Enda Kenny 'reviews' closure of Vatican Embassy

MisterEpicurus

Absolute catastrophe! Given his excellent speech a while ago, Kenny is really letting himself down here, and also the vast majority of Irish people who are sickened by the behaviour of the church in their systemic rape and torture of children.

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny last night reassured Fine Gael backbenchers that the decision to close down Ireland's Vatican embassy would be reviewed.

It is a sign that the Government is preparing to row back on the controversial decision, which has ensured that the State has no embassy to the Vatican for the first time since 1929.

At a lengthy Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting last night, Mr Kenny spoke of his personal good relations with the Catholic Church.

He backed up the comments by Junior Minister for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton, who said that the closure of the embassy would be reviewed.

But this may raise tensions in the Coalition, given that Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore has so far insisted the decision stands.

Mr Kenny was praised by several backbenchers for his stinging criticism of the Vatican last year for failing to co-operate with state investigations into clerical sexual abuse.

He told the meeting he had spoken to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and Cardinal Sean Brady to make it clear that Pope Benedict was welcome to visit here for the Eucharistic Congress in June.

The expectation among Fine Gael backbenchers is that the embassy to the Vatican could be re-opened as soon as 18 months' time -- as long as the public finances improve.

"It's on the way back. It will happen," said one.

One of the most significant interventions came from Finance Minister Michael Noonan, who called on backbenchers to give Mr Kenny time to deal with the controversy.

He said Mr Kenny was a religious person and said he believed he would resolve the issue.

According to backbenchers, there was no criticism of Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore, who announced the closure in his role as Minister for Foreign Affairs. He insisted that the decision to close the embassy to the Vatican was made purely to save €845,000 per year.

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said that it had been a collective cabinet decision and that no blame should be attached to Labour.

More than 30 TDs and ministers spoke in favour of a motion by Sligo-North Leitrim TD Tony McLoughlin to review the closure and there were no dissenters.

- Michael Brennan and Fionnan Sheahan

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/kenny-to-review-closure-of-vatican-embassy-3007723.html

guitarzero

Wow wow wow wow wow wow wait, stop. You mean to tell me that this politician is saying one thing and then doing another?? It, it, it beggars belief!!!

Doc Ruby

MisterEpicurus wrote: »

Absolute catastrophe! Given his excellent speech a while ago, Kenny is really letting himself down here, and also the vast majority of Irish people who are sickened by the behaviour of the church in their systemic rape and torture of children.

Another let down from FG. You have to wonder what century most of these lads are living in since its the whole party putting pressure on him.

TheZohanS

It's not like Kenny to backtrack...oh wait...

Sister Assumpta

More than likely something going on in the background here at a diplomatic level.

I note that the Vatican posted a replacement Papal Nuncio to Ireland recently. He arrived earlier this week.

gcgirl

You know who led the Back Benchers ?

Lucinda the crechin

KeithAFC

Awful news. I really thought Enda Kenny would be the revolutionary taoiseach the Republic needs in regards to the Church. He needs to re think this.

Manach

An excellent piece of good news, and perhaps a step back from the rabid demonisation of Catholic institutes that seems instinctive of the present government.

theteal

it's the indo. . .chances are it's a completely fabricated story. . .hopefully

Ellis Dee

With every day that passes, the Blueshirts become more and more like Fianna Fail. It's uncannily like the pigs in Animal Farm turning into the farmers everyone thought had been vanquished and deposed.:D

I suppose Enda's about-turn is because some FG backbenchers and the likes of Lucinda Cretin are getting pressure from the aul wans who still haven't copped on to what the kiddy-fiddler church is all about. They know that when the next election comes round, and with all the austerity and cuts that will have to be implemented, they'll have to look everywhere for votes, and a nice Papal visit or something like that will go down a treat with the craw-thumping grannies.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Underdraft

I wonder was it ever going to happen? The whole Vatican idea seems to have been just thrown out there to appease an angry public

The bondholders were paid on 2/11 and then one day later this popular proposal arrives and makes Kenny hero of the day.

Don't ever underestimate how much the government underestimates you.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Manach wrote: »

An excellent piece of good news, and perhaps a step back from the rabid demonisation of Catholic institutes that seems instinctive of the present government.

I would hope that we're talking about a move towards non-seularity rather than scpeifically catholicism. We're living in a more enlightened and informed age and with that comes an end to satte-sponsored religion.

Ellis Dee

Sister Assumpta wrote: »

More than likely something going on in the background here at a diplomatic level.

I note that the Vatican posted a replacement Papal Nuncio to Ireland recently. He arrived earlier this week.

I wonder will he, unlike his predecessor, show some respect for our judiciary and cooperate with the Murphy Commission in its efforts to establish the true extent of clerical sexual abuse and cover-ups by the hierarchy of the kiddy-fiddler church and its masters in Rome?:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Or will he continue to refuse to hand over the documents that have been requested on several occasions, still abusing the diplomatic status that the Vatican State, a comic-opera creation of the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini grotesquely enjoys?:D:D

mikom

Kenny.

marty1985

If it needs to be closed for solely economic reasons, then that's fine. But some reactions give the lie to the idea that it is or was about fiscal reasons.

Liam Byrne

Another unwelcome u-turn by Kenny

I'm beginning to think Ray D'Arcy was right

dr.bollocko

Perhaps he has a kid with a communion on the way and he's finding it hard to make ends meet.

lugha

Liam Byrne wrote: »

Another unwelcome u-turn by Kenny

I'm beginning to think Ray D'Arcy was right

A tiny bit of hypocrisy here me thinks (not you Liam! )
There is a well supported campaign here and elsewhere to try and persuade the government and minister Sherlock to change their mind on a decision they are about to take.

So are the government to listen and respond to the concerns of their citizens or not? You cannot cite u-turns and spinelessness when they respond to public pressure when you rather they didn't and accuse them of being power-mad and detached from the people when they don't respond when you rather they would.

Liam Byrne

lugha wrote: »

Liam Byrne wrote: »

Another unwelcome u-turn by Kenny

I'm beginning to think Ray D'Arcy was right

A tiny bit of hypocrisy here me thinks (not you Liam! )
There is a well supported campaign here and elsewhere to try and persuade the government and minister Sherlock to change their mind on a decision they are about to take.

So are the government to listen and respond to the concerns of their citizens or not? You cannot cite u-turns and spinelessness when they respond to public pressure when you rather they didn't and accuse them of being power-mad and detached from the people when they don't respond when you rather they would.

Look at the praise he got when he stood up to the corrupt church!

I've no doubt that there are lobby groups looking to change his mind, just as there are lobby groups ensuring that NAMA & banks and bondholders and overpaid tossers get their way.

But it is the 3rd or 4th occasion that he has u-turned on one of the reasons why I would have voted for his party.

There are basically no reasons left for him and his shower of liars to retain my vote.

tim_holsters

Bleedin Catholic's we'll never be shut.

Underdraft

tim_holsters wrote: »

Bleedin Catholic's we'll never be shut.

Well all the Pole's have left, so that's about half of the countrys Catholics gone already.

Liam Byrne

tim_holsters wrote: »

Bleedin Catholic's we'll never be shut.

If they bleed for long enough they'll run dry and head off to their reward for indirectly condoning child abuse.

tim_holsters

Underdraft wrote: »

Well all the Pole's have left, so that's about half of the countrys Catholics gone already.

Most of the Polish I know haven't left nor would I want them too.

Since all the one's I'm friends with are atheists, yeah but the Catholic one's can fuk off.

SafeSurfer

I see the motion was proposed by Sligo - North Leitrim TD Tony Mc Loughlin.
He was prepared to campaign for the reversal of the closure of the Vatican Embassy but not for the reversal of the closure of cancer services in his own constituencies.
It seems Tony thinks the spiritual needs of his constituents are more important than their physical needs.

What a guy.

gcgirl

Ellis Dee wrote: »

With every day that passes, the Blueshirts become more and more like Fianna Fail. It's uncannily like the pigs in Animal Farm turning into the farmers everyone thought had been vanquished and deposed.:D

I suppose Enda's about-turn is because some FG backbenchers and the likes of Lucinda Cretin are getting pressure from the aul wans who still haven't copped on to what the kiddy-fiddler church is all about. They know that when the next election comes round, and with all the austerity and cuts that will have to be implemented, they'll have to look everywhere for votes, and a nice Papal visit or something like that will go down a treat with the craw-thumping grannies.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

There are links between the Crechin and Iona institute

Paddy1234

It was done for more than fiscal reasons. Look at the other ones they closed Iran and Timor Leste. Come on - you probably couldn't get anyone to run an embassy there.

It was done because of the vandetta that some politicians have against the Catholic Church.

The abuse of children was appalling and nobody in their right mind thinks otherwise.

However there are so many wonderful things about the Catholic Church and for those who still believe in the Church deserve an embassy in the Vatican.

gcgirl

Once upon a time in a land far far away


One thing I don't believe in fairy stores

Nor do I like the fact that a sect committed so many unsavoury crimes and seems to make up their own rules as they go along

tim_holsters

Paddy1234 wrote: »

It was done for more than fiscal reasons. Look at the other ones they closed Iran and Timor Leste. Come on - you probably couldn't get anyone to run an embassy there.

It was done because of the vandetta that some politicians have against the Catholic Church.

The abuse of children was appalling and nobody in their right mind thinks otherwise.

However there are so many wonderful things about the Catholic Church and for those who still believe in the Church deserve an embassy in the Vatican.

Name one TD who has a vendetta against the Roman Church please.

FouxDaFaFa

Paddy1234 wrote: »

However there are so many wonderful things about the Catholic Church and for those who still believe in the Church deserve an embassy in the Vatican.

Embassies shouldn't be deserved, they should best serve the needs of Irish people abroad, regardless of beliefs. The Vatican is ridiculously small, it makes sense that Irish citizens in trouble would go to the Italian embassy instead rather than having a needless expense in running an embassy in the Vatican for the sake of keeping a few people happy.

Liam Byrne

SafeSurfer wrote: »

I see the motion was proposed by Sligo - North Leitrim TD Tony Mc Loughlin.
He was prepared to campaign for the reversal of the closure of the Vatican Embassy but not for the reversal of the closure of cancer services in his own constituencies.
It seems Tony thinks the spiritual needs of his constituents are more important than their physical needs.

What a guy.

Shouldn't that be "some of...." ?

Don't be doing an Enda!

DEFTLEFTHAND

tim_holsters wrote: »

Most of the Polish I know haven't left nor would I want them too.

Since all the one's I'm friends with are atheists, yeah but the Catholic one's can fuk off.

So we kick somebody out of the country for being Catholic. Can atheists and the religious not just be tolerant of each others beliefs.

Liam Byrne

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

tim_holsters wrote: »

Most of the Polish I know haven't left nor would I want them too.

Since all the one's I'm friends with are atheists, yeah but the Catholic one's can fuk off.

So we kick somebody out of the country for being Catholic. Can atheists and the religious not just be tolerant of each others beliefs.

Not if their more objectionable beliefs are related to how child abusers are (not) dealt with.

FouxDaFaFa

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

So we kick somebody out of the country for being Catholic. Can atheists and the religious not just be tolerant of each others beliefs.

I don't think the poster you're addressing is representative of the whole of Ireland. If we all narrowed our social circles down to one particular religion or were just friends with atheists we'd have a very narrow and, frankly slightly boring, group of friends.

To those who want the embassy reopened: why should we waste money on what is essentially a symbolic embassy? Wouldn't you rather the money was spent at home?

tim_holsters

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

So we kick somebody out of the country for being Catholic. Can atheists and the religious not just be tolerant of each others beliefs.

It seems religious folks have a tough time being tolerant, judging by their general "banter".

gurramok

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

So we kick somebody out of the country for being Catholic. Can atheists and the religious not just be tolerant of each others beliefs.

Is that what its like in Pyongyang?(where you reside)..hehe:D