http://www.thejournal.ie/file-may-be-sent-to-the-dpp-over-blasphemous-ucc-exhibition-163550-Jun2011/
File may be sent to the DPP over ‘blasphemous’ UCC exhibition by Emer McLysaght
25/06/11 4,336 Views 120 Comments Share331 Tweet26
Updated 5.40pm
A SENIOR GARDA in Cork has reportedly said that a file is being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to an exhibit at University College Cork this week.
Mexican artist Alma Lopez was invited to speak at the university as part of a conference on Chicano culture, and her print Our Lady of Guadalupe was displayed as part of an exhibition entitled ‘Our Lady and other Queer Santas’. The image depicts what appears to be the Virgin Mary dressed in a bikini and held aloft by a bare-breasted angel.
The Catholic Lawyers Blog has posted an update claiming that “a senior Garda in Cork has confirmed that a file will be sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding the exhibition of material which is insulting and offensive to Catholics”. Attempts to contact the owners of the blog proved unsuccessful today and the credibility of the claims have yet to be verified.
A spokesperson from the Garda Press Office was unable to confirm to TheJournal.ie what complaints have been made, while Gardaí close to the case in Cork were unavailable for comment today.
The Catholic Lawyers Blog had previously said that the Chief Superintendent in Cork had confirmed that an investigation was ongoing into allegations that the exhibition was to contain a blasphemous image and that the artist was to give a talk and promote a book on the subject matter.
The Defamation Act 2009 states that “a person who 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”.
The Act also states:
It shall be a defence to proceedings for an offence under this section for the defendant to prove that a reasonable person would find genuine literary, artistic, political, scientific, or academic value in the matter to which the offence relates.
Cork Student News reports that a protest and a counter-protest were held yesterday as Alma Lopez attended the conference at UCC. The Bishop of Cork and Ross and some politicians also weighed in on the issue.
Lopez herself has said that she is not portraying the Mother of God and that she doesn’t consider women’s bodies to be offensive, crude or impure.
UCC’s Atheist Society organised a counter protest yesterday. Image via Facebook.
Comments (120 Comments)
Dario Fo
6 days ago #
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6 50
Things must be a bit quiet up in Rossport..
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Alex simon
6 days ago #
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46 15
Thing is if the mexican artist were to show the painting in Mexico she would have caused outrage. We are taught to respect others, if I did a painting showing David Norris getting in up the …… Well you know what would happen. Seems like it’s easy to take the sacred and use it for publicity for your own end. Nothing original about the painting.
Thomas Stadler
6 days ago #
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7 12
Seeking to outrage is replacing talent for this artist.
Eoin Sheehy
6 days ago #
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10 46
Surely that’s possibly a much more realistic portrayal of what Mary might’ve looked like instead of the westernised blond hair, blue eyes version.
Also if you’ve ever been in a church (especially old ones) it’s filled with paintings of bare-breasted women!
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Paddy Behan
6 days ago #
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6 38
Every culture has it’s own image, for example in africa Mary is black and can be seen naked as they believe that is natural, pure and beautiful…quite right too!
Mark Dowling
6 days ago #
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2 8
According to Exodus 20:4-5 it’s all idolatry anyway…
Yevette McGovern
6 days ago #
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14 79
Whatever happened to freedom of speech and expression in this country?
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Conor Byrne
6 days ago #
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14 60
As long as it’s not related to the church….. :/
Mark Dowling
6 days ago #
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2 9
Read article 40.6 of Bunreacht na hEireann. In this matter you technically never had any (assuming you’re not over 80 years old), but Fianna Fail-Green Party made it easier to have you prosecuted.
Bishop Buckley should be more worried about the attitude of the Superiors of the former Magdalene laundries, who refuse to meet with victims groups, than trying to have this women civilly punished. 40.6.i won’t last long after such a prosecution, and a lot of other Catholic perquisites besides.
Tonacatecuhtli
6 days ago #
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10 41
Garda patron saint is Mary isn’t it? And the army AFAIK. Conflict of interests anyone?
Making the nation a laughing stock to boot since there was no blasphemy charges in Mexico AFAIK.
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Paddy Behan
6 days ago #
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18 3
Laws differ in countries. Also, was it a public exhibition in Mexico or not?
Tonacatecuhtli
6 days ago #
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6 24
I did a quick search and the image was first displayed to the public in Mexico in 1999 and again in 2000. One of the exhibitions was shut down due to charges being filed by…guess who?…the Catholic Church (but I couldn’t find out if that was in Mexico or New Mexico).
Everywhere Alma has gone with her exhibition the most vocal and litigious have been the local bishop and a pitchfork and torch-wielding mob (of catholics) – the woman has even received death threats but as far as I can tell the (public) exihibtion has been defended by the less, shall we say partisan, and has remained in place.
So far, from what I can tell from my limited Spanish, no other country has ever brought blasphemy charges against her. Considering that in Mexico, where she was born, they worship Santa Muerte (the saint of death, or of the dead) which is basically a pagan belief wrapped up in superficial Catholic garment (like most Catholic beliefs) it would be gross hypocrisy for the Mexican Catholic church to condemn her (not that looking like hypocrites has ever stopped the Catholic church from anything).
http://www.almalopez.net/ORnews2/080322fem.html
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/localnews/War-of-the-Roses–hed–Our-Lady-10-years-on–subhed—-Casey-Sa
Tonacatecuhtli
6 days ago #
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3 2
I replied to you earlier but the Journal seem to have changed the rules again and deleted my comment.
David McDermott
6 days ago #
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14 100
Seriously. It’s a f**king painting!!! They say nothing about their pedophile priest but attack someone over a painting!!
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Paddy Behan
6 days ago #
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12 38
I presume there are twisted and sick people in every vocation, not just the priesthood….however there seems to proportionally more sickos attracted to the church unfortunately.
NorthTippCasino
6 days ago #
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14 1
Language young man! We all know what you are trying to hide behind those little starry things! You do not fool us.
rathminer
6 days ago #
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25 50
I just can’t believe that there are still people who believe in any notion of a ‘God’. We are protecting religion with ‘blasphemy’ laws when we should instead be classifying it as a disability. WAKE UP, PEOPLE!
On another note, I’m looking forward to a few comical takes on the Jesus character in the coming years. Let’s really stir things up.
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Cathal O'Donovan
5 days ago #
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2 2
While the traditional portrayal of jesus can be laughable, he, for some, nonetheless remains an ideal of men who had a beautiful philosphy of tolerance, understanding, and love for his fellow man, which these old gits in the church, and the “defence” forces could do well to listen to his teachings. I don’t think Jesus ever believed that anyone would ever take what he said so seriously. Don’t dis old JC dude.
Ryan Allen
5 days ago #
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4 8
Religion should be seen as a disability? This has to be the most insulting and ignorant comment I’ve seen on the Journal yet.
You are most likely one of the people who preaches tolerance and equality, yet when it comes to having tolerance towards people who are religious you don’t show any tolerance whatsoever. I’m not religious and would describe myself as agnostic, but I find your comment incredibly ignorant and deliberately provocative, not to mention insulting to people with disabilities. Whether or not you respect religion doesn’t mean you can disregard it as faith does help people through difficult situations (the loss of a loved one in particular). Can you really term someone who believes their teenage child who got killed in a car accident is now in “a better place” as being disabled?
As for the painting, I don’t find it blasphemous and don’t think the artist should be prosecuted but I do wonder what the reaction would be if it involved an Islamic figure. Many on here would probably argue that it was racist/disrespectful etc. but it is none of these things when it is a Christian figure.
Paddy Behan
6 days ago #
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44 29
We are lucky we have the freedom to express ourselves in Ireland, this freedom does not give us the right to disrespect others or their beliefs. With rights come responsibilities.
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Yevette McGovern
6 days ago #
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7 35
I think this just proves we don’t have that right.
Michael Dolan
6 days ago #
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4 21
I’m sorry, but I just don’t see the disrespect in a photograph of a fully clothed woman.
Oil Foster
6 days ago #
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11 82
Blasphemous artist go directly to jail. Pedo priests, dont worry. God and government will protect you
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Cork Historic Tours
6 days ago #
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7 53
Anybody who thinks they might be offended by this image has the freedom to STAY AWAY. It’s not like any of the people who are protesting, would attend the exhibition anyway!
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Eamonn Zaidan
6 days ago #
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6 32
Archaic law introduced by former Minister of Justice Dermot Ahearn. This law needs to be repealed.
The Labour Party promised to do so if elected to Government. Well they are there, let us see what happens.
Will moving statues now considered to be blasphemous?
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Ryan Murphy
6 days ago #
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5 18
That FF gobdaw was a Catholic fundamentalist, with the emphasis, like all religious fundamentalists, being on the “mental” bit.
He rushed through the Blasphemy bill, knowing that the FFailures were about to get a kicking, and was majorly instrumental (there I go with the mental bit again!) in the cosy deal the Church did with the State indemnifying the bells and smells brigade against compensation payouts to victims of buggering priests and the like.
Lest we forget, he was the same guy who wailed and moaned in the Dail that we may yet see a day where “homosexuals will seek the right to adopt children?”
I haven’t seen Shatter make much of a shape on this yet, he’s too busy moaning about some folk trying to help the people of Gaza at the moment. Priorities and all that.
For the boys in blue to send a file to the DPP, they must have considered that there is a case to answer, says a lot about the people who hold sway in An Garda Siochana too, doesn’t it?
Mark Dowling
6 days ago #
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2 1
Let’s not forget the Greens – without their support that Bill was going nowhere. What on earth did Cowen and Ahern give them in return?
Michael Dolan
6 days ago #
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7 43
To some Muslims the idea that God might have a Mother, Son or indeed a corporeal form is blasphemous. The Gardai should therefore prosecute the Catholic Church strictly in the interests of impartiality.
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Julie Swayne
6 days ago #
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9 32
What an embarrassment to this country if a prosecution takes place….I guess the catholic church still has an influence over what goes on in this country….small minded idiots…..pity.
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Roxy Blue
6 days ago #
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8 34
The sheer presence of Catholicism in this country is insulting and offensive to me but you don’t see me getting on to the Gardai about it. If you don’t agree with something, don’t pay attention to it. It’s not like she’s hurting anyone, unlike all those priests who got away with horrendous crimes
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Mark Dennehy
6 days ago #
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6 34
So we won’t prosecute any of the priests who sexually abused and raped children, but we’ll prosecute an artist for a work found to be blasphemous under a law the Minister who introduced it swore up and down would never be used.
And it’s not like it’s even a very risque image either. I wonder, would they be so annoyed if the artist who painted it was straight?
Personally, I think we need to print out more offensive images and use them as placards while protesting the protests outside UCC:
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NorthTippCasino
6 days ago #
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64 10
It gladdens my heart to see that justice still exists. Desecraction of the blessed virgins image in this way is despicable and something that should not be allowed.
I see from the comments on this article that all the non-believers are up in arms. They should not be tolerated.
Our lord will judge them on the day of reckoning and they will not pass judgement.
It will only be the righteous who will be granted access to the heavens to sit by God’s side.
Repent before it’s too late!
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Coisfarraige
6 days ago #
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4 31
Joke right?
Julie Swayne
6 days ago #
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5 29
I’m not an atheist.I believe In freedom of speech.freedom of speech doesn’t exist in the catholic church apparently though!
NorthTippCasino
6 days ago #
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46 5
Joke? Why would we joke about such a serious matter. Just because the liberal blasphemers in our society things that issues like these are a joking matter does not mean that everyone else does so also.
John McHugh
6 days ago #
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2 28
If thats the case why have the blasphemy law, seems a little redundant to be judged twice
Colin McGovern
6 days ago #
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1 38
Love the idea that a casino takes up the cause of religion…
NorthTippCasino
6 days ago #
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34 2
Dear John McHugh, sometimes it’s in certain peoples best interest to protect them against their own actions.
Colin McGovern
6 days ago #
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2 33
Like gambling, for example
Oil Foster
6 days ago #
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1 22
Comedic excellence!
NorthTippCasino
6 days ago #
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8 1
And where will ye leave your glory? either their high titles, and ensigns of honour, as princes, judges, and civil magistrates, which they should be stripped of; or rather their mammon, as Aben Ezra interprets it, their unrighteous mammon, which they got by perverting the judgment of the poor and needy, the widow and the fatherless, of which they gloried; and which now would be taken away from them, when they should go into captivity.
Mike Reid
6 days ago #
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1 4
Why the hell is unbuilt casino commenting on blasphamy…
If that was a naked jesus no one would give a damn
Michelle Monaghan
4 days ago #
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1 1
Should mt memory serve me correct, and i believe it does, as a catholic, It is not our place to judge others. God is our judge and it is he who shall be our judge, not us mere mortals that still walk the earth. Jesus died to save us from original sin but we will never be truely innocent and without sin on our judgement day. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. I highly doubt you are without sin, so please leave this woman be to enjoy her represenation of the holy mary.
Julie Swayne
6 days ago #
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9 23
The catholic church is killing art and ideas.
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Michael Dolan
6 days ago #
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4 15
It’s probably not that simple. The chuch has been in decline for half a century and has been rightly blitzed for the child abuse/institutional abuse fiasco. What we’re seeing here now is the start of a fightback by Catholic fundamentalism in Ireland. The chief weapon in their armoury is Ahern’s Blasphemy Act with which they can browbeat their critics into silence. Killing arts and ideas is nothing, these guys are killing freedom.
NorthTippCasino
6 days ago #
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8 5
The Catholic church is not killing anything. Stupidity is killing art and ideas.
Ryan Allen
5 days ago #
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3 2
In fairness, as with much of modern “art”, I’m not sure if this is art. The “artist” most likely just painted this in an effort to be provocative and get attention for herself. Despite this I fail to see what is offensive about the painting.
It is ironic though that some of the greatest works of art in the world today were commissioned by the Catholic Church (Sistine Chapel, David etc.”
Paul Mc Namara
6 days ago #
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7 22
It would nt surprise me if the catholic church’s real issue with the image is that it may arouse many of their ( MEMBERS ) ………… Pun intended……..
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NorthTippCasino
6 days ago #
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36 5
You sit, are disgusting. The lord will smite you on the day of reckoning. You will be deemed not worthy!
Diarmaid Twomey
6 days ago #
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1 22
Might sit in well with the North Tipp Casino decor?
Thomas Tully
6 days ago #
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3 31
Rape, murder, fraud. I’m sure the DPP can’t wait to add a painting to their backlog.
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Suzanne Devitt
6 days ago #
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7 25
Balls to the defimation act did they think about that when they were hiding the peodiafiles who called them selves men of god ha cods wallop. They should pay the victims of their abuse be it both physical and sexual befor they start throwing stones. We are not living in the dark ages any more this is the artists depiction of the virgin so what now defile more statues and cover the damage with fig leaves cop on such pure and utter crap
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Maureen Kelly
6 days ago #
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10 13
Spellcheck!!
Ryan Murphy
6 days ago #
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5 12
She’s right though…I think.
NorthTippCasino
6 days ago #
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19 5
Dear Suzanne, you do not only have seem to lost your faith in God our Lord but also your grasp of punctuation and spelling.
Connie Concepcion
6 days ago #
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9 41
1) This is a beautiful painting
2) The Catholic Church is the last organisation to get on a moral high horse. It has spent centuries collarborating with Ireland’s enemies and let her people down the primrose path only to abandon them. So it just simply needs to shut the fuck up.
3) Blasphemy laws are bloody ridiculous and they need to be struck from the books
4) The catholic Church needs to audited and dismantled. Then we’ll finally know the true level of corruption of filth it has generated in the the last 2000 years.
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Paul Ó Du??ai?
6 days ago #
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5 25
We are suppose to have a referendum later this year regarding Judges pay, can’t we not have a second one regarding removing mentions of Blasphemy from the constitution.
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Michael Dolan
6 days ago #
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1 17
We need referendums on so many things we’d need a book of ballot papers to get through them all.
Brenda Flewelling
6 days ago #
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5 29
“She’s not the mother of the messiah, shes a very naughty girl” ( apologies to Monty Python)
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Oil Foster
6 days ago #
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2 6
Well done Brenda, after reading your post I dug out the DVD and watched it……again.
SrIrene Gibson
6 days ago #
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61 8
If people in Ireland remain indifferent to this blasphomous image of Our Immaculate Queen and Mother of God, Mary most Holy, the wrath of God will come upon the Irish people. What kind of a son would he be if he were not moved to anger at others mocking and blaspheming his mother. It will be necessary for the people of Ireland to make reparation for this evil. When the Hindus were permitted to worship their deity on the holy altars Fatima May 5, 2004, the Society of St. Pius X and the Fatima Crusader team went there to make prayers of reparation. Even so, true Catholics must team up and make reparation outside UCC.
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Michael Dolan
6 days ago #
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8 38
Sister you need professional help.
Ryan Murphy
6 days ago #
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9 36
You do know your immaculate queen and her son don’t exist, right?
I’ll tell you who did though, as just one example of that depraved institution, John Charles McQuaid, Archbishop of Dublin, and a more tyrannical, overbearing, misplaced authority figure you’d be hard pressed to find. He was a kiddie fiddler too, who realised as he was getting ever closer to extinction, that the church was losing its grip. I hope the thought caused him much anguish.
Like you, “Sister” the Christian tenets of tolerance and empathy were kinda lost on him as well.
Tonacatecuhtli
6 days ago #
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4 34
blasphomous – blasphemous
Our Immaculate Queen and Mother of God, Mary most Holy – all made up by various popes. Absolutely no biblical evidence or authority for such titles (and the ‘Mother of God’ title doesn’t even make sense).
the wrath of God will come upon the Irish people – a statement in complete contradiction to the teachings of your Jesus but of course the Catholic Church (like most cults) has completely gone down the road of a la carte dogma.
It will be necessary for the people of Ireland to make reparation for this evil – like the Catholic Church has made reparations to the hundreds of thousands it killed during the crusades (and the people it killed before that), reparations to the people it allowed to be slaughtered during the Nazi era (the pope actually blessed Hitler) or reparations to all the children and their families tortured and abused by nuns and priests here in Ireland?
Ms. Gibson – take the huge log out of your own eye before taking the speck out of everyone else’s eyes and don’t place an unbearable burden on others when you yourself and your church allow yourselves to get away scott-free for your anti-human, guilt-laden, perverse beliefs and practices.
Oil Foster
6 days ago #
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4 8
Irene, I’m on my way. Will there be any pedo priests present?
Ronan McDonnell
6 days ago #
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5 2
troll
Diarmaid Twomey
6 days ago #
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0 7
“Sister”, does himself know that you are profiting off selling rip offs of him, only I noticed you like off loading some dodgy looking paintings yourself! What do use the money for? I hope it’s given into some central fund to do the annual renovation of heaven or something cause otherwise, Sister you a Sinner!
Fergal O'Neill
5 days ago #
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3 1
Sr, do forgive these knee-jerk reactionaries for their rudeness. It’s appalling.
Margaret Cantwell
4 days ago #
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0 2
The “wrath of God” could surely come upon the Irish people, sister. But I doubt very much if it will have anything to do with this piece of art! More likely it would have something to do with the corruption within the Irish peodophile so-called “Church” … the corrupt priests, bishops and cardinals who allowed the blasphemy against little innocent children. Your definition of evil is pathetic. Why don’t you say prayers of “reparation” instead for your corrupt church and hold a “crusade” against child molesters within it, instead of supporting an evil institution. The woman who painted this picture, it is her interpretation of Mary … whether you find it blasphemous or not is entirely due to brainwashing by the roman catholic institution, who had a stranglehold over the Irish people for far too long. For God’s sake, LEAVE THE POOR ARTIST ALONE!
Roos Demol
1 min ago #
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0 0
Irene, ( I’m Sorry, I have sisters of my own, you are not one of them)The world has changed. People have evolved, they have seen both the good but also a lot of evil done by your Catholic church. You call this work of art evil, yet what your likes have done to the women in Magdalen laundries doesn’t even merit an apology? If your God truly exists, do you not think his wrath will come upon the likes of nuns running evil institutions like the Magdalen Laundries?
I refuse to accept any preaching by people like you who can’t even see their own hideous mistakes.
Donal O'Byrne
6 days ago #
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2 24
Anyone is free to believe what they like, and, to express that belief as long as it doesn’t interfere with the rights of others. I believe that “incitement to hatred” constitutes an interference with the rights of others, but accept that there’s room for debate on legislatating against that. Interfering with the rights of others is probably best done through democratic consensus (not a perfect system, but there is never going to be a perfect one). I respect every-ones right to believe what they like. I do not respect all beliefs, nor accept any limitation on my right to criticize or ridicule a belief, that would be too much of an interference in my right to believe and express what I believe. Usually ridicule for the sake of it is counter-productive, as are name calling and negative stereo typing. So i prefer reasoned criticism. In case it’s not evident from this I think a blasphemy law is nonsensical at best and dangerous at worst.
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Kate Walsh
6 days ago #
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3 18
Kate Walsh This will be a good test of that ridicilous law. Apparently there is no problem looking at the figure of an (almost) naked Christ – I suspect that particular piece of legistation had more to do with economics than blasphemy
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Michael Dolan
6 days ago #
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6 7
Economics as in how much money changed hands to get that law on the statute books? NOTE THE QUESTION MARK.
Kate Walsh
6 days ago #
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3 1
No nMichael – as in there was a proposal put forward by Fianna Fail that an effort should be made to attact Islamic banks into Ireland – I suspect but do not know that that was the reason the Blasphemy Laws were changed (it was around the same time and ). By the way as far as Islamic banks are concerned I understand they are extremely ethical in how they are run and in their dealings with their customers
Kate Walsh
6 days ago #
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2 0
No Michael – as in there was a proposal put forward by Fianna Fail that an effort should be made to attact Islamic banks into Ireland – I suspect but do not know that that was the reason the Blasphemy Laws were changed (it was around the same time and ). By the way as far as Islamic banks are concerned I understand they are extremely ethical in how they are run and in their dealings with their customers
Kate Walsh
6 days ago #
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2 0
No Michael as in there was a proposal put forward by Fianna Fail that an effort should be made to attract Islamic banks to Ireland – around the same time the Blasphemy Law was changed. That why I think it had something to do with economics but it’s only my suspicious mind. By the way I understand that Islamic banks are extremelty ethical in how they are run and in their dealings with their customers so a pity a few of them didn’t take up the offer
Conor Keaney
6 days ago #
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3 19
**rage** These are probably empty words but I would love to attempt to start so many prosecutions on the basis of religious libel or defamation that the judiciary gets clogged. The law is ridiculous. One man’s blasphemy is another man’s religion. And freedom of religion is a right guaranteed by the E.U acquis communautaire. If there are any lawyers willing to go pro-bono on this it could be a lot of fun.
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Donal O'Byrne
6 days ago #
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4 23
Hopefully this case will highlight the nonsensical nature of the blasphemy law and go all the way to the Supreme court and get ruled un-constitutional.
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Spillinksuz
6 days ago #
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3 24
For heaven sake..there isn’t even such a person as “the virgin mary”, and we all know it!
Mother of god but there’s been worse art than that around for years!
This is all so silly
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Oil Foster
6 days ago #
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3 18
I used to date a girl called Mary, virgin she most definitely wasnt!
Roos Demol
6 days ago #
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4 21
This is so nonsensical! A true embarassement for any straight thinking Irishman or woman, or indeed anyone living in this country! That blasphemy law is a total outrage. How dare anyone who agrees with it criticise Islamic countries?
If these zealots had only read the artists explanation and tried to open up their minds! But, I guess that’s asking too much.
I have left catholicism behind a long time ago, but I must say, it’s nice to see Mary painted as any other woman, beautiful, and proud of it! Why not?
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NorthTippCasino
6 days ago #
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25 4
“Roos Demol”? I deduct from your name that you hail from that country of sinners and a modern day Soddom and Gommorah called the Netherlands. I refuse to take someone serious from a country that has a half hidden referral to someones “nether region” in it’s name.
Be gone you sinner!
David Conroy
6 days ago #
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1 11
I am assuming that Nort Tipp Casino is joking in some cackhanded way, in the same way as the proposed edifice itself is a bit of a laugh.
Roos Demol
4 days ago #
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0 3
haha, northTippCasino: you’re close, but not exactly there. I am from the (mostly Catholic) Flanders. Ever heard of us?
Roos Demol
4 days ago #
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0 3
By the way, NorthTippCasino, I just read your previous comments, It seems to me that you need some help, unfortunately mental services in this country are just as ridiculous as the Catholic extremists,so I fear you will be left with your issues untreated…
As for the 4 people who like his comment… sad, very sad…
James Kennedy
6 days ago #
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4 8
Three words. Sheela na gig.
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Steve Ross
6 days ago #
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1 9
Catholic Lawyers Blog?
Brilliant!
Raging I didn’t think of it first.
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Bocque d'Robbeur
6 days ago #
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1 6
Catholic Lawyers Blog. Brilliant.
Raging I didn’t think of it first.
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Cathal Henry
6 days ago #
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1 28
its amazing and children being abused by the catholic church for years and they failed to notify the authorities. its disgusting. The Catholic church has failed to pay the to pay €476million compensation the agreed which has been paid by the state.
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Paul
6 days ago #
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12 3
Get over it
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Steve
6 days ago #
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27 10
Lol…the Irish love arguing over inconsequential matters it’s amazing. Seems a lot of you need to get back on the job market, you have too much time on your hands.
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Cathal Henry
6 days ago #
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2 13
Cant wait for the new iphone and whats up with the Appstore
Carmel Stoney
6 days ago #
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5 9
Agree with everyone that this issue is just so ridiculous…but dont forget that most artists thrive on bad publicity – the previous outings this piece have had brought much fame – which is what she wants – and sends the value of her work through the roof….its simple 21st century marketing. Its no coincidence the work is in ireland…. I guess she just picked a catholic sensitive country and is sitting back watching the $$$ worth of free publicity do the job for her….
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Patrick Egan
6 days ago #
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3 8
Nothing is as divisive as religion it would appear. :/
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David Conroy
6 days ago #
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0 12
So God now needs to lawyer up every time someone offends him? Thought people’s faith was stronger than that. Maybe this case will bring to a head the ridiculous nature of our pathetic blasphemy laws.
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Csec Bio
6 days ago #
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1 22
Went to see the exhibition entitled ‘Our Lady and other Queer Santas’, must say I didn’t like it. The paintings were nothing special in my own opinion. However, neither are they ‘blasphemous’. The artist, Alma Lopez, is entitled to show off her work and it is up to people to go see it or not. I think that to suggest that the work is ‘blasphemous’ is a sign of arrogance and snobbery. We are being told what to think and what not to think. It is sicking to think that one organisation is trying to tell all people what to think. The exhibition is not being forced on people, go or don’t go entirely up to yourself, but this call that the exhibition is ‘blasphemous’ is being forced upon us. Where is the real crime here?
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aislinn tongue
5 days ago #
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2 3
The real crime here that I took time out and got soaked to the skin to have a look at this rubbish print and totally crap exibit. awful.
Ronan McDonnell
6 days ago #
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1 15
Surely the onus is on the prosecution to prove the blasphemous nature of a woman’s body?
I think some of the renaissance images that have Mary clothed and the little fella with his noodle hanging out, might need a splash of black paint editorial too, as we slide back to the dark ages…
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Ronan McDonnell
6 days ago #
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1 21
Incidentally, I saw a statue of Jesus on the cross. His nipples were on view, he was showing a lot of leg too. I almost swooned.
Oil Foster
6 days ago #
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1 13
Had a nice piece of halibut for my tea, it was good enough for Jehovah.
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James Bashford
6 days ago #
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2 20
The irony of this makes me sick. That blasphemy law impedes on freedom of speech and should be sent back to the middle ages along with those gullible idiots who take offence to that image.
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Dave O'Shea
6 days ago #
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3 17
Oh fuck me…. What a backwater we are living in…. We are just a bunch of sheeple…. The catholic church is a refuge for the worst kind of people, when are you religious zealots gonna wake up and smell the coffee, this is it, one life, enjoy it and I say…. Gas the peado priests…. Tho the price of gas has one up, so fuming burn them to death
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John Lyons
6 days ago #
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3 24
Fuck the child molesting Catholic Church. Run the fuckers into the ocean. Outrage indeed. Where is/was their outrage at the child molesting priests.?
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Anita Ruttle
6 days ago #
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3 9
It’s Art – Look beyond the obvious and deeper into the concept of the painting.
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Tom Molloy
5 days ago #
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0 8
Just had a look at this so-called “Catholic Lawyers Blog”. Crackpot City! The kind of ravings you’d expect from some loony with a placard on Grafton Street.
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David Conroy
5 days ago #
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0 4
“Down with this sort of thing.”
NorthTippCasino
5 days ago #
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6 5
I would be interested to see the reactions if this had been a depiction of the “profet” Muhammed….
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Lisa Saputo
5 days ago #
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1 8
Personally I think its a crap painting, I don’t like the colours and I think the model is really unattractive to look at as for the religious signifcance I don’t really care. I saw someone on Twitter say child abuse and slave labour are fine with the Catholic Church but the Virgin Mary in a bikini is blasphemy! Says it all really.
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aislinn tongue
5 days ago #
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1 1
Agree . Crap is the word. I went to see it. It was not even a painting. It was numbered 13/99. I am trying to find out the for sale price of this piece of crap. … Now if you subract 4 from the 13 and then turn the answer upside down you get 666 ! The print was not offensive. But the title of the exibit may have been ‘ our lady and other queer santas’.
John Butler
5 days ago #
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0 10
Here we go again : unwilling to apologise in any real sense for the abuse perpetrated by their clergy , and unable , in their filthy pride to see the disrepute in which they now stand : the church resorts to the good old fashioned practice of persecuting artists . All we need wonder , is who will be the next targets ? Perhaps it should be orphans and single mothers…….. Then the circle will be complete !
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Kate Walsh
5 days ago #
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1 4
One other thing – if this image is blasphemous then anyone who who uses the image of Caravaggio’s Death of the Virgin could also be charged blasphemy. Asisde from the fact that Caravaggio used the body of a dead prostitute taken from the river as his model, his portrayal of the Virgin clearly shows her dead – her body is bloated and her lips are blue. The Virgin is very clearly dead, which goes against Catholic theological teaching since she was assumed to heaven ‘in transatoria’ – in a kind of sleep but not dead
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stephen oneill
5 days ago #
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2 1
wake up eople nothing fuckn there…….what god woulld allow people to rape babies ,murder millions of people, rob and plunder the poor ….nothing fuckn there folks …enjoy what you make of life as an individual….and give fuckn nothn to the catholic church and the bunch of peodos
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aislinn tongue
5 days ago #
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5 2
How much was Alma Lopez trying to sell the print for ?
All of her stuff was very poor art.
One thing is for sure it WAS not the Virgin Mary in her ‘Our Lady’ print.
What sort of visa did Alma Lopez enter the country on ?
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Kate Walsh
5 days ago #
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0 4
what’s her visa got to do with anything??????
Roos Demol
3 days ago #
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0 2
Aislinn, I suggest you get to know Mexican culture and read a little about the artist, before you make a judgment. As for the visa. What kind of a question is that?????
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Adam Burthom
3 days ago #
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0 6
Well, I am stunned. If I look at what is there before my eyes: I see flowers, I see a woman standing over a crescent, supported by another woman, warm colours radiating, everything suggesting respect, dignity and human sisterhood. A labour of devotion. Yet it is fine to show a man nailed to a cross in agony. Even to continue to nail men and women to metaphorical crosses by prosecuting their personal expression. Perhaps that represents one of the greatest defining features between femininity and masculinity, when not balanced.
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M Dunne
2 days ago #
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0 0
Well put sir.
Bryan Corish
2 days ago #
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0 0
to north tipp casino; i’m not prone to using foul langusge but would you ever FUCK OFF with your holier than thou attitude. for starters all religeons are a scam , and the so called blessed virgen is a mythical , fairytale character drummed up by the EVIL CATHOLIC CHURCH as is jesus ! religeon is based on ancient egyptian writings and astrology . i believe in a god , but not all this poppycock about virgin births and son of god etc . did you know that the crucifix is a pagan symbol derived from astrology , you must be very insecure in your beliefs if you cruticise this artist .. do a bit of research for god’s sake
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Bryan Corish
2 days ago #
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0 0
to cathal, dont bother with the new iphone , its a heap of crap !! just like the catholic church , i wouldn’t darken the door of the church, not after personal abuse . how dare they even think about criticising anybody , shower of evil fuckers .. luckily i was old enough to be able to kick the shit out of the priest who abused me
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SrIrene Nun
1 hour ago #
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0 0
Welcome to St. Patrick’s Purgatory. Lough Derg, Co Donegal, where all denominations, are welcome to do three days of continuous prayer, penance, fasting and 24 hours vigil.