Clergy to bless the roads in effort to cut road deaths

Calibos · 23-03-2015 09:10PM

strobe wrote: »

Even if you're Christian does this not seem a bit silly? Are we to assume, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, Yahweh is watching people dying on the roads and either indifferent to it or unwilling to intervene as it's all part of his great plan, but then a couple of priests are going to say a blessing and the ineffable, infallible, eternal, unchanging one is going to stop and think "hmm, good point lads, I was way off the mark on this one, I'll change things up completely now".

Logic not their forte tbh

pocketkings · 23-03-2015 09:42PM

Eramen wrote: »

I think this is an excellent gesture considering the high number of roads deaths we experience in Ireland year on year.

Actually, we have one of the lowest road death rates in the world. Apart from Switzerland and Scandinavia we have the safest roads in Europe. In comparison, Belgium has twice the death rate we do, and Portugal nearly 3 times. Only 9 countries have lower road fatality rates, this list includes nations such as the Federated States of Micronesia, the Maldives and Palestine, where you would imagine cars are pretty scarce.

Why is everyone freaking out about the number of road deaths? If you're a man, each year you're 50 times more likely to get prostate cancer than be killed on the roads. You're four times as likely to get leukemia. Don't get me started about heart disease, which caused 31% of worldwide deaths in 2012, a large % of which would have been preventable. Why aren't we focusing all this attention on things that actually kill a lot of people?

Our roads are in fact remarkably safe, blessings be upon them or not.

en.wikipedia. org/ wiki/ List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rate
seer.cancer. gov/ statfacts/html/leuks.html
seer.cancer. gov/ statfacts/html/prost.html
who. int/ mediacentre/factsheets/fs317/en/

Eramen · 23-03-2015 09:43PM

strobe wrote: »

Even if you're Christian does this not seem a bit silly? Are we to assume, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, Yahweh is watching people dying on the roads and either indifferent to it or unwilling to intervene as it's all part of his great plan, but then a couple of priests are going to say a blessing and the ineffable, infallible, eternal, unchanging one is going to stop and think "hmm, good point lads, I was way off the mark on this one, I'll change things up completely now".

Sounds like a rather lame caricature of what 'Christian' is than a genuine attempt of description to be fair.

As Meister Eckhart says 'The only representative of God on earth is the Soul.' The soul exists in the man, as the unrealised, ideal part of himself which as Eckhart says is God's actual presence on earth. God is not in the clouds or far away, he is right here, personified in the highest being of man.

Therefore if 'God is to act', then he must do so through us, to the extent that we are one with him. This is the whole concept of the Son of God, the embodiment of us in Christ, the transformative Eucharistic rite as we strive for God in the flesh, in the here and now.

A man is only ever the sum of his intentions, as to do/be/say something - to realise an act - he first must have the intent to do that thing in the first place. Therefore maybe now we can see how the ritual blessing or prayer might help transform the real world for the better. That is: it lays the foundational intention from a higher aspect for our future action. It directs our personal and group efforts and aims it squarely where they need to be exacted.

"Men attract not what they want, but what they are" - James Allen, As a Man Thinketh

People always reveal their true character by their intent, hence why I'm questioning the motivations of people here who are lambasting something that is in itself good and has positive effects. The blessing is simply highlighting what needs to be done as a society - and the very last thing that needs to be done is complaining about the blessing itself due to XYZ. Logic never was the forte of the AH even though many always seek to claim it for their own 'group'. You're free to 'liberate' yourselves from the constructive intentions of the rest of society if you like, but it's counter-productive in the long run.

mikom · 23-03-2015 09:54PM

Shur weren't they the very same roads that our fiddling priests travelled on when they were moved to other parishes, god bless 'em.

ebbsy · 23-03-2015 09:56PM

Pity the clergy were not blessing the Red Cow Car park and N7 this evening, with the amount of feckin gob****es playing demolition derby.

darkpagandeath · 23-03-2015 09:59PM

Eramen wrote: »

I understand that, but it's still worth remembering that a lot of people have died in this way.

We're 'freaking out' (in your words) because the vast majority of roads deaths are highly preventable and lock in with other problems such as the bad quality of roads in some areas, enacting better road development, driving education, and of course the national drinking problem which has always added to the plight our roads (though is getting better).

Your probably more lightly to die of flu In Ireland than being milled down on the road.

pocketkings · 23-03-2015 10:02PM

Eramen wrote: »

I understand that, but it's still worth remembering that a lot of people have died in this way.

We're 'freaking out' (in your words) because the vast majority of roads deaths are highly preventable and lock in with other problems such as the bad quality of roads in some areas, enacting better road development, driving education, and of course the national drinking problem which has always added to the plight our roads (though is getting better).

My point was that there is a disproportionate focus on road deaths, compared to other causes of death. All the effort that goes into making the roads safer would be better spent on encouraging healthy eating habits or getting people out exercising more. It's a waste of resources.

dr.fuzzenstein · 23-03-2015 10:32PM

c_man wrote: »

We need to follow this up with making Padre Pio relics mandatory in all cars.

Plus Solemn Novena sticker, rosary beads, bottle of holy water and St Anthony medal.
It's a scientific fact that a Carina 2 won't start without all those on board.

c_man · 23-03-2015 10:43PM

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

...bottle of holy water...

What about if we set up a car valet service, our USP is that we will use 100% holy water in the windscreen fluid. The driver is never without!

Think about it Doc, this time next year we'll be millionaires :cool:

dr.fuzzenstein · 23-03-2015 10:44PM

pocketkings wrote: »

Actually, we have one of the lowest road death rates in the world. Apart from Switzerland and Scandinavia we have the safest roads in Europe. In comparison, Belgium has twice the death rate we do, and Portugal nearly 3 times. Only 9 countries have lower road fatality rates, this list includes nations such as the Federated States of Micronesia, the Maldives and Palestine, where you would imagine cars are pretty scarce.

Why is everyone freaking out about the number of road deaths? If you're a man, each year you're 50 times more likely to get prostate cancer than be killed on the roads. You're four times as likely to get leukemia. Don't get me started about heart disease, which caused 31% of worldwide deaths in 2012, a large % of which would have been preventable. Why aren't we focusing all this attention on things that actually kill a lot of people?

Our roads are in fact remarkably safe, blessings be upon them or not.

en.wikipedia. org/ wiki/ List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rate
seer.cancer. gov/ statfacts/html/leuks.html
seer.cancer. gov/ statfacts/html/prost.html
who. int/ mediacentre/factsheets/fs317/en/

That is an intelligent, well-written, factual and logical post.
That is why people will ignore it in their droves and instead bleat "CARNAGE! MAYHEM! CRASH! BANG! WALLOP!" and something along the lines of "babies will die!" whilst wringing their hands saying "IT'S LIKE SHOOTING AN ENTIRE VILLAGE EVERY YEAR!".
We are too used to misery porn, we love hearing in the news about carnage, crisis, mayhem, standing at the abyss. No wonder there is an element of self-hatred in there, sure we couldn't just enjoy ourselves, it must be catholic guilt that we have to feel bad about everything we do. Of course driving a car would be top of that list. You can, but you have to realise that you are a planet and baby murdering bastard and deserve to be punished.
Nothing else can explain motor tax in Ireland.

TheBeardedLady · 23-03-2015 11:01PM

Mountjoy Mugger wrote: »

If it heightens awareness of the issue, then there's nothing wrong with it. No need to be facetious.

There's no need to be facetious but it is funny. No need to take it so seriously.

CarpeDiem85 · 23-03-2015 11:07PM

c_man wrote: »

We need to follow this up with making Padre Pio relics mandatory in all cars.

Don't diss Padre Pio. My Mum had a red flashing warning light on her dashboard before the car went in for the NCT. She strategically superglued her Padre Pio in front of the light and hey presto, the wee car passed with flying colours

2 stroke · 23-03-2015 11:38PM

Now that the roads are being blessed, Is that holy water in dem potholes?

Kermit.de.frog · 23-03-2015 11:46PM

CarpeDiem85 wrote: »

Don't diss Padre Pio. My Mum had a red flashing warning light on her dashboard before the car went in for the NCT. She strategically superglued her Padre Pio in front of the light and hey presto, the wee car passed with flying colours

Good god! Does anyone remember Joe Duffy embarrassing Damien Duff at the 2002 World Cup "homecoming" on stage talking about how is mother said he prayed to Padre Pio every night??:eek:

Play @ 4.40

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyG1I_yo6rM

Sh1tbag OToole · 23-03-2015 11:48PM

I admire their effort

Seanf999 · 23-03-2015 11:50PM

I think it's a good thing!
I mean I one of them gets knocked down while doing it we know for sure it's empty upstairs!

strobe · 24-03-2015 12:09AM

Eramen wrote: »

Sounds like a rather lame caricature of what 'Christian' is than a genuine attempt of description to be fair.

As Meister Eckhart says 'The only representative of God on earth is the Soul.' The soul exists in the man, as the unrealised, ideal part of himself which as Eckhart says is God's actual presence on earth. God is not in the clouds or far away, he is right here, personified in the highest being of man.

Therefore if 'God is to act', then he must do so through us, to the extent that we are one with him. This is the whole concept of the Son of God, the embodiment of us in Christ, the transformative Eucharistic rite as we strive for God in the flesh, in the here and now.

A man is only ever the sum of his intentions, as to do/be/say something - to realise an act - he first must have the intent to do that thing in the first place. Therefore maybe now we can see how the ritual blessing or prayer might help transform the real world for the better. That is: it lays the foundational intention from a higher aspect for our future action. It directs our personal and group efforts and aims it squarely where they need to be exacted.

"Men attract not what they want, but what they are" - James Allen, As a Man Thinketh

People always reveal their true character by their intent, hence why I'm questioning the motivations of people here who are lambasting something that is in itself good and has positive effects. The blessing is simply highlighting what needs to be done as a society - and the very last thing that needs to be done is complaining about the blessing itself due to XYZ. Logic never was the forte of the AH even though many always seek to claim it for their own 'group'. You're free to 'liberate' yourselves from the constructive intentions of the rest of society if you like, but it's counter-productive in the long run.

I really wanted to thank this post Eramen, but then you had to go and close it with a pop at AH, which is my church, so no thank for you, but I understand your point all the same.

Lord PuppyMcSnuggle of Cuddleshire · 24-03-2015 12:28AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54ddapgD1qM

Zen65 · 24-03-2015 01:26AM

strobe wrote: »

Even if you're Christian does this not seem a bit silly? Are we to assume, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, Yahweh is watching people dying on the roads and either indifferent to it or unwilling to intervene as it's all part of his great plan, but then a couple of priests are going to say a blessing and the ineffable, infallible, eternal, unchanging one is going to stop and think "hmm, good point lads, I was way off the mark on this one, I'll change things up completely now".

+1

This made me laugh, I must admit.

Yes, of course it's "harmless" to bless the roads as a means of raising awareness of the high level of fatalities on it, but you have to wonder what the heck the religious orders imagine will be the result of invoking the name of their God to watch over the roads? Is He supposed to suddenly wake up and realise that he has been extraordinarily cruel by allowing people to die like that, as a result of their own speeding? Is He supposed to interfere directly and change the laws of physics briefly during collisions?

But since He does not trouble himself to interfere in the plight of the starving children in the world I hardly imagine a sane God would decide to place the roads of Ireland's west region into the improbability drive and offer reduced odds of fatalities there.

AudreyHepburn · 24-03-2015 09:35AM

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

The problem is not the church, it's more optics as another poster mentioned. You must admit that this would not look out of place in an episode of Father Ted.

No it wouldn't, but since when does that make it a bad thing?

You know as well as I do his is about people's views on the Church and the idea that nothing they do is ever good or useful.

inforfun · 24-03-2015 10:15AM

donegaLroad wrote: »

they should get this guy to bless the roads

Yep... lovely chap

Canon Hanna, who is the rector of St Columba's Church in Ennis, previously made headlines after he issued a statement denying a character reference he wrote for former school principal Pat Barry was in defence of the notorious paedophile.

He was later criticised for giving another character reference for a woman convicted of stealing €27,000 from a nursing home.

On topic:

They should upskill these guys so when they are blessing the roads, they can at the same time fill some potholes

philstar · 24-03-2015 11:27AM

the groutch wrote: »

Just wait til he gets his water bill.

they'll need more water

PopePalpatine · 24-03-2015 02:35PM

RomanKnows wrote: »

Absolutely. It's harmless as you say. May even give some comfort to those who have lost friends or family due to traffic accidents.
Won't stop some supposedly enlightened neckbeards from snorting at it with all the hubris and pride of a True Dawkinian. They are rarely as enlightened about the fact the same neckbeard is an enormous barrier to having sex with another adult human.

I think the neckbeards are currently on hunger strike over the imprisonment of Ched Evans. :pac:

Hotblack Desiato · 27-03-2015 10:30PM

.

xrp · 27-03-2015 10:36PM

As a practicing Catholic (and someone who got my car blessed - discreetly, I might add), I would say that the clergy have much bigger things to be worrying about.

Leave the "road safety awareness" to Gay Byrne and the gang. They're bloody well paid for it.

If priests focused on saying Mass, hearing confession, teaching the young, visiting the sick, etc.; they wouldn't need to engage in publicity stunts like this.

carlmango11 · 27-03-2015 10:43PM

Just because it won't do any harm doesn't mean it's not f**king retarded.

There are also plenty of things that raise awareness to rising road deaths. Again, doesn't mean they're not f**king retarded.

xrp · 27-03-2015 10:50PM

carlmango11 wrote: »

Just because it won't do any harm doesn't mean it's not f**king retarded.

There are also plenty of things that raise awareness to rising road deaths. Again, doesn't mean they're not f**king retarded.

What do you mean when you say the clergy are "f**king retarded"? Do you use "retard" in a medical sense? Or do you just hate all clergy? Have you ever had a chat with a priest as a fellow human?

dr.fuzzenstein · 28-03-2015 01:14AM

xrp wrote: »

As a practicing Catholic (and someone who got my car blessed - discreetly, I might add), I would say that the clergy have much bigger things to be worrying about.

Leave the "road safety awareness" to Gay Byrne and the gang. They're bloody well paid for it.

If priests focused on saying Mass, hearing confession, teaching the young, visiting the sick, etc.; they wouldn't need to engage in publicity stunts like this.

Actually, I think blessing the roads is possibly just as effective, if even more so, than the sh*the the RSA spouts, so that's alright by me.

K4t · 28-03-2015 01:31AM

Mountjoy Mugger wrote: »

If it heightens awareness of the issue, then there's nothing wrong with it. No need to be facetious.

Renata Wooden Fruit wrote: »

Fairly harmless gesture really, even if it is a waste of time. The internet atheists in here really don't need to go into attack mode every time anything to do with religion is brought up.

Ah yes, attack those who adhere to logic and reason, and who dare to criticise this absolute nonsense. Nah, let's all listen to Renata Wooden Fruit and pretend a priest blessing a road with water is not entirely ridiculous. Of course it may heighten awareness, but only because we are a Catholic nation; that doesn't take away from the fact that it is still laughable in the 21st century.

xrp wrote: »

What do you mean when you say the clergy are "f**king retarded"? Do you use "retard" in a medical sense? Or do you just hate all clergy? Have you ever had a chat with a priest as a fellow human?

You could argue they are suffering from a mental disorder as a result of extreme indoctrination. But I'm sure they are content in their choices and are decent human beings, for the most part.

jelutong · 28-03-2015 01:42AM

Will this make my Padre Pio sticker obsolete?

Clergy to bless the roads in effort to cut road deaths

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