To think this behaviour regarding Pope's visit to Ireland is despicable

[user1485342611]

The Pope is visiting Ireland in August and two public Masses will be held. For Health and Safety reasons numbers attending have to be limited so free tickets are being allocated, on line, on a first come first served basis.

People who object to his visit are deliberately buying up thousands of tickets, booking in fake coach tours etc to ensure a low turn out and, in the process, deny tickets to those who want to attend.

AIBU to think that, whatever your religious beliefs, this is petty, vindictive, intolerant and downright despicable behaviour>

But if its about 'sending a message' about the Catholic church, why not just allow people to vote with their feet and not go?

Why the need to sabotage it at all, it kind of dilutes the message?

If the events are woefully unattended because Irish people genuinely aren't interested in Catholic stuff anymore, surely that will send a stronger message than if they are woefully unattended because a few bellends bought out all the tickets.

Let people make their own decision about this stuff.

Exactly. What's going to be achieved by this? Fellow citizens who want to attend the event will be prevented from doing so, and everyone will know that the vast under attendance is due to sabotage and not necessarily because of lack of interest by Irish people.

It also sends out a terrible image of Ireland as a country so lacking in confidence and tolerance that this kind of heavy handed method is being used to prevent those who wish to attend a Papal mass from doing so.

It's a shame they don't still make Father Ted because the resident's of Craggy Island getting tickets in a Holy Lottery and accidentally ending up at the Nope festival would be hilarious!

That is wrong if it is happening. I am not a very religious, I do not go to church or agree with the Catholic church but I do believe in God. I had considered going as my DPs attended the year I was born in 79. They were religious but would not be interested this time.

All homeless family's will be moved from temporary accommodation in Dublin, for the visit. I am sure they'll sweep the street sleepers under some carpet.

All homeless family's will be moved from temporary accommodation in Dublin, for the visit. I am sure they'll sweep the street sleepers under some carpet.

Yeah, it’s not like the Catholic Church does anything for the homeless in Ireland is it? Oh.

I don't know anything about the people doing this. Maybe they are victims of the church - of sexual abuse, violence, the work houses, the shaming, the outcast of gay people and unmarried mothers. Maybe they are children who found they were taken from their loving mothers and effectively sold, maybe they are victims of jimmy savile (as I was) and horrified they gave him the honor of a catholic sainthood, maybe like DH they were physically and mentally abused by catholic parents in the name of the church.

Maybe they have good reason to be angry and very little outlet for it as there is so little willingness to hold the church to account in law?

I don't know them and won't judge them, they will have reasons.

I would be surprised if it is not hear say. I find it hard to believe of my fellows.

The Pope is actually being brought to visit the Merchant's Quay project, which feeds the homeless and is run by a religious order.

I never said the Catholic church are moving them. The hotels need the rooms for visitors.

I think it will send a very visual image of modern day Ireland. Fewer practicing Catholics

So if that’s what modern Ireland is like, surely it will happen naturally without this manipulation?

I think closer to the truth would be that liberals are scared of the fact that this will show to many people that Catholicism does still have relevance to a lot of people which is why they want to stop it.

In general it is still important to the Irish people I know well, but that doesn’t mean they can’t balance it with a belief in a secular state which doesn’t impose their beliefs on others. All of the ones I know have voted for gay marriage and abortion rights. Doesn’t mean they don’t still identify with Catholicism, just means they understand other people don’t, and don’t want to impose it on them.

How sad that isn’t returned in the opposite direction.

Jane... Yes I saw that programme and although we knew about it, it was absolutely shocking the level to which church and state took the subjugation of women. It made me very very angry... So how now I want leo varadkar and the pope to apologise for the mistreatment of women and girls and babies who suffered under their 'care'

Flying
I think I've spotted this guy posting on here.

Loads of people came out to see Queen Elizabeth's visit. It doesn't mean they want to be under British rule again.

So how now I want leo varadkar and the pope to apologise for the mistreatment of women and girls and babies who suffered under their 'care'

Enda Kenny apologised on behalf of the Irish state back in 2013. The heads of the 4 orders investigated as part of the McAleese report also apologised for their part in running Magdalene Laundries.

I agree with Leah. If the 'protestors' were really convinced that Irish people have turned away en masse from the Catholic Church they would just sit back and wait for an embarrassingly small crowd to attend.

The fact that they're not prepared to do this indicates that they know that there are still many, many people in Ireland who do retain some kind of faith and would attend a Papal Mass. So in order to mask this, they are taking steps to prevent them from attending.

Childish, insecure, manipulative and close minded.

The President of Ireland also apologised, about two weeks ago, to the women who had been incarcerated in the Magdalene Laundries and held a special event for them in his official residence.

As far as I am aware, QEII is not an aplologist for child abuse

Neither is Pope Francis.

I am Catholic and up until a few years had a great faith. I think the pope is a great man as are many in the rc church.

But over the past few years I have pulled away from the church. I don't know what faith I have. Hardly any.

I can't really blame people (Ann Lovett, that dirty priest Brendan whatever. Magdalene. Industial schools)

Will Pancho be visiting the mass grave in Ryan?
Would u like tickets for that too?

So if that’s what modern Ireland is like, surely it will happen naturally without this manipulation?

Exactly.

Tuam

I'm not sure how true it is, my Mother wants tickets and my sister also so I've used the booking system twice. There is still loads of tickets available, and tickets are limited to 12 when you book.

So if they can get so many tickets so easily maybe the uptake wasn't that heavy and tjere were quite a few going begging