Alive - Catholic newspaper

fisgon

Found myself reading Alive recently, a newspaper distributed free to homes. I'm sure people have seen it, but have they actually read the thing? It's quite a read.

I don't know if it's an official Catholic publication, it seems to be available in churches, i saw it in Galway Cathedral last week, a big pile of them at the entrance for anyone to take.

It's a publication that I imagine would be produced if a group of people from 1950s Ireland were time-travelled to 2009 and asked to comment on the modern world. There's a lot of fear in it, paranoia, mystification, ignorance and downright hatred. They seem to hate everything - Barack Obama, environmentalists, sex education, psychology, the EU - in fact pretty much everything that doesn't conform exactly to traditionalist, orthodox view of Catholicism. There is a strong sense of a persecution complex, every second article is about how some nasty secularist is trying to trample on some brave Catholic's human rights. They have started to use this language, of human rights and freedom of expression, as if theirs is under threat.

Is this the official position of the church in Ireland, I wonder? i imagine some of the opinions would be extreme even for priests in this country, and kind of supports my idea that the real threat to a sane and democratic country is not really from a reduced, ageing and quietened clergy but from the psycho lay groups like Coir and YOuth defence, and whoever produces this collection of paranoid ramblings, Alive. The thing sounds like something that would come from an extreme Islamic organisation with its hatred of the modern world, its fear and suspicion and persecution complex.

I'm certainly going to keep reading, I find it strangely fascinating, like looking through a time-warp. It's also good to know exactly what the opposition is thinking, if, in fact, the verb 'think' can be applied to these people.

ChocolateSauce

It isn't official, and the Church in Ireland has distanced itself from it because it is so radical.

robindch

ChocolateSauce wrote: »

the Church in Ireland has distanced itself from it because it is so radical.

That may be so, but it's still available from many churches, particularly, it seems, where the writ of Dublin does not run large.

Anyhow, given that the church seems to be more-or-less pro-EU, it'll be interesting to see how it (and Dermot Martin especially) react to Alive's hysterical ravings in the run-up to the next Lisbon referendum.

Galvasean

Considering the Catholic Church's official view is pro evolution, while Alive frequently prints articles that are anti evolution, i'd say it certainly is not an official publication.

CDfm

Ivana Bacik has called Alive the paramilitary wing of the Catholic Church -so she is not a fan. It also had poilitical views on the Lisbon Treaty so its definately not an official publication.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1113/1226408582704.html

Mena

I can't seem to stop myself reading this trash every time it's dumped through my mailbox. It's like a horror story with a twist on every page.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

CDfm

Cardinal Brady said that Catholics could vote in good conscience for the treaty, but the newspaper was not under his control. A member of the Cardinal's delegation, Martin Long, director of the Catholic Communications Office, pointed out that only official publication of the Irish Bishops' Conference is the monthly magazine 'Intercom'.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/brady-urged-to-ban-priests-antieu-paper-from-church-1524181.html

This article and from what Donegalfella has posted indicates that its a privately owned paper run by Fr Brian McKevitt A Dominican Priest and is neither an official publication of the Catholic Church or the Dominicans. So as a member of a religious order he is not under the control of the diosese or the Churchs Hierarchy.

Its a free paper and is funded by advertising and donations.It is distributed by volunteers.

Neither is the Irish Catholic owned by the church but by a publisher that also publishes the Farmers Journal.

Zillah

I'm gonna start up a newspaper called Dead. It'll be secular and I'll spend all my time talking about how great the world is and why I love everyone in it.

How's that for irony?

R.D. aka MR.D

Zillah wrote: »

I'm gonna start up a newspaper called Dead. It'll be secular and I'll spend all my time talking about how great the world is and why I love everyone in it.

How's that for irony?

Ooooh count me in!!

I've been collecting these for the past couple of weeks and am currently compling the most outrageous articles in a little file.
I'm still trying to decide what to do with them but they are just too good to throw away.

they are better than whiskey for heating up the blood!!

Seriously though, these have been in most churches i've been in recently (long story :rolleyes:) and some of the stuff in there is just disgusting.
One of my favorites was the editorial that said people are talking about the Ryan report too much and we should just forget about it!!

Also no need to look after the planet because humans are the most important things on earth so by caring more about the enviornment we are being denying humanity a special place

Ah, sure at least it gives me a laugh after i've calmed down.

CDfm

Zillah wrote: »

I'm gonna start up a newspaper called Dead.

Not to be confused with the Dead Sea Scrolls

DapperGent

ChocolateSauce wrote: »

It isn't official, and the Church in Ireland has distanced itself from it because it is so radical.

Kinda reminds of that bit in Family Guy when Peter's Dad gives out to the pope for going soft.

toiletduck

You can read issues here. Horrible lie filled rag, but anyone can read it if in any doubt.

CDfm

toiletduck wrote: »

You can read issues here. Horrible lie filled rag, but anyone can read it if in any doubt.

Another thinly veiled attack on the tabloids and freedom of the press

edanto

It's an incredibly success story, it just shows how one man can get his opinions on to paper and into a huge number of homes and churches.

He must have an army of volunteers, and be pretty well organised.

On the website, it says that Alive is a charity - so by law the names of the directors should be on the website, but they're not. It should also give the registration number of the company, which is doesn't. (here are the rules - http://www.mdwebworks.com/pdf/cro_newsletter.pdf)

Feel free in joining me in a complaint to info@odce.ie about the lack of disclosure shown by this organisation.

I'm sure we'll be viewed as 'devils' for asking them to comply with the rules.

ChocolateSauce

CDfm wrote: »

Another thinly veiled attack on the tabloids and freedom of the press

Huh? How do you figure? Calling it a worthless rag is a far cry from calling for press censorship, and I seriously doubt that anyone here would want it banned.

CDfm

ChocolateSauce wrote: »

Huh? How do you figure? Calling it a worthless rag is a far cry from calling for press censorship, and I seriously doubt that anyone here would want it banned.

Today Alive tomorrow the Sunday World

CDfm

edanto wrote: »

It's an incredibly success story, it just shows how one man can get his opinions on to paper and into a huge number of homes and churches.

He must have an army of volunteers, and be pretty well organised.

On the website, it says that Alive is a charity - so by law the names of the directors should be on the website, but they're not. It should also give the registration number of the company, which is doesn't. (here are the rules - http://www.mdwebworks.com/pdf/cro_newsletter.pdf)

Feel free in joining me in a complaint to info@odce.ie about the lack of disclosure shown by this organisation.

I'm sure we'll be viewed as 'devils' for asking them to comply with the rules.

Do those rules apply only to a limited company and registered charity?

An organisation does not have to be incorporated as a ltd company.

Dave!

CDfm wrote: »

Today Alive tomorrow the Sunday World

wtf are you talking about? what's wrong with criticising sh*tty publications?

CDfm

Dave! wrote: »

wtf are you talking about? what's wrong with criticising sh*tty publications?

Its a free sheet -it doesnt mean because its delivered anyone reads it. Its advertising revenue is minimal which they claim is 1000 euro per month. If thats indicative of its readership and credibility - its not influencial at all.

Get serious Dave! -a legend in its own lunchtime.

jayteecork

This was given to an old address I lived in and I couldn't wait to read it.

Would read the whole thing in one sitting and was entertained every second.

It's along the lines of Weekly world news or the national enquirer and I can't get enough of it!

Shane_C

I used to love reading it at breakfast time, the same way I used to love watching Jeremy Kyle: for pity mixed with hilarity

edanto wrote: »

It's an incredibly success story, it just shows how one man can get his opinions on to paper and into a huge number of homes and churches.

Its the same story with christian rock bands, some of them put green day to shame with lack of musical ability

jayteecork

Even got it's own Wikipedia page.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alive!_(newspaper)

I haven't read the thing in a few years as it's not delivered here anymore but I wish I was reading "dumbag" right now!

grizzly

The Ryan report wasn't mentioned once - two words come to mind "head" and "sand".

CDfm

Shane_C wrote: »

Its the same story with christian rock bands, some of them put green day to shame with lack of musical ability

I hope you are not having a pop at Alice Cooper or Dave Mustaine from Megadeth both Christians and musicians.

Shane_C

No, I said christian rock bands

Galvasean

CDfm wrote: »

I hope you are not having a pop at Alice Cooper or Dave Mustaine from Megadeth both Christians and musicians.

Christian Rock the genre, as opposed to rock stars who happen to be Christians.

robindch

Dave! wrote: »

wtf are you talking about? what's wrong with criticising sh*tty publications?

It's called trolling and I wouldn't get too upset about it.

livingtargets

The most recent issue had an article about Auschwitz and facing the evil of the nazis and the holocaust.
Sounds fair enough.Then I actually read the yoke:

"I had expected to feel more horror at man’s inhumanity.
Instead, apart from a few distinct moments,the whole thing was so banal, and almost boring for the tourists milling around."

What did he expect,a theme park?

"The same question came up again recently here following the Ryan
Report. How could people have committed such evils? How especially
could grown men dedicated to God have so vilely sexually
abused vulnerable young lads?
But even in indignantly asking these questions we may be missing
something important.
They imply that we would never do such things ourselves."

Kill millions of people in gas chambers and shag young lads?No thanks,I don`t think I would ever do that...

It went on:

"In thirty or forty years time, for example, will people look back at us
and ask how we could have stood by while tens of thousands of unborn children were aborted."

Whhhaaaaaaaaa?Comparing the suffering and torture that the prisoners in those camps went through with abortion would be laughable if it wasn`t so despicable.

CDfm

Shane_C wrote: »

No, I said christian rock bands

Evanescence they started life as a Christian Band and U2 did also. Not my taste but there ya go.

Calibos

I've always wondered how Larry Mullen coped with that. Even the mega Millions he made could barely compensate for 30 years of listening to the inane religiuos musings of the other 3 God Botherers.

I remember a documentary about the bands early years. Just on the cusp of international mega stardom and the other 3 are giving serious consideration to packing it all in and going off to live at a religious retreat!!! Larry went ape**** apparently. Canny Atheist that he is, he convinced the others that they could reach more youth and educate them in the ways of the Lord by being mega rich super famous role models.

No bull***t. That is all true believe it or not!

Galvasean

CDfm wrote: »

Evanescence they started life as a Christian Band and U2 did also. Not my taste but there ya go.

Well they changed their ways and are better off for it. Have you seen U2's first appearance on the Late late (they were known as The Scene back then, and they were woeful)?

So yeah on topic, Alive is a terrible newspaper that prints misinformation and opinion pieces disguised as news.

CDfm

Galvasean wrote: »

Well they changed their ways and are better off for it. Have you seen U2's first appearance on the Late late (they were known as The Scene back then, and they were woeful)?

So yeah on topic, Alive is a terrible newspaper that prints misinformation and opinion pieces disguised as news.

But they are not the only ones the Independent printed an article saying a member of the Pro Life Movement had trained in the US to bomb abortion centres.

?Alive? newspaper June 2007
AFTER a nine and a half year struggle for justice, a leading Irish pro-life campaigner has finally won an apology, her legal costs and substantial damages from the Irish Independent.

The David and Goliath court marathon arose following remarks made about Niamh Nic Mhath?na in two articles by journalist Justine McCarthy.

Ms Nic Mhath?na (now U? Bhriain) claimed that the articles insinuated that she had been trained in the US to bomb abortion centres.

The apology was read out in the High Court, and afterwards Mrs U? Bhriain confirmed to "Alive" that she is going ahead with a libel case against another newspaper in the Independent Group.

Galvasean

CDfm wrote: »

But they are not the only ones the Independent printed an article saying a member of the Pro Life Movement had trained in the US to bomb abortion centres.

I don't really see your point. This topic is about Alive, not the Independant. There are other threads which discuss the content of the Independant. If you want to critique the Indo, go post in one of the Indo threads.

CDfm

Galvasean wrote: »

I don't really see your point. This topic is about Alive, not the Independant. There are other threads which discuss the content of the Independant. If you want to critique the Indo, go post in one of the Indo threads.

They each have an aghenda and their reporting is not always accurate.

I am not a fan of Alive but the Indo is the biggest Irish quality broadsheet so Alive does not have a monopoly on bad reporting and biased coverage.

Galvasean

CDfm wrote: »

I am not a fan of Alive but the Indo is the biggest Irish quality broadsheet so Alive does not have a monopoly on bad reporting and biased coverage.

NO ONE SAID IT DOES!!!!

*ahem*

CDfm

Galvasean wrote: »

NO ONE SAID IT DOES!!!!

*ahem*

So whats the big deal then with it?

Galvasean

CDfm wrote: »

So whats the big deal then with it?

Someone started this thread enquiring if the newspaper was officially endorsed by the Catholic Church and the conversation has progressed from there.
But don't take my word for it. Feel free to read over the thread.

CDfm

Galvasean wrote: »

Someone started this thread enquiring if the newspaper was officially endorsed by the Catholic Church and the conversation has progressed from there.
But don't take my word for it. Feel free to read over the thread.

Yes I read it but Alive is a freesheet and who reads freesheets.

Galvasean

CDfm wrote: »

Yes I read it but Alive is a freesheet and who reads freesheets.

The people in this very thread (which you claim to have read) who say they do.

fisgon

Comparing Alive to the Indo is laughable, it's apples and oranges. The Indo may make some mistakes from time to time, but Alive is filled with deliberate, raving, fundamentalist misinformation and propaganda masquerading as actual news. I've only been in two churches in the last few years, the Cathedral here in Sligo for a baptism and Galway Cathedral last week to try and get change for parking, and the paper was just sitting there, at the front, as if it were an official paper of the church, in both places. Where I read it first was in Sligo county library, where it was displayed as if it were a real newspaper. Judging by comments I heard from some no-voters in the Lisbon referendum, and people who voted for Declan Ganley in the Euro elections, who echoed almost exactly Alive's rhetoric, some people are reading it, and taking it seriously. Scary thought. Though i have to echo some other posts here, it is actually hilarious, in parts.

edanto

CDfm wrote: »

Do those rules apply only to a limited company and registered charity?

An organisation does not have to be incorporated as a ltd company.

Thanks, I hadn't realised that an organisation could have charitable status and not have a legal status as a company. I was wrong and if anyone's interested in reading up about it, you can find details here.

On another tack, I find the contents of Alive to be offensive to my beliefs. Can I take a case against it under the blasphemy laws?!

CDfm

Galvasean wrote: »

The people in this very thread (which you claim to have read) who say they do.

Whoever posted that its on par with the National Enquirer has it nailed:D

CDfm

edanto wrote: »

Thanks, I hadn't realised that an organisation could have charitable status and not have a legal status as a company. I was wrong and if anyone's interested in reading up about it, you can find details here.

No probs happy to help another boardsie

On another tack, I find the contents of Alive to be offensive to my beliefs.

Lots of people find it offensive and I do to,.

toiletduck

CDfm wrote: »

Another thinly veiled attack on the tabloids and freedom of the press

No, not at all.

CDfm

toiletduck wrote: »

No, not at all.

Its a rag and Im surprised people take it so seriously.

The reason I doubt its readership and circulation is that based on the circulation it claims you would expect that you would have advertising revenue on the paper.You would expect it to be a player for media advertising.That you dont really says a lot.

robindch

CDfm wrote: »

Its a rag and Im surprised people take it so seriously.

I don't think anybody here would worry all that much what McKevitt was up to if (a) he didn't appear to be doing it with the tacit support of the church amongst a group of people, a portion of whom look to the church for guidance on what to think and be upset by and (b) there were not people out there who sincerely believe the vitriolic drivel that McKevitt and his friends write.

Free speech is a magnificent idea, but as the great Justice Holmes said, it does not give you the right to shout "Fire!" in a crowded theater. Amongst a small population of credulous catholics -- note more than a few percent of church-goers, I'd imagine -- that's exactly what McKevitt is doing, but I don't believe he has the intellectual ability to see it, nor the moral fibre to accept that he could.

OK-Cancel-Apply

I had an angry email stored in my 'drafts' folder for about 2 years, unsent. Reading some of Alive was what prompted it. I can't remember exactly what shyte I was complaining about, but I do remember that one was a response to something they said about all the world's problems being due to a "lack of prayer", and an article about how children as young as four can show a "real understand of the Living Jesus", whatever the hell that means.

Ugh, every page made me so angry, but I ended up not sending my email and deleting the draft. I realised that you probably can't reach people who are that far over the line.

lostexpectation

didn't the church say it didn't want these put in churches anymore

patrickthomas

OK-Cancel-Apply wrote: »

I had an angry email stored in my 'drafts' folder for about 2 years, unsent. Reading some of Alive was what prompted it. I can't remember exactly what shyte I was complaining about, but I do remember that one was a response to something they said about all the world's problems being due to a "lack of prayer", and an article about how children as young as four can show a "real understand of the Living Jesus", whatever the hell that means.

Ugh, every page made me so angry, but I ended up not sending my email and deleting the draft. I realised that you probably can't reach people who are that far over the line.

I just read it for the first time and googled it, ended up here, I also started writing an email but gave up half way through for the same reasons. Anyway they feel everyone is out to get them so one more or less will never make the slightest difference. I will pick it up again as it made me laugh as well as anger. Should be a comic book really.

From what I have read on the net a whole lot of people read it for amusement..............Think I will file it beside the national Enquirer.;)

The Mad Hatter

patrickthomas wrote: »

Should be a comic book really.

Agh! Please don't compare that rag to comics. Some comics have realistic, nuanced characters, intelligent issues and drawings that aren't completely juvenile.