. My Donegal born and raised parents are surely smiling down on Enda Kenny today.
In what quarters will this not be seen as a "snub"? Iran? East Timor? If it was just about saving money, why couldn't the Roman clique just get their wealthy right-wing funders to just redirect to Ireland some of the big bucks currently supporting the Roman clique's efforts to elect a "lower taxes on the wealthy", "weak regulation of big banks" Republican US president next year?
For more information on the Irish backround, including an crosslink to an outstanding analysis of the Roman clique's appalling effort to evade its clear responsibility for the very recent Cloyne Diocese priest child abuse cover-ups by a former personal Secretary to three popes, please note the NCR comments and crosslinks under the comment heading, "IRISH RESCUE AGAIN", accessible by clicking on at:
http://ncronline.org/news/global/irish-priests-pledge-stimulate-groundswell .
For more information on the efforts by the pope and the 1% of Catholic donors to influence the 2012 US presidential elections, please note the NCR comment and related crosslinks under the comment heading heading, "KIDS AND THE 2012 ELECTIONS", accessible by clicking on at:
http://ncronline.org/blogs/examining-crisis/accountability-transparency-... .
Can't help but wonder why
Can't help but wonder why someone so vehemently against the Magisterium is commenting on a Catholic site/issue. Are you a professional Catholic blog troller attempting to dissuade others away from the Church? For those of us who are loyal to the Church, your clearly emotional and unbalanced presentation will have no affect. You are merely garnering support from other misguided, poorly formed souls such as yourself. If you are a Catholic, consider your comments - IF the Church was wrong, you are still called to forgiveness, not to spread hate and anger. What personal experience do you have of this case - where do you obtain your facts and how do you know what is truth in this matter? I ask you to consider this intellectually, not emotionally as you seem to argue. Emotional arguments will not garner your support, intellelctual and balanced arguments may. Take a breath and try it. God bless.
There are all kinds of
There are all kinds of opinions here. Sadly, some are misguided.
He sure is doing this whilst
He sure is doing this whilst (cryptically) saying he is not by linking himself to the "Fine Gael Party".
The "Fine Gael Party" of old was a good Party up until power seeking Enda Kenna took over and linked it in Coalition with a Communist Party under the auspices of the Labour Party whose leader is a self professed Communist and Atheist aka Eamon Gilmore.
Shame on you Jerry Slevin,
Shame on you Jerry Slevin, shame on you!!
Shame on you Jerry, Shame on
Shame on you Jerry, Shame on you.
I am sure that your parents RIP are doing the very opposite as, I am sure, is Christ.
Do you live in the same world
Do you live in the same world as I do, Jerry.
98%+ of all child abuse takes place in the Family Home and is perpetrated by family members!
I am saddened as an Irishman
I am saddened as an Irishman by our Taoiseachs actions today as a result I will be returning my Irish passport and will take up a British pasport until we have a different more competent goverment
My dad was born in Ireland.
My dad was born in Ireland. My son, his grandson, is a good priest. The sadness that I feel toward Ireland's hostility towards the church is beyond description. I am ashamed for the country of my father's birth & pray that the country will respond to God's grace and start acting Catholic again.
Actually, the government is
Actually, the government is acting more Catholic than the bishops and the Vatican. Perhaps when THEY start acting more Catholic, the people of Ireland will insist upon better relations. But it will probably take at least a generation, if not longer. And only if the Irish people see actions and not rhetoric.
Please explain your comment:
Please explain your comment: "Actually, the government is acting more Catholic than the bishops and the Vatican."
Franco might consider a
Franco might consider a sequel..." Once Upon a Time There was an Ireland"
The people who stood againts
The people who stood againts all kinds of misfortune along the centuries, including the Great Famine, will survive the "armies" of a small state, even smaller than Manhatan.
This is thrilling news. May
This is thrilling news. May it lead eventually to a severing of diplomatic relations.
I only wish the US had never recognized the Vatican as a state in 1984.
Using diplomacy to pretend the headquarters of a religion constitutes a nation-state leads to things like the fraudulent use of diplomatic immunity to hide evidence of crimes. Just send the "dangerous" files to the Vatican embassy so every document is beyond the reach of US or Irish law.
Carolyn, so I guess you would
Carolyn, so I guess you would also favor the severing of diplomatic relations with countries with any type of religious affiliation, i.e all Muslim countries as well ??? I guess you believe that tolerance, dialogue & international relations don't apply to the Vatican, which is indeed its own country separate from Italy. I am proud of the work that Vatican does on the international scene; I only we wish we had more of the same values in the USA.
Such a silly non-sequitur, M
Such a silly non-sequitur, M B, whoever you are: "so I guess you would also favor the severing of diplomatic relations with countries with any type of religious affiliation." True countries/nation-states are composed of more than officials of a religious institution holding authority over the conduct of other nationals.
The Vatican/Holy See itself does not apply dialogue or justice or morality when it exploits diplomatic immunity to protect abusers by hiding evidence of crimes that governments and victims want to investigate. As a so-called "country", it is a historical artifact, a holdover from the days of the Papal States that disbanded in 1870. All the trappings of statehood are just that. Its mission is as a church, not a sovereign nation.
You anti-Catholic too?
You anti-Catholic too?
Well, well! I never believe
Well, well!
I never believe anything until I hear it denied!
The closure IS about the Child Abuse Scandal and its about time a nation told the Vatican its simply a religion and not a law onto itself within Ireland.
How arrogant the Vatican was.....the ultimate responsibility for the abuse lay at their door as the abuse was orchestrated through their organisation which is not only lacking proper accountability, but the Vatican has shown itself to be capable of turning two blind eyes while exhibiting frightening levels of arrogance to the abuse of the little children.......by the self-proclaimed shepherds!!!!!
I toast the closure of the embassy to this self-indulgent, at times hateful and divisive organisation. Its such a shame that so many Irish people over the millenia have devoted themselves to good work in the name of God through this organisation only for for it to evolve into such a corrupt, full-bellied, pompous and cold-hearted institution.
If God were truly represented solely by this organisation then we are all in serious trouble.....
Hopefully, other nations will follow and the Vatican will lose its observer status at the UN too :)
Well, well! I never believe
Well, well!
I never believe anything until I hear it denied!
Your response IS about your hateful desire to blame the church solely and for everything. It's about time someone told you that the Vatican is not thinking itself a law onto itself within Ireland.
How arrogant Ireland is....the ultimate responsibility for the abuse lay at their door as the abuse was orchestrated through their organisation which is not only lacking proper accountability, but Ireland has shown itself to be capable of turning two blind eyes while exhibiting frightening levels of arrogance to the abuse of the little children.......by the self-proclaimed government!!!!!
I shake my head at the closure of the embassy by this self-indulgent, at times hateful and divisive organisation. Its such a shame that so many Vatican people over the two millenia have devoted themselves to good work in the name of God for this country only for to have the country evolve into such a corrupt, full-bellied, pompous and cold-hearted institution.
Thank God He is truly represented solely by this organisation, otherwise we are all in serious trouble.....
Robert Doyle hopes other nations will follow and the Vatican will lose its observer status at the UN too
Robert Doyle, It is obvious
Robert Doyle,
It is obvious from your comment that you did not take the time to read / examine all, repeat all, the correspondence between Ireland and The Holy See from 1990 onwards.
You have just taken the word of the anti-Catholic Irish Media as gospel. It is not gospel; it is more satanic!
You will not find all the correspondence I refer to in the Irish Government Website possibly because they are too ashamed to leave it where all can read it and understand the lies told by the government.
Are you aware that the swinging tail of the government here in Ireland is called Labour - it too does not have the honesty to say what the party and its leader is/are - I will tell you now: communist and communist!
I see the secularists have
I see the secularists have won the day in Ireland. How sad.
Cutting off diplomatic relations will only hurt the Catholics in Ireland, not help.
I'm glad I'm an American and we got some of our best American Church minds to handle the sex abuse scandal here- Archbishop Charles Chaput and Archbishop Timothy Dolan. Where are the Irish heroes? Maybe they exported most of them?
The American Catholics have made great strides in protecting their children from those who DON'T follow churh teaching. Ireland can do the same.
I hope and pray for the best for Ireland. They gave the world so much in sharing their priests for centuries.
This story is not over.
Perhaps you can tell us what
Perhaps you can tell us what ACTIONS Chaput and Dolan have taken with regard to the sex abuse crisis outside of their own diocese? I have not heard a peep from any of them about the behavior of Law, Lynn, Rigali, Bevilacqua, or Finn. And what about Vasa and Bruskewitz who refuse to allow their diocese to be audited for compliance with the Dallas Norms? Their silence is deafening! Someone should hire Jodie Foster and make a movie sequel entitiled "Silence of the Shepherds, The Lambs Strike Back"!
Spare me! Secularist is not a
Spare me! Secularist is not a dirty word: on the contrary. Unless you are a follower of Ayatollah Khomeini.
Fine with me! What's the need
Fine with me! What's the need for an embassy to begin with? Who cares? Who listens? Obviously the 'faithful' of Ireland are finally waking up to the reality that more and more Catholics across the world have come to know: We pick and choose what we will believe, accept, and tolerate! Our bishops have all but lost their moral and spiritual creditability! When will they realize it??
One of the USA's greatest
One of the USA's greatest strengths were it's Irish immigrants, and it's Irish Catholic priests. Now it looks like it will be Africa and the Phillipines that will raise the next generation of American catholics.
I am Filipino and sad to say
I am Filipino and sad to say that a good number of our Filipino priests do not have the same fervor and enthusiasm than most Irish priests and even lay people I know of. We've been too influenced by other Christian faiths, whose faith in God is more characterized by "feeling good about God and life," by and large an emotional rush, than by sound, lasting and foundational doctrines. The weak conviction of many of our priests to the ideals, teachings and tradition of the Catholic faith is a mere indication of the formation that they are getting.
Don't count on that. As
Don't count on that. As regarding Filipino priests, they are very good at external pieties, but, in a country where millions face poverty, don't give up their perks, like having a car with a chauffeur. But if you call them, they would go gladly to the USA. The standard of living is much better.
Following on from Kenny's
Following on from Kenny's ill-informed/petulant speech in the Dail, this additional act is simply a case of puerile liberal/left-wing fundamentalists continuing to throw their toy's out of the pram - that'll show the Vatican. Interestingly enough it was recently reported in the Irish media that over 30 children had dies in the States " care " over the last 2 years. Kenny & Co. have made absolutely no comment on this source of child abuse. What hypocrites !.
Well said, Kenny is being
Well said, Kenny is being completely petulant. What wrong has the catholic church done in Ireland? Apart from rape and abuse of hundreds of children. How dare he complain about that. I mean it not as if any of the 10 commandments condones child abuse. It's only frowned opon by real laws. The one's written by real people and not a figment of their imagination.
Think about that for a second. Children. The most innocent and vunerable in society. And some decided to abuse them. What justification did they have to do this? They wore a collar. How dare any law men take action against our betters in society.
Thanlfully it's 2011, not 1957. Enda Kenny was right because the Catholic church has done so much damage in Ireland.
The news is given as though
The news is given as though this could cause harm to the Holy See or to the Catholic Church in general, but the real question is whether it will not harm the interests of Ireland not to have a residing Ambassador at a listening post such as at the Vatican. It suffices to read the memoirs of some of the Ambassadors to the Holy See to know how important their presence is at such a post, which is not simply "bilateral" but covering the world. Many will interpret this move as an "attack" of the present Irish government upon the Church. The abuse scandal may cover the move but that was caused primarily by Irish, not by the Vatican. What a wrong moment to make this move when everything should be done to improve relations between Church and State! There is evidently a lack of vision within the government, even more if it can be proven that Vatican authorities should have handled the Irish Church crisis differently.
It is a further rebuke by the
It is a further rebuke by the government, parse it how you will. Ireland never had "full-time diplomatic representation at the Vatican," not even the appearance of it. When Ireland requested the cooperation of the Vatican in investigating the abuse in the Cloyne Diocese, the Vatican not only refused to answer but refused to even accept the request. Ireland has regained its humanity and its sanity. Thus, relations with the Vatican must be curtailed. But, hey, there's still Africa for the Vatican to blow smoke at.
I've quoted in NCR, some
I've quoted in NCR, some months ago, the remark of the western diplomat. And, for me, is no reason to be glad. Even if I think that having a special diplomat in a State no bigger than a handkerchief makes no sense. As the Irish just did, an Embassy in Rome is enough to represent a country in Italy and the Vatican.
What saddens me, whatever is my apreciation of the last pontificates, is the fact that the Vatican stand in the world is getting irrelevant. Something that is regrettable in the hard times we are going through. The role of the Vatican in uniting the faithfull - even if we disagree with the top to bottom kind of rule -, that are spread all around the world and need some sort of guidance and support, will be much more needed in the near future, when the share of power at the global level will be very diferent.
I know I will not please any faction. But it's what I think. Sorry...
Pope Benedict mentioned once
Pope Benedict mentioned once that maybe the Church would do well to decrease (or something to that effect). The reference being that if the Church has to stand her ground with the risk of losing members and decreasing in size and influence, so be it.
I personally see the beginning of a persecution that will only increase. I wonder how many of you committed NCR readers here (who constantly criticize and bash the Church for whatever reason) will stand tall in the face of coming persecution and ridicule (or perhaps harm or death) as the Holy See of Peter founded by Christ himself loses her influence and it becomes increasingly more unpopular and criticiized, to the point it becomes a shame to be associated with her.
Del, Most of the western
Del, Most of the western world is there already, and justifiably so.
why not try to stop stirring
why not try to stop stirring up trouble, Mr Allen. Why not try to help the HF under difficult circs??? It's not journalism to keep banging the drum of Hans Keung.
You must have missed the last
You must have missed the last decades. Mr. John Allen never banged the drum of the eminent theologian Hans Kung, once a protector, friend and a "compagnon de route" of theologian Joseph Ratzinger: both among the most progressive minds that helped to shape Vatican II. Nor even the recently elected Benedict XVI was so disrespectful towards Hans Kung as you are: he invited him to the Vatican, to a four hours conversation. As you see, he's not the Devil.
As an Irishman, I am proud of
As an Irishman, I am proud of the stand Ireland has taken against Vatican corruption and mendacity. By their actions, the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church have repeatedly shown they are more interested in protecting pedophile priests and the bishops who enable them more than they are protecting children. If you don't believe me, just ask Bernard Law.
I am saddened by the closure
I am saddened by the closure of the Irish Embassy
We hear that diplomatic contacts will continue from Dublin, so perhaps our embassies throughout the world could close and more savings made by having all diplomatic contacts from Dublin.
A reason given for the closure was the embassy's lack of financial benefit to Ireland. If this is so perhaps our parliament and health services could close as they contribute little to our income.
Ireland's international presence has been weakened. It seems like cutting off our noses to spite our faces.
The Vatican has listening
The Vatican has listening posts all over the world sending back information. Hopefully this information, often not found in other sources, is shared when appropriate with various representatives. This in turn may have an influence on a particular country's foreign policy. Naturally this is done privately as Wikileaks has shown. Therein lies the major value of countries having a "Listening Post" at the Vatican.
VIVA ENDA KENNY! VIVA
VIVA ENDA KENNY! VIVA IRELAND! VIVA!
I cannot tell you how delighted I am to learn that Rome has been booted!
It's been a long time coming.
I'm delighted about the
I'm delighted about the actions taken by the government. It makes economic sense to close down the embassy in the worlds smallest (and most pointless) country.
The catholic church has done a lot of damage in Ireland. Were talking about abuse and rape of children. The most vunerable in society. And they did this without fear of arrest because they wore a collar. There was also the Magdalen order, which treated young women like slaves. Think about that. Slavery in the 1960's. Slavery in the 20th century. The catholic church, the moral athority of 1,000,000,000 people as they often remind us, hadn't figured out that slavery was wrong in the 1960's. What is the point of the catholic church?
Not being Catholic didn't
Not being Catholic didn't stop the long arm of the Church from destroying the lives of me and my sister. No one cared about our lives or the many disabled children that were abused along with my sister.
Good for Ireland. Good riddance.
The reason I am thankful to
The reason I am thankful to hear this news is that as far as I know there are no church city-states in the world. I feel that the Vatican should no longer have immunity from the crimes it has committed. I hope that in the future all governments will break diplomatic ties with Rome. I think this supposedly "holy" institution is a sham already. For the sake of truth I want to see the whole organization taken down. The only thing I agree with Joseph Ratzinger about is that the future church will be smaller and less influential. No more lies!
Currently Ireland has two
Currently Ireland has two embassies in and around Rome. One to the Vatican and one to Italy. What will happen is there will no be one embassy where the Ambassador to Italy will also be ambassador to Vatican. As the Irish embassy wasn't even on Vatican soil (it was outside City of Rome) one could argue the ambassador was always "non-resident"
Personally I think it's ridiculous to have two embassies/staff in the one city when you can colocate them in one location. The current Italian embassy is in rented buildings. As part of the "merger" they will move to the Villa Spada which is owned by the Irish state and currently houses the Vatican embassy. The Villa Spada is probably the most valuable piece of real eastate owned by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Tbh many states don't have "resident ambassadors" in Ireland for example, instead their Ambassador in London often covers Ireland as well.
My poor Irish mother-who is
My poor Irish mother-who is on her death bed-would be severely broken-hearted-to read this story about the land of her heritage battling her Catholic faith. I am sure my grandparents from Cork and Kilkenny (Southern Ireland), are rolling over in their graves at the closure of these symbolic, religious, and political doors between Ireland and Vatican's, Holy See, whom I myself adore and love, my Pope.
This eduring love is respect for his guidance, not out of worship as if Papa would be a god but sincere admiration for the heavy-load, Christ's cross my Pope bears upon the weight of his shoulders. That cross is the leadership of Christ's kingdom here on earth. Who can stand such a weight upon their heart and soul, if God did not intervene, granting my Papa endurance during these critical and crucial days?
For all the balking Protestants, whose ancestors were more than likely Catholic (do your homework), I pay my dear respect and honor for the Pope and his goodly work here on earth, who followed in the footsteps of our, St. Peter- the apostle, the same Saint Peter who you read about. Our Lord, gave the keys of the kingdom to Saint Peter. Why? It was he, Saint Peter, who knew Jesus was the Christ the Son of God! The other men where not leadership ready at that time, and their mouths' were buttoned closed. Saint Peter was given the truth by God, revealed by Jesus. Funny, didn't Jesus change his name from Simon.
I would say, the wind is at Ireland's back, but it is not the Son that is shining on their ashamed faces. Satan is alive and in his devilish games, trodding down the Son-of-Man, for the moment. It is the devil and his political-deranged angels, who direct Ireland's scornful plight, right back to the days when they were scattered like sheep running astray after false gods. Will Ireland return to their former heathenistic roots?
My beloved St. Patrick, you must be waling in anquish for all the toil on this once, heathen land, bringing them to God, but now falling-back to their heathen ways! As a dog returns to its vomit! Ireland, wake up and smell the morning tea - you have lost your first love - please reconsider!
Written for my mother and all my Irish ancestors, who would use a profounder descrption of the evil-doers, identify the true devils - who need to be exposed. Their is more to this story than sex abuse - for who is without sin, cast the first stone. This is about money...the ROOT of all evil. This is all about money. Ireland, the land of beauty and glory, may God bring you back to your right mind!
It really is disheartening to
It really is disheartening to see so many people blinded by allegiance to a Roman Catholic Church that cares so little for the individual. The Irish government made an appropriate decision in terms of closing its embassy to the Roman Catholic Church headquarters. Other countries should do the same, including my own Canadian government. The Roman Catholic Church headquarters in Rome has lost all semblance of moral authority, the only real "power and influence" it had left. A sovreign state, such as Ireland, should no more have an embassy to the Catholic Church than an embassy to Lambeth Palace or the Mormon Tabernacle. The Roman Catholic Church has lost all claim to be considered as a sovreign state - now, it is nothing more than a collection of very expensive old buildings in the heart of Rome. It should be recognized as such. As a cradle Catholic, I once hoped to visit the Church headquarters in Rome - now it would be a visit to an interesting museum, that's all. Thank you.
proud to be irish on this
proud to be irish on this day. very sick of reading about pedophiles being protected. kudos to ireland, hoping others will follow our lead.
our diocese of kisumu was
our diocese of kisumu was evangelised by missionaries from ireland! it is a tragic decision by the irish government to close their embassy in rome! my heart is bleeding from inside.
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