DOMINATING the news in the last couple of days has been the Northern Ireland police ombudsman’s report which confirmed long-rumoured suspicions that a Catholic priest – Father Jim Chesney – had masterminded a terrorist atrocity: the 1972 Claudy bombing in County Derry which killed nine people, including an eight-year-old girl.
I shan’t go too deeply into this shocking report, as it has been so widely covered in the media, but I think it’s important to draw readers’ attention to a quote gleaned from a BBC report of December 23, 2002:
Fr Chesney, who died in 1980
It seems Cardinal Conway [then head of the Catholic Church in Ireland] simply moved Fr Chesney from his parish near Claudy to another area on the other side of the Irish border, a gesture which has unfortunate echoes of the way in which the Church handled allegations of paedophilia against priests in more recent times.
See more background to the case here.
The surfacing of this latest revelation makes the manner in which the BBC (and other mainsteam media) is reverentially reporting on the Pope’s costly “State” visit to the UK next month – and studiously avoiding mention of the groundswell of opposition to the visit – all the more annoying.
Yesterday, for example, the BBC revealed that the Catholic Church of England and Wales has published a guide for those attending events with the Pope during his visit to the UK next month.
There will be strict controls over what can and cannot be brought into the three large public gatherings in London, Glasgow and Birmingham.
Alcohol, barbecues, gazebos and musical instruments will all be banned as they “could pose a threat to others”. Other banned items include bicycles, whistles, candles and animals.
However, picnics, banners and flags will all be allowed.
Those attending are advised to make provision for all weather conditions, bring any medication they may need and emergency contact numbers.
Pilgrims should bring their wet weather gear but also hats and clothes to shield them in case of sun.
The advice reads:
Please be aware that sun can burn even on a cloudy day. Please remember that overnight temperatures may drop significantly at this time of year.
Picnics will be allowed on site but only plastic cutlery and non-breakable cups and plates should be used.
Hampers and cool boxes:
Should not exceed 20in x 13in x 8in (51cm x 33cm x 20cm.
In all cases, people should be prepared for “a very long and onerous journey” to and from the scheduled papal events due to the large numbers attending. These events will not be open to the general public on the day, and those wishing to attend must be attached in advance to a group from a Catholic parish.
Group members will be issued with a “pilgrim pack” containing the all-important “pilgrim pass”, allowing entry to the event. The pack will also include a 12-track CD featuring Britain’s Got Talent finalist Liam McNally.
About 80,000 people are expected to attend the evening vigil in Hyde Park on 18 September, with 65,000 expected the following day in Cofton Park, Birmingham.
The Cofton Park event will be the “culmination” of the Pope’s visit as he beatifies Cardinal Henry Newman, who is buried nearby.
In addition to the public events, there will be opportunities to see the Pope in London and Edinburgh as he travels the streets in the Popemobile.
Protests against the Pope and his UK visit started as early as March this year. (Click on pic for more details)
No mention, of course, is made in this report about the thousands who are expected to demonstrate against the papal visit. However a “Protect the Pope” website, which appears to have been masterminded by Rev Nick Donnelly, a permanent deacon of the Diocese of Lancaster, and an author for the laughably-named Catholic Truth Society, has been set up.
It says:
When I talk to other Catholics about the Holy Father’s visit in September, most express concern about his safety. The unprecedented level of hostility, ridicule and ill-will from certain public figures and sections of the press has got some Catholics genuinely worried that Pope Benedict is going to be embarrassed or even hurt.
After centuries of institutionalised anti-Catholicism one thing Catholics in this country are sensitive about is religious hate, and there are plenty of signs that this is rearing its ugly head again.
One of the purposes of this website is to provide Catholics with information about the law concerning incitement of religious hatred. Â The more of us that know about the protection the Law offers our Faith the better.
This site will also provide the addresses of local police forces so Catholics can report actions that offend and distress and may constitute incitement of religious hatred.
Its important to know that we no longer have to suffer this type of abuse in silence as we did in the past but can now call on the Law to protect us as religious believers.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
August 25th, 2010 at 11:18 am
The Catholic Truth As We See It Society sounds more like it. Isn’t lying something the church disapproves of, or is that just for the sheeple? This Nick Donnelly must have balls of steel; with all the shit that has hit the Vatican’s fan lately, people like him should consider toning down a bit. And as suffering is supposed to be good for the soul, Ratzinger should be delighted with all the negative publicity.
August 25th, 2010 at 11:35 am
“Alcohol, barbecues, gazebos and musical instruments will all be banned”
Oh Rat(zinger)s – I’ll leave the vuvuzela at home then.
August 25th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
I knew that they would be banning the Vuvuzelas, but are condoms allowed?
August 25th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
The unprecedented level of hostility, ridicule and ill-will from certain public figures and sections of the press has got some Catholics genuinely worried that Pope Benedict is going to be embarrassed.
The Pope – embarrassed – is that meant to be a fucking joke?
August 25th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Well said barriejohn. It seems that Mrs Windsor won´t be embarrassed by meeting Ratzinger but she would be if she had to speak to Nick Griffin
August 25th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Barrie: “is that meant to be a fucking joke?”
Of course not – you know RCC PLC doesn’t do humour.
Re Chesney – it looks like the British Government and RUC are more to blame than the Cardinals for this cover-up. It seems he was not arrested, despite traces of explosive found in his car, because of fears of “inflaming the situation”. Pretty much why islamists are allowed to get away with stuff that no-one else can get away with.
As for the pope: why the need for all this security? and the cost of it? The rattenfaenger has a weekly pray-in in Rome that attracts many more than 80,000 people and no-one has done him in yet? Sure there was one deranged old lady who tried to whack him with her shoe but she was easily overpowered by those around the faenger – maybe by Father Georg himself! With that opportunity available every week no assassin is going to try it in the UK on this single occasion where it would be much more difficult. You can bet the Italians don’t spend this kind of money on security for popes.
August 25th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
When finally challenged and stood up to, a bully always cries that he is the victim.
August 25th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
You’re so right, Ivan! What about this bit:
Its important to know that we no longer have to suffer this type of abuse in silence as we did in the past but can now call on the Law to protect us.
So the law is there to protect priests from abuse, but not altar boys, then?
August 25th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
The RC Church is corrupt, rotten, foul. The sick defence of this grisly Pope including by UK politicians so ready, while shafting the poor, to underwrite, seemingly without limit, his costs and the £900 a night in a luxurious hotel for him and his entourage. This man stands for, and promotes, almost everything that the UK government allegedly opposes. And yet they are prepared to pay for this bigot, his paws steeped in coverups for paedo priests, his refusal to accept the resignation of even guilty bishops.
And now we have the continuing scandal of killer Chesney. Seems Willie Whitlaw, a pompous prat in his comments, thought that to arrest Chesney would damage the peace process. This argument excuses any crime, and there isn’t much worse than blowing up innocents including an eight year old girl, in the interests of what someone judges is the greater good.
The slanted reporting of the BBC is a disgrace. Fawning comments, Archbishop Nichol yesterday whining away about “heart speaking to heart” and you could not appreciate the RC superstitions unless you did so from the inside. His analogy was a stained glass window. You need to be in the church to appreciate it.
Nothing about the protests, nothing about the emptying pews, nothing about the lack of priests. Pure propaganda in support of a murderous, bigoted, sick priesthood.
August 25th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
August 25th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
I’m “genuinely embarrased” for the UK that he is arriving here, protected at vast expence, given tax funded luxury hotel accomodation and spared from arrest only because of a diplomatic status conferred by the fascist Mussolini, on his Nazi loving predecessor. Mussolini ended his career hung by his heels in public by the Italians.
I still don’t get it. How are they getting away with this? Who is authorising the £20 million and rapidly rising? Which budget is this coming from? Why no challenges and questions in Parliament?
August 25th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
Isn’t it great to be a catholic, you can bomb, murder or abuse children in the full knowledge that stupid men in stupid pointy hats will cover it all up for you.
August 25th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
I’d say that while Ratty’s out and about, somebody should go into the Vat(of shit)ican and use the old five-finger discount. Good art, jewels, etc. aside, I think they should go after his spare hat. Think of the party antics!
August 25th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
I see that the previous government’s ill conceived religious hatred bill is being used by Catholics to deflect criticism of their vile cult. I hate their religion and with very good reasons, a great many good reasons in fact. If they ever try to prosecute me, every one of those reasons will appear before the court.
August 25th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
As the Visit of Shame nears the propaganda from the pilgrims of pap heats up. We now increasigly hear the phrase the Holy Father in these sepulchral tones meant to indicate deserved reverence without saying why. The effect on most decent people is stomach curdling revulsion at the sheer bloody impudence required to put their hands in our tax pockets in order to lavish money on a phony charade most of us detest.
This holy phony stands in oppositon to many of the major decent values of a civilised society. He supports the most extreme examples of bigotry; he is unflinching in his condemnation of behaviour which happens to run contrary to his vile faith; and he enables criminals to run and hide, even when their victims are children, rather than expose his digusting priests. Now, thanks to the collaboration of the British State, a terrorist priest escapes justice and to hell with the feelings of his victims dead and mourning for the dead.
What is wrong with us? Why is this happening?
August 25th, 2010 at 11:27 pm
Broga,
Unfortunately, we’ve already endured the expensive Papal circus here in Australia, a few years ago, at state and federal taxpayers’ expense.
One outcome is certain, the visit of the Grand Inquisitor will cost the the UK taxpayer far more than the initial rubbery budget ‘estimates’ and isn’t your government, er..fiscally constrained?
All this is Constantine’s fault really.
August 26th, 2010 at 1:54 am
Depressing reading. Been looking forward to the Poop’s visit for a while as I was planning on joining the protests.
Sadly I can’t get the day free. Even worse, since it’s been moved it means that not only will I not be able to attend but I will now have my commute hampered by tens of thousands of jesus junkies using public transport in south Birmingham. And I’m paying for this pantomime.
Bastard. :¬(
August 26th, 2010 at 3:29 am
Does anyone know if the Vatican City, being a “country” is obligated to take in refugees? One could have a bit of fun with that….
August 26th, 2010 at 10:29 am
The poor old BBC have a real problem as the visit approaches. It is spending so much time on its knees, facing mecca, de-linking the words “Muslim” from any of the Desert Death Cult’s hostile activities; it now has to face the other way on its knees being pious to this other middle ages cult. Why can’t they skip all this religious crap and give us some un-edited (truthful) news for a change.
August 26th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Russell W
We should have been alerted by the Australian example. Papa Ratzinger and his supporters are class act parasites ready to suck the rest of us for all they can get. The fact that most of us are not RCs does not stop them. Right now, this government in the UK is telling the masses that if they cannot pay for the houses they should move to cheaper property. They are threatening to cut savagely and bear down heavily on the disabled (spongers, not has handicapped as they pretend); heating allowances for old people (many currently staying in bed because they daren’t use an electric fire), free bus passes for the old and much else. Meanwhile, they are underwriting, apparently without limit, the Papal extravaganza e.g. {Papa and ten of his buddies staying in a £900 a night luxury hotel); a Chief Constable is going to accompany him everywhere; police budgets going bust to protect him.
My aged (very) Scots aunt said to me yesterday, “What we need in this country is a revolution. We are too damned soft. They do whatever they like with us.” Can’t say I disagree.
August 27th, 2010 at 8:13 am
They ratlined Nazis, Paedophiles, and now Bombers of innocent people. All these buggers and bombers they can readily forgive and proactively protect. They will even lie through their teeth to protect them.
Fr. Chesney was not the only one. Isn’t this in essence the vocation of the Jesuits (and the other orders, when needs must), to infiltrate and undermine civil government? Wasn’t there, also, the fellow who was caught with hundreds of detonators in the Republic of Ireland, but under the now disgraced Haughey government could not be ‘legally’ extradited to Thatcherite Britain? And what of the other priestly adviser to the IRA/Sinn Fein, who claimed that ‘they did no wrong’ — and claimed it even as the diggers were uncovering bodies in Wicklow and elsewhere.
The one truth about the Catholic church is that it never changes!
Seamus Breathnach
August 27th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Broga I’d love to meet your aged Scots aunt.We do indeed need a revolution in this country.Not crowds of idiots rioting in the streets,but something far more considered.The ballot box is the place to start.We need to make sure that politicians understand that what they say in a manifesto is supposed to be what they will actually do.We need to know who is actually agreeing the budget for the visit of this repulsive old criminal to this country.Who has put a limit if any on what we can afford to keep the few hundred thousand cultists happy.We have recently learned that 700 desperately needed schools across England and Wales will not be built because we can’t afford it.The projected 100 million pounds that this pantomime will cost will pay for 5 brand new secondary schools or 10 primaries.We are told that all manner of efficiencies and cuts are necessary with the old and disabled being asked to foot most of the bill!
Yes we need a revolution to sweep away all the religious poison that this old turd represents!
August 28th, 2010 at 10:35 am
What horrible comments again as always blame all for the sins of many 38 years ago , we are still no closer to knowing the reason for so much hate in IRELAND . The hate you have all shown to a good , holy man is unbelievable so many groups now have to endure hate , Jewish Paople Muslims Asylum seekers . If Fr Chesney was guilty he should have been arrested but how ddo we know dont make out the Catholic Church covered up, every sermon speech given by so many priest and BISHOPS was about peace , Grow up , get rid of the hate and take out your tensions somehere else
August 29th, 2010 at 10:09 am
Open your eyes, Eileen!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11123004
October 9th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Well, now the pope’s success visit has been a tremendous success, its sort of taken the wind out of your sails! Oh dear – who are you going to hate now? The British people took him to their hearts. As a Catholic I am delighted and rejuvenated.