It is hard for people outside Ireland to comprehend just how ubiquitous support is for the government’s positions here. Ireland has no significant alternative media, almost all outlets are completely liberal and Globalist in their outlook, something that they reinforce each day through articles that ostracise those who dissent. Whenever they can, Ireland’s journalists elevate those who acquiesce to conformity.
Another important factor to note, is that there is only a small number of companies who own and operate Ireland’s media outlets. Ireland’s ‘local’ radio for example is now largely Rupert Murdoch owned. Many ‘local’ newspapers are owned by Independent News and Media, billionaire Denis O’Brien’s company. The Irish Examiner is owned by the traditionally elitist Protestant newspaper The Irish Times.
The Examiner has, in the past week, published a particularly nasty set of articles that not only single out Bishop Cullinan, but his staff also. This targeting of Diocesan Staff, private citizens, is a sinister new development.
In the first one, they quoted the ACP’s Father Timothy Hazlewood, who is quoted as saying
To me, it begs the question: does the Church still think it has privilege? Are we above the law? [In the past] privilege was used to control people and we could do what we want. That day is gone and the sooner we move on from it the better.
In another article yesterday, they wrote that the Bishop’s secretary had written a letter stating,
The World Health Organisation is promoting abortion, homosexuality and radical feminism in a bid to reduce the global population. Forgive us Catholic parents if we are a little bit sceptical of their zealous concern for our unvaccinated children.
A simple Google Search reveals that the World Health Organisation does regard those things as inextricably linked, not that that was likely the point of the article.
This is part of a wider theme amongst the Irish Examiner and other pro government outlets, who seem to recognise that Bishop Cullinan has had an overwhelmingly positive influence on the Irish church.
In an article in in 2019, Bishop Cullinan was bizarrely criticised by the paper for recommending the Rosary instead of Yoga in Catholic Primary School classrooms.
The concern over Bishop Cullinan is, of course, using Covid as an excuse. When then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar spent an afternoon indulging in drinking alcohol in the Phoenix Park last year, the Irish Examiner was his biggest cheerleader, mocking those who complained about the fact that he had broken the rules.
There is a certain, and not uncommon, brand of Irish Catholic who saves their most stringent indignation for their fellow Catholics, who speaks most forcefully against their own brothers and sisters in the faith. When do you see this type of behaviour, such infighting, from the enemies of the church? You do not. That is why they are currently so strong and we are so weak.
Like other outlets, The Irish Examiner circulation has collapsed dramatically in recent years. In recent weeks, it has gone behind a partial paywall. In February, their owners at the Irish Times called for taxpayers to be forced to pay to fund their journalism. They stated that it is ‘in the public interest’. In reality, it is not. It is in the public interest to see these unimaginative, nasty and petty mouthpieces for the government die off.
If you are Catholic, stop buying these newspapers, stop watching RTE, stop empowering these people. ‘Oh but I’m not the Bishop of Waterford, they won’t mind me!’ These people were not the Bishop of Waterford either, that did not stop elected politicians targeting them.
We encourage everyone to email the Bishop and his Secretary and to offer our support.
info@waterfordlismore.ie
