The Catholic Bishop of Raphoe Dr Philip Boyce is being investigated by the Director of Public Prosecutions following a formal complaint that a sermon in Knock amounted to ‘incitement to hatred’, it was revealed today.
Gardai have confirmed to former Fine Gael election candidate John Colgan that they have prepared and forwarded a file to the DPP after he made allegations that the address by Dr Boyce was in breach of the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act, 1989.
The homily, entitled: “To Trust in God” was delivered to worshippers during a Novena in Knock last August where the Bishop referred to the church being under attack by a ‘Godless culture.’
Kildare man Mr Colgan, a humanist, made a formal complaint over two passages in the Donegal bishop’s sermon.
Dr Boyce had referred to the church being “attacked from outside by the arrows of a secular and godless culture”.
A second passage, which was included in the complaint, stated: “For the distinguishing mark of Christian believers is the fact they have a future; it is not that they know all the details that await them, but they know in general terms that their life will not end in emptiness.”
Today Mr Colgan told a newspaper: “I believe statements of this kind are an incitement to hatred of dissidents, outsiders, secularists, within the meaning of the [Incitement to Hatred] Act, who are perfectly good citizens within the meaning of the civil law.
“The statements exemplify the chronic antipathy towards secularists, humanists etc, which has manifested itself in the ostracising of otherwise perfectly good Irish citizens, who do not share the aims of the Vatican’s Irish Mission Church.”
To back up his complaint, Mr Colgan referred to two statistical surveys carried out two decades apart by the Jesuit sociologist and academic Fr Michael MacGreil, entitled: ‘Prejudice and Tolerance in Ireland’ and ‘Prejudice in Ireland Revisited’ which Mr Colgan claims showed “marked prejudice by Roman Catholics and other Christian denominations against agnostics and atheists” (humanist was not an option offered to respondents in either survey).
In his complaint, Mr Colgan said he attributed this prejudice to “hostile propaganda disseminated in school and chapel in the main by or for the institutional churches, for there is no rational or temporal reason”. In a statement to the Sunday Independent, Martin Long of the Catholic Communications office said: “Bishop Boyce’s homily ‘To Trust in God’ is available for anyone to read at catholicbishops.ie.
“I advise any person to read it and judge it for themselves. It is clearly a reasonable, balanced, honest — and indeed self-critical from a church perspective — analysis of the value of the Catholic faith. Bishop Boyce is a good and holy man and much loved by those who know him.”
After the homily was delivered late last summer, Mr Colgan wrote personally to the cleric seeking a corrective statement.
Dr Boyce responded saying that in his homily 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.”
This man is a gentleman, leave him alone and look at the more serious news around the world…
Typical someone wanting a soap box to waste valuable DPP resources. I mean incitement to hatred you have got to question why should this ‘complaint’ even be entertained? Headline grabbing?
This is what the blue-shirts are all about; a party steeped in right´-wing fascist idealogies. It would be more fitting if their shallow leader spoke out against Joe Mc Hugh’s endorsement & support to commerate the foundation of the deep rooted sectarian bigots of the uvf. Shame on fine gael!
What was this gentleman doing in Knock if he was so against the message preached?
Mr. Colgan apparently has not read about the 20th century, a time where millions were sacrificed on the alters of the atheists and secularists. We religious Catholics rightly fear the violence of the Left as we have been the victims of it since 1789.
Good Saint Patrick…..pray for your people nation Ireland and for their repentant return to the One Faith……
God have mercy on the Irish…
lja/JMJ
The Bishop was only stating the truth, leave him alone.
What has happened to Ireland? it’s becoming more and more like the UK.
Wow. What has happened to Ireland? I thought Obama and the politicians here in the US were hostile toward the Church, but reading the nonsense coming out of Ireland makes what is happening here pale in comparison.
Yes, what has become of the Ireland that I grew uo in? Give the bishop a break, He was onnly doing his job, God bless him and may he keep doing his duty bravely speaking the truth.
The Bishop was addressing his flock,No?
If you are not of his flock or not one of his sheep you have no business listening to him especially if you are a goat. Right?
It looks as though the goats are coming after the sheep.
Mr Colgan, you are the one who is stirring up hatred, the Bishop speaks the truth, and what the Bishop would want people to do who where listening is prayer for the world, I don’t think prayting for the world is inciting hatred. I will pray for Mr Colgan. Why would a humanist who is committed to his faith even bother going to Knock ?
you will soon not be able to mention the name of jesus in ireland or youll be arrested
I hope this is a joke. The enemy apparently has nothing else important in their lives than to bully those who want to serve God. Christians do not force people to believe in God, but do live their lives trying to serve Him as best they can. And certainly the Bishop is doing the work of God in this matter.
What an insidious attack by Colgan – just proving that Bishop Boyce has told the truth….
Colgan is not a humanist but an atheist. His accusations against the bishop are pure nonsense. He obviously attended the sermon to look for fault and cause trouble. Like the pharisees waiting for a chance or excuse to crucify Jesus.
Does not the investigation substantiate the claims of the Church being attacked by a Godless culture made by his Excellency? Does not the truth of the Bishop’s claim create a defence for the allegation of incitement?
God love this Bishop! Deo gratias. May Our Lord and Our Lady protect him. There is persecution coming all over for Roman Catholics.
This man clearly has no clue of the Christian faith.True Christians never resort to violence unless forced to do so in self defense.When a bishop speaks of such things he does not exhort anyone to violence….but to prayer.Ireland..keep the faith..the world is darkening and becomming as Christ predicted..that nation will ask nation if they have anyone of faith and they will all answere no.As He said..upon His return He will find little to no faith..pray the rosary.
Y’all don’t believe in freedom of speech?
In the United States with this latest attack on the first amendment (freedom of religion, free speech..) it won’t be long…we will not have free anything. After prayer, with prayer send letters stating such to President Obama, senators and congress. Then continue to pray for Ireland and the whole world.
My apologies for sounding like an “ugly American,” but “here in America” we oppose ideas with more ideas, not by shutting people up – at least, not yet.
As for the good Bishop said, he’s right and the ventral reaction by the would-be plaintiff proves it. He’s the one who should go before the anti-hatred tribunal.
-Theo
I met the Councillor from Leixlip at the MacGill Summer School sometime in the last century.
My sympathies are entirely with the Bishop.
Well said he is one twit , he should go on the batter.
I also met him he is a looper yes my friend God help you over there in Ireland,
Do you need a rocket to send him to the moon?
Weldone Agnostic.
I praise Bishop Boyce who is speaking truth. “He who belongs to the truth listens to my voice” said Jesus to Pilate. Mr. Colgan should not be offended and perhaps in his very soul feels threatened that the bishop is correct in what he says. As a Catholics we believe that everyone is a child of God even those who persecute us for our belief so let us pray for Mr. Colgan to follow Christ, who is the way and the truth and the life.
John Colgan , seems to be as stupid as the Prime/Minister of Ireland.
We are all born stupid but this nutter is working hard at it.John Colgan ,I believe should get a rocket and go to the Moon on a single Ticket.
A very STUPID and SILLY Man who is a disgrace to the Male Population
Why are you upset with him, he only told you the truth. If you weren’t so secular you would see it, take the blinds off………….
Dorothy my friend. I am not upset as you put it. But when a public figure attacks a man/woman for a rather well put statement by the Bishop I just can’t see subjectively that is. Why this APE who has a name similar to mine but hopefully no connection makes a stupid statement and asks the DPP in Ireland to intervene then I feel this whack bag needs his stupid mouth to be more sensitive in what he actually says.
He is a Humanist so I believe so please correct me, THEY have no interest in Religion so why was he there or in fact interested in this Bishops talk, if he was not there?
He should get a life for himself who is he trying to convince he seems to be talking VERBAL Diarrhoea like politicians here in the USA and it looks like in Ireland also, Dorothy everyone is entitled to speak the truth but when you make silly childish statements I believe they should be corrected after all we do pay their salaries do we not.
And again Dorothy I stress he is an embarrassment to the Male Population, I admire your stance for the truth but the truth here is this ASS has made a complete Donkey out of himself.
I wish you well Dorothy and God Bless you and your loved ones and don’t forget to pray for this idiot.
John
Pathetic…..where is your backbone Ireland to not back this man!! Just handing over your country without a fight
????
Why was this “humanist” interested in attending this church function, if not for the single purpose of devising chicanery capable of “snaring” the church in a (supposed) illegal activity?? What a HATER!
Thank God for Bishop Boyce. He must be very holy, He certainly did frighten Mr. Colgan.
God loves his defenders. Keep up the good work Bishop Boyce.
I am an Irish American. Looks like the “strangers” have won after all and the admonition to “keep the faith” is no longer followed. Poor Ireland….just another souless
country ?
Thank God their are still Priests who speak the TRUTH!
Would someone please define “TRUTH”
for me?
As an atheist, I must say that Mr. Colan has no leg to stand on and has done a disservice to atheists and agnostics. I do believe there are enough points where criticism of the church is justified – but NOT in this case.
None of the statements incites hatred against non-believers, as far as I’m concerned. The “godless culture” – well, that’s a fact, isn’t it? God (as defined by the Christian and other churches) no longer plays such an important role in public and private lives. Of course, “godless” has very negative connotations, but I fail to see where this incites hatred.
As to the other quotation, the Bishop merely describes what Catholics hope for at the end of their lives; it might have been wise of the Bishop to add a “we believe” somewhere, but apart from that I’m sure that the statement is perfectly okay – there’s a right to free speech for Bishops, too, after all.
Non-believers should respect faith and believers as they want others to respect their views as well – and save their criticism for really important matters.