Irish priest abducted in the Philippines

MagicMarker · 11-10-2009 5:51pm #1

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1011/sinnottm.html

A 79-year-old Irish priest has been kidnapped in a troubled southern region of the Philippines.

Father Michael Sinnott, from Barntown in Co Wexford, was snatched by six gunmen who stormed his residence near the southern city of Pagadian.

It is understood he is a member of the Missionaries of St Columban.

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Regional police commander Chief Superintendent Angelo Sumlao said the gunmen took Fr Sinnott to a waiting van, which was later found abandoned and torched in a coastal area.

They then boarded a small vessel and headed out to sea, Chief Superintendent Sumlao said, quoting witnesses.

No one has claimed responsibility for the abduction, although previous kidnappings targeting foreign missionaries and tourists have been blamed on the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group.

Fr Sinnott is the third Irish priest to be kidnapped in the area.

In 1997, Fr Des Hartford was held by Islamic militants for 12 days, and in 2001 a priest from Waterford, Fr Rufus Hally, was shot dead during an attempted abduction.

What is a 79 year priest doing in the Philippines? Hmmm, I wonder. If only there was some higher power that could protect him.

On a serious note, this kinda sucks.

delta_bravo · 11-10-2009 5:55pm

MagicMarker wrote: »

What is a 79 year priest doing in the Philippines? Hmmm, I wonder.

Well since he is a member of the Missionaries of St. Columban I would take a wild guess and say he was there doing missionary work

Elliemental · 11-10-2009 6:04pm

You`re a cynical bunch!

Hopefully, no harm will come to him.

Heisenberg. · 11-10-2009 6:29pm

This post has been deleted.

brummytom · 11-10-2009 6:36pm

Poor bloke. He's over there trying to help people and this happens?

ejmaztec · 11-10-2009 6:49pm

Says a lot for this place when someone would rather spend their advancing years in a sh1thole on the other side of the globe.:eek:

partyatmygaff · 11-10-2009 7:16pm

ejmaztec wrote: »

Says a lot for this place when someone would rather spend their advancing years in a sh1thole on the other side of the globe.:eek:

Could be that but I doubt thats why, probably wants to live the rest of his life doing charity or helping the poor and then this sh1t happens.

stovelid · 11-10-2009 7:24pm

I want to do an RIP, but I don't know the future conditional version of it?

The guy · 11-10-2009 7:25pm

So, you make a joke about a person getting kidnapped in another country and there would be uproar. Since he's a priest it's fair game. :rolleyes:

My name is URL · 11-10-2009 7:29pm

At least he's not a dog

dr.bollocko · 11-10-2009 7:35pm

I think that with the situation as it is paedo jokes and Father ted quotes are not really necessary so I have deleted a number of posts.

Riddle101 · 11-10-2009 7:46pm

Was the priest helping to build a sewage system by any chance?:D Sorry had to be said

Still sad though, hope the priest gets back safetly

jimmycrackcorm · 11-10-2009 7:54pm

ejmaztec wrote: »

Says a lot for this place when someone would rather spend their advancing years in a sh1thole on the other side of the globe.:eek:

Too right, I'm not looking forward to staying in Dublin for the rest of my life.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i · 11-10-2009 8:03pm

If this was posted, say 10 or 20 years ago, (just pretend we had the internetz and boards.ie back then) this thread would be on page 19 already with prayers and "I hope he gets back"... While I am some what moved by his dissapearance, I do notice the total lack of care for this man, mainly because he is a priest maybe? I don't think too many people genuinely give a sh!t because he is a priest... Ryan report and all that... My thoughts on the subject

11-10-2009 8:10pm

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Too right, I'm not looking forward to staying in Dublin for the rest of my life.

Why, are you in the Joy ?

ejmaztec · 11-10-2009 8:14pm

rarnes1 wrote: »

Why, are you in the Joy ?

Stuck in traffic.

partyatmygaff · 11-10-2009 8:24pm

Too many people here just have this negative image of an entire group of people(The clergy) which they based on one report(Or should I say the opinion of those who actually read the report) and then in the next thread they will happily tell people off for tarring everyone with the same brush.

The actions of a few rotten don't negate the actions of the good amongst them of which is the majority.

All aside, a human being has been kidnapped while attemtping to do some good in a foreign country.
If it was anyone else there would be alot more here with sympathy and wishing them a safe return.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i · 11-10-2009 8:52pm

partyatmygaff wrote: »

Too many people here just have this negative image of an entire group of people(The clergy) which they based on one report(Or should I say the opinion of those who actually read the report) and then in the next thread they will happily tell people off for tarring everyone with the same brush.

The actions of a few rotten don't negate the actions of the good amongst them of which is the majority.

All aside, a human being has been kidnapped while attemtping to do some good in a foreign country.
If it was anyone else there would be alot more here with sympathy and wishing them a safe return.

It's kinda hard to forgive the clergy for raping little boys, it's even harder to forgive them for it since they tried to cover it up and protect the people who commited the crimes.

Not all priests are scum, or bad or child molestors, but it's very difficult to think otherwise and to treat them with respect after such events. This is a good thing. It's good that the church has got this negative image now. The gates ain't so pearly now, are they? Perfect? lol opposite end of the scale if you ask me.

If this man didn't have the title he has, then yea, people would be more sympatethic... It's hard to remove that image, they are marked forever

partyatmygaff · 11-10-2009 9:07pm

Trent Fancy Teacher wrote: »

It's kinda hard to forgive the clergy for raping little boys, it's even harder to forgive them for it since they tried to cover it up and protect the people who commited the crimes.

Not all priests are scum, or bad or child molestors, but it's very difficult to think otherwise and to treat them with respect after such events. This is a good thing. It's good that the church has got this negative image now. The gates ain't so pearly now, are they? Perfect? lol opposite end of the scale if you ask me.

If this man didn't have the title he has, then yea, people would be more sympatethic... It's hard to remove that image, they are marked forever

The part in bold.... Why?

A vendetta against them?

Anyway, so lets say a group of teachers not linked by much but the fact they are teachers did the same.

So now if a teacher gets kidnapped while teaching english off in India etc its fair play and they deserve it because of what some other people did who happened to be in the same group as them.

Its not right to be prejudiced. Ever.