PILGRIMS who attended a Mass at the centre of a DPP investigation have hit back in defence of the Bishop of Raphoe Dr Philip Boyce.
Today it was reported that a humanist had made a formal complaint to Gardai about the contents of a sermon delivered at the Knock shrine by the Letterkenny-based bishop last August.
A former Fine Gael election candidate claimed the sermon was incitement to hatred against non-Christians.
The Director of Public Prosecutions is now examining that claim – however we understand it is unlikely that any charges will be brought.
In fact Dr Boyce wrote to complainant John Colgan to say he did “not wish to disparage in any way the sincere efforts of those with no religious beliefs, atheists, humanists etc.”
“I have too much respect for each human person, since I believe all are created in the image of God. At Knock I wished to encourage and confirm the hope of believers, even in the present challenging times, since trust in God was the theme I was given.”
Today donegaldaily.com was inundated with emails and comments from people supporting the Bishop.
Mary O’Hara, who was at the sermon, said: “Dr Philip is a holy man who would not offend anyone. It is ridiculous that anyone could take offence from that sermon.”
John Horkan, who was also at the Knock Mass last August, told us: “Honestly Mr Colgan needs to get a life, Bishop Boyce is a wonderful human being and this attack on him says more about Mr Colgan than anyone else.”
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I knew once a member of An Garda Síochana, who was on one of his many power trips (to God knows where), crossed a member of the clergy, which eventually & ultimately back fired on him some time later. fine gael´s fate has too been written locally, & moreso, nationally.
Bishop Boyce is a holy bishop and I support him totally. Any atheist who goes to a Catholic Mass to hear a Catholic sermon so he can get offended needs to catch himself on.
The quicker religion dies, the better
Hey Jimbobray, I’m no holy joe but let me tell you something here.Theres no aethiests on a sinking ship believe me and hope you don’t find yourself in one sometime for if you do your in for a quick conversion. Bishop Boyce is the best Bishop we have had in town for years a real gentleman with no airs or graces leave him alone.
Can not say I was a great believer but I always tried to stay on side,It is sad to see a (want to be politcion) take offence at a Bishop’s comments,in a land where free speach should stand,;;???
I do think it is ridiculous for this charge to be brought. My parents attend mass every day of the week and if that is what brings them solace so be it. I on the other hand though have a deep rooted dismissal of the Catholic Church and most everything they espouse. When you see baby’s who were not allowed to be buried in a graveyard, put in a lot to one side, or Isle of the Dead of Carrickfinn where 80 babies were buried because they were not allowed to be buried in ‘consecrated’ ground because they were born and died before being baptised, so according to the ‘church’ were born with ‘original sin’. Then Limbo, that place between heaven and hell that we were consigned to and beat into us was overturned by Vatican 2. But then again the Pope is infallible, and we have Ratzinger, an ex nazi youth as head of this church. Pope Leo the 10th infamously said, ‘this myth of christ has served us well’. I think John Paul was genuinely a great man and went to see him at 14 in the Phoenix Park in 1979, but do not forget our parents and grandparents whos names were read out loud at mass when nobody had nothing if they had not ‘contributed’ to the church. I wont even touch upon the sex scandals. It is a history of only 2000 years and we all know that planet earth and everything on it existed millions and billions of years before these ‘priests’ started to dictate to us. There are now only 70 men practicing for priesthood in Ireland in Manooth, the latest thing is to put secure doors to separate them from the rest of the college students, how on earth can these celibate, closited people ever be in touch with reality or family. Everyone has a right to believe in whatever they believe in, but stop preaching nonsense.
Mr Colgan has probably gone to the media, as he was getting no where, through the official channels. His complaint is complete and utter nonsense.
But isn’t it great that Mr Colgan goes to Knock, (strange behaviour for a humanist!, each to their own I suppose), and I must commend him for reading Bishop Boyce’s sermon so thoroughly. If only more people would listen to, and read the homilies one of our better bishops, the Irish Church would be in a better state.
Keep up the good work Bishop Boyce!
Mr Colgan, get a life, and stop inciting hatred!
Well good to see that the Catholic Church has so many People getting hot under the collar, And a Humanist too, maybe he hasen’t left the Church that much behind after all!
I don’t see what was offensive, all the more so since the Bishop apologised for any perceived offence.
Also, Patrick Courtney, your quote, attributed to Leo X; the earliest known source of this statement is actually a polemical work by the Protestant John Bale in the anti-Catholic Acta Romanorum Pontificum, which was first translated from Latin into English as The Pageant of the Popes in 1574.
Times have changed, as has the Church from the examples you give. To blame the Church for all of Ireland’s wrongs, past and present is crass and misleading. The issue of child protection in the ‘secular’ world is also of serious concern, and only beginning to be addressed in this country. Mandatory reporting?