Tag Archives: Ireland

Today’s my 3/8ths lucky day. (Tipped by JMG reader Seth)

“A true Christian is someone who, in any given situation, is supposed to ask themselves what would Jesus do, then try to do that. How an organisation which has acted, decade after decade, only to protect its business interests above the interests of children can feel it has the right to dictate to us what Christians should do is beyond …

JMG readers Vivian Cummins and Erney Breytenback write to let us know that their December wedding in South Africa is the first same-sex union ever to be noted in the wedding announcements section of the Irish Times. Published on Saturday: Vivian Cummings and Erney Breytenbach were married at their holiday home in Hermanus, South Africa, by the Reverend Pieter Oberholzer, …

On Friday a new law went into effect in Ireland making it a crime if anyone “publishes or utters matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion.” A blasphemy conviction can result in a fine of up to €25,000. …

Limerick Bishop Donal Murray has resigned in the wake of Ireland’s child molestation scandal. Last month the Irish public was shocked by the revelation that the Catholic Church had covered-up the abuse and molestation of thousands of students at its orphanages and private schools. Murray met with Pope Palpatine all this week and today the Vatican issued a brief email …

Ireland’s civil unions bill is set to sail through with little opposition. Except from some gay activists who says it doesn’t go far enough. Despite the fact that the bill represents a sea-change in Irish attitudes to sexual orientation, many have complained that it still allows some discrimination. “The bill is clearly a stepping stone but does not go far …

BBC radio host and newspaper columnist Father Brian D’Arcy says that the blame for the Catholic Church’s unfolding child molestation cover-up scandal in Dublin goes all the way to Rome. One of Ireland’s best-loved priests, Father Brian D’Arcy, has called for the resignation of clergy who knowingly covered up for child sex-abuse priests. Five bishops who once served in the …

For the second time in a year, evidence has emerged of a massive child molestation cover-up in Ireland’s Catholic Church. Ireland’s Catholic Church apologised Thursday after a damning new report showed it covered up child sex abuse over more than three decades. The Irish government also said sorry for failing to protect children in the wake of the latest report, …

Irish sports hero Donal Og Cusack, who came out yesterday in advance of the publication of his autobiography, today reveals that homophobic abuse from fans in the stands has driven his mother away from attending his matches. Donal Og recalled the moment he was waiting to take a free at a championship game in Semple Stadium, when a man started …

Donal Og Cusack, an Irish national hero in the rough sport of hurling, has come out of the closet in a new autobiography. All-Ireland hurling star Donal Og Cusack has revealed in an explosive autobiography that he has slept with both men and women before realising he is gay. The player has lifted the lid off his bisexual past in …

I think we saw an almost identical ad during Prop 8, but this one from Ireland still gets the point across. (Via – Father Tony)

Amnesty International is issuing a stern condemnation of the Ireland’s plan to offer civil partnerships for gay couples, saying the unions are for “second-class people.” Amnesty International Ireland executive director Colm O’Gorman is to describe civil partnerships as “a second-class form of marriage for what the government clearly feels is a second-class group of people” in a speech tonight in …

Ireland’s minister for justice Dermot Ahern says that he will seek the enactment of a nationwide civil partnerships law for gay couples by the end of 2009. He told the Sunday Business Post that the commitment give state recognition and protection to civil partnerships will be ‘‘implemented in full through the forthcoming Civil Partnership Bill, which I will publish within …

“The proposed Irish civil partnership legislation is a big mistake and an insult to same-sex couples. It is a rejection of marriage equality. Separate laws for gay people are not equal laws. Civil partnerships will reinforce the ban on same-sex marriage and thereby reinforce discrimination. They will extend discrimination by denying heterosexual couples the right to have a civil partnership. …

It’s St. Patrick’s Day and White House fountains are flowing green for the first time, by order of the First Lady. Michelle Obama came up with the idea for the festive touch, said spokeswoman Katie McCormick Lelyveld. She was inspired by the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in her hometown of Chicago, where the city marks the holiday by dyeing the …

Coming soon: The Irish government moved a step closer Tuesday to legalizing civil partnerships for same-sex couples, unveiling details of the proposed legislation. The bill to be presented to Parliament later this year will allow same-sex couples over the age of 18 to enter into civil partnerships. They will not be open to opposite-sex couples. Nor will they be available …

Wow. Next year’s international gay rugby tournament, the Bingham Cup, which takes place in Dublin, has received a €100,000 sponsorship from Irish betting group Paddy Power, the largest sponsorship ever for a gay event in Ireland. Bingham Cup tournament director Richie Whyte: “Paddy Power have an innovative and risk taking approach to the market. We are delighted that they see …