Slugger O'Toole

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Latest comments from 241934 john brennan (see all)

241934 john brennan has commented 351 times (5 in the last month).

1. Comment on Sinn Fein’s split political personality north and south…
   on 16 May 2012 at 6:54 pm

   During the recent RTE economic debate Gerry Adams told Eamon Gilmore and all of us that Sinn Fein always puts country before party. This explains why Sinn Fein proposes austerity cuts for Northern Ireland, but opposes the same cuts in the Republic of Ireland – different countries, different priorities.

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2. Comment on Enda won’t debate Gerry who in turn won’t debate Micheal on the Treaty…
   on 11 May 2012 at 2:15 pm

   If Enda agrees to a TV debate with with President Gerry, might he not also require guarantees from the ‘moderator’ that he/she will not read out a tweet to the effect that Enda has accepted donation on behalf of Fine Gael

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3. Comment on Perhaps politicians should check their own houses are in order before attacking the church?
   on 9 May 2012 at 8:37 am

   The Old Testament prophet said: “Speak Lord, Your servant is listening”.

   Stormont’s deputy first oracle says: “Listen Lord, your commander is speaking.”

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4. Comment on de Brun resigns as MEP
   on 5 May 2012 at 5:37 pm

   Bairbre de Brun has had good run in Northern politics and I honestly wish her well in retirement.
   One time Stormont Health Minister – noted for setting up enquires and review groups, but not for making decisions. At the time this was known in medical circles as ‘paralysis by analysis’. She later became an MEP and was noted for being silent in 3 languages.
   Apparently the present front runner as her replacement is Ms Ruane, one time Stormont’s Education Minister – also fluent in three languages and incoherent in all them. Her oft repeated mantra ‘every school a good school’ might become ‘ every European decision a good European decision’!?

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5. Comment on Sinn Fein cut quotes from three Economists who believe “there is little to be gained from rejecting the Treaty…”
   on 26 April 2012 at 11:18 am

   This selective misrepresentation of quotes shows that the same old Sinn Fein warriors are still stuck in the same old wartime mode.

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6. Comment on To Benedict, we Irish liberals are not going away you know…
   on 15 April 2012 at 2:06 pm

   In the long march of the Church Militant, the current debate about women priests and dissident priests is mere trivia. In this Easter season our attention is focused on the cross and the empty tomb – sure guarantees of victory over death and absolute proof that that we sinners will tire of sinning, before God tires of forgiving. Of course we have the freedom to reject.

   Relating to the present subject:
   The whole idea of organisation is the unification of the many. From the member up through the ascending grades of authority must the principle of connection exist. Without connection there is a departure from the principle of life. In voluntary organisations the cement of connection is loyalty – In the Catholic Church, loyalty of the member to his parish – the parish to diocese – the diocese to Rome (the Pope)

   The test of loyalty is obedience and the test of obedience is to accept situations and decisions which are unpalatable – and to accept them cheerfully. ‘Deep harm to disobey, seeing obedience is the bond of rule’, said Tennyson.

   Finally, the sacramental church founded by Christ, is also ‘catholic’ because she has been sent out by Christ on a mission to the whole human race – a definite apostolic mission for all its members. A vague idealism with general appeals to do good in their surroundings, is always attended by the vaguest performance. ‘For if the trumpets give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?’ (Cor. 14:8)

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7. Comment on To Benedict, we Irish liberals are not going away you know…
   on 14 April 2012 at 3:57 pm

   Quotes from atheists quoting other atheists prove nothing. Neither does faith alone. Good works provide solid proof of genuine faith.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith out of my works’. (St. James the apostle)

   Christians believe in the historically attested facts of the life, death and resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ. We believe because many contemporary witnesses also suffered death for expressing convinced belief that Jesus was God. Doubting Thomas doubted because he thought his eyes may be deceiving him, so he applied the scientific method of touch. Then convinced of the reality, acclaimed “My Lord and my God.”

   Anyone who has visited Rome will know that, rather than the mighty Caesars, it became, and remains, the city of Saints Peter and Paul, who did nothing more than proclaim that, in Jesus Christ the whole of God’s truth became manifest – that He is The Truth – and Peter and Paul accepted rather cruel deaths for proclaiming this harmless, but eternal life saving message.

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8. Comment on To Benedict, we Irish liberals are not going away you know…
   on 13 April 2012 at 1:52 pm

   ‘I believe in the Holy Catholic Church’. At Sunday Mass, I stand with all others present to publically affirm this particular belief, included in the Creed, and which is rightly considered to be a faithful summary of the Apostles’ faith.
   True faith requires the individual’s freedom to accept, or reject. If I adopt an a la carte to the Apostles Creed, then I would not be true to myself – privately rejecting what I publically affirm. So what does the Church say about itself?
   Answer:
   The word ‘Church’ means ‘convocation’. It designates the assembly of those whom God’s Word ‘convokes’, i.e. gathers to form the People of God, and who themselves, nourished with the Body of Christ, become the Body of Christ.
   The Church is both visible and invisible, a hierarchical society and the Mystical body of Christ. She is one, yet formed of two components, human and divine. That is her mystery, which only faith can accept. (Catholic Catechism 777 & 779).
   Of particular importance within the Church is the role of its shepherds (bishops and priests). Of and to them could the following verse have been written?

   ‘Pluck one thread and the web ye mar;
   Break but one
   Of a thousand keys, and the paining jar
   Through all will run.’ (Whittier).

   Of what use to lost sheep are the discordant and dissenting calls of the comparatively few stray shepherds?

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9. Comment on Sinn Fein’s seven goals towards unification?
   on 12 April 2012 at 5:58 pm

   SF people no longer boast that their grandfathers ‘were out’ in 1921. Instead they are boasting of long lost great-uncles killed at the Somme – and politely asking that their names be added to war memorials. What next? Sharing living spaces without peace-walls?

   “Spill our sweat together, not our blood”. Now who was advocating that in the last century?

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10. Comment on Sinn Fein’s seven goals towards unification?
    on 11 April 2012 at 4:31 pm

    Even in politics SF always had/has fascist tendencies. Fascists hate being outflanked on the right, which is why SF has now positioned itself well to the right of the UUP and DUP.
    In the Irish Presidential election, Martin McGuiness hurled the derogatory term ‘West Brit’ against a few Irish journalists. Like the other belligerent slogans e.g. ‘SS/RUC’ that is no longer in the current SF lexicon – now replaced by ‘softly, softly catchee a Unee’.

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