Priest says it’s ‘sad’ Catholic Church will bless tractors but not same-sex couples when they marry – Independent.ie

28 comments

  3. Not that I go to church but when the same-sex marriage vote won our local priest the following Sunday asked his congregation who had voted to allow same-sex marriage, a lot of people put their hands up – he then told them that they had betrayed the Catholic Church and they should take a long hard look at themselves. Cue a massive reduction in the people who attend his masses.

    The Catholic Church needs more priests like Fr. Byrne, fair play to him, and less like the backwards moron we’ve been stuck with.

  5. It’s ridiculous in This day and age to be told to live your life by a book that was written before the dark ages, they need to modernise attitudes and not talk down to people

  6. Should a religious group update their views to confirm to changing social mores in a few countries or should they stay faithful to the doctrine?

  7. Before I write this – I feel the need to say that I am in support of same-sex marriages. I voted in favour of them.

    However, I am also someone who wholeheartedly believes that people should be entitled to their beliefs. This can only be true if I don’t demand people conform to my own beliefs when they disagree with me, and no matter what grounds by which they disagree with me. If the Catholic Church, and by extension any Catholic, does not agree with same-sex marriage, then they ARE entitled to that belief.

    It does not matter what anyone thinks of them morally or ethically or whatever – they can believe and act on their beliefs. That’s one of the fundamental liberties Ireland’s very strong constitution provides. Furthermore, the democracy we have voted in same-sex marriage, which means no matter how much anyone who disagrees complains about it, the vote has been cast and the results settled.

    But something people need to understand is that fundamentally Ireland is a secular nation. Many people here are still practicing Catholics, but by legislation and constitution we are a secular nation – meaning separation from religion and state. So in order for marriage to be recognised in Ireland, it needs to be recognised by the state not the church. You can have a marriage in a church, but the couple still needs to sign state-issued documents to recognise them as married. Same-sex marriages don’t have to be carried out in a church to be considered marriages.

    So why do people care if the group who outwardly opposes same-sex marriage, acts that way? I mean it shouldn’t surprise anyone at the very least, but if you consider yourself someone who values freedom of thought and speech, then the church and its members are allowed to speak their minds without persecution or reprimand, no matter how it makes you feel. Because they disagree with you just as much as you disagree with them, and in many cases for moral reasons, same as you hold your beliefs for moral reasons.

    I try as much as I can, though not always successfully, to hold myself to that. If someone disagrees, it’s better to dialogue with them rather than berate them. We’re a world leader in diplomacy, I’d like to think it’s because of our capacity to listen as much as it is to talk.

  9. We need more people thinking this way. Both priests and lay people.

    My 13 yr old girl came out 3 years ago and I am grateful all around us embraced her the same way. Including our friend, a priest.

  11. Sad or not its internally consistent with the faith. Perhaps the priest should put his money where his mouth is and leave the church. Join a protestant version of christianity that allows for same sex couples or create one.

  14. Catholic church needs to modernise… It’s adherents are more liberal and humanitarian now and they simply demand changes.

    Most of my family are practicing Catholic and all of them are pro letting women into the church.

  17. God sending bears to kill kids✔ acceptable

    ..killing innocent first born of Egyptians.✔ acceptable

    Encouraging Moses to go forth a kill their enemies and take the women and children for what they please✔ acceptable

    But two people of the same sex being in love? ❌ we have fucking standards!

  21. I don’t quite understand why so many people in Ireland have an attachment to the Roman Catholic church specifically for their religious belief. Most Irish Catholics (as in practising Catholics) hold views much, much closer to various strains of Protestantism or even Eastern Orthodoxy in some cases than standard Catholicism.

    However, the concept of converting to another denomination of Christianity is utterly alien to them as Catholicism is so tied up in their identity as being Irish that it’ll never happen. It’s very much Catholic = Irish and Protestant = British without any examination of the theology underlying it.

  25. They won’t bless your tractors if you park a Massey in the same shed as a new Holland … according to the Church a red and blue tractor cannot cohabitate as it is a life of sin

  26. To hell with them, I don’t need their recognition. As an agnostic I have no issue with the concept of God. But organised religion and it’s institutions need to realise it has no power over us.

  27. Tractors yes especially if it’s a Caterpillar. No self maintenance outside of the service contract. Pray that expensive farm equipment doesn’t break down.🚜

  28. I dunno how anyone trusts the Catholic Church or any churches tbh. If they were a private company with all the allegations and proven sexual assaults they’d be boycotted and burnt to ground (metaphorically) but no we need someone to tell us how to be a good person.

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