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Sasko Lazarov via Rolling News

Priests say Mary McAleese being banned from Vatican conference is 'embarrassing'

The inclusion of McAleese on the Voices of Faith speaker panel was opposed by Cardinal Kevin Farrell.

Updated 10.45pm

THE VATICAN HAS barred former President of Ireland Mary McAleese from taking part in an International Women’s Day conference which was due to take place in the Holy See.

The list of speakers at the event required approval from a cardinal. However, McAleese and a Ugandan LGBT advocate were not granted permission to participate.

The event was organised by the Voices of Faith group, which is seeking to “empower and advocate for Catholic women to have a seat at the table of decision making in the Catholic Church”.

The inclusion of McAleese and advocate Ssenfuka Joanita Warry on the speaker panel was opposed by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life.

In a statement released tonight, the Association of Catholic Priests criticised both the decision to prevent McAleese from attending the conference and the removal of pictures of same-sex couples from World Meeting of Families (WMOF) booklets circulated to Irish parishes.

“While it is unclear by whose direction the booklet was amended, it runs directly counter to the effort to extend the definition of family to include same-sex couples and to welcome them, as all Catholics are welcomed, to participate in the WMOF,” the statement said.

While both decisions are clearly part of the fallout from the present struggle in our Church ­between those who support the reform programme of Pope Francis and those who seek to block it, it is unacceptable that individuals and associations can exert such undue influence and be allowed to do so much damage.

“Our Church is paying a high price in pandering to such extremes. In our efforts to reform the Church, we simply cannot afford such mixed signals,” the statement continued.

The WMOF is due to take place in Dublin later this year.

LGBT rights

McAleese has been a longtime supporter of LGBT rights. Her son Justin McAleese, who is gay, was a high-profile campaigner during the 2015 same-sex marriage referendum.

While she is a devout Catholic, she has often spoken publicly about frustrations with the Church over its stringent views on LGBT people.

Warry is a Catholic woman who runs a non-profit LGBT organisation in Uganda, where same-sex relations are punishable by life in prison.

Voices of Faith has made the decision not to host this year’s event in the Vatican anymore, and it has now been moved to the Aula of the Jesuit Curia in Rome. McAleese and Warry are still on the event’s speaker listing on its website.

Chantal Goetz, executive director of Voices of Faith, said that she was disappointed in Cardinal Farrell’s decision to oppose some of the speakers.

“It was disappointing to realise that on International Women’s Day of all days, these women who have accomplished so much in their communities could be turned away from respectfully sharing their stories and experiences as Catholics,” Goetz said.

This event allows us to not only celebrate the wonderful work Catholic women are doing across the globe but also create discussion and dialogue on the current power and leadership structures of our Church today.

In a statement, Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said he only heard about McAleese’s barring from the former president herself.

The statement reads: “Neither Archbishop Martin nor his offices were consulted by the Vatican in relation to this matter.

Archbishop Martin has consistently noted that the WMOF will be an inclusive event, open to all families and family members.

Deborah Rose-Milavec, a spokeswoman for Voices of Faith told RTÉ News that the group has not been given any reason for the decision.

“We are just saying it’s a tragic decision and we are shocked by it. We believe that every year we bring the best and the brightest in terms of Catholic women to the table and we believe their voices should be heard,” she said.

With reporting by Órla Ryan

Read: Evidence of two gardaí to be kept in Hutch trial, despite objection

More: Soldier awarded medal for bravery during one of Ireland’s largest drug hauls

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    Mute Martin Sinnott
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    Dec 27th 2018, 7:57 AM

    Another Quango with all the usual faces after consultancy companies are paid millions.

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    Mute Chin Feeyin
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    Dec 27th 2018, 9:43 AM

    @Martin Sinnott: you can see the future? Cool. Give us the winning Lotto numbers!

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    Mute Sarah
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    Dec 27th 2018, 11:03 AM

    @Chin Feeyin: He’s just making an educated guess I’d wager. Almost certainly right about it too….

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    Mute Trevor Hayden
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    Dec 27th 2018, 8:02 AM

    How convenient for FF and FG, hand picked by themselves no doubt, similar to the counting stations.

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    Mute Fear Uisce
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    Dec 27th 2018, 7:55 AM

    another quango, another job for Leo’s boys

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    Mute Chin Feeyin
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    Dec 27th 2018, 10:11 AM

    @Fear Uisce: well, it’s a public consultation, so get out your crayons and start writing.

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    Mute prop joe
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    Dec 27th 2018, 8:49 AM

    This has corruption written all over it. Make the system over bureaucratic to squeeze out smaller parties and censor political opponents.

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    Mute Willy Mc Caul
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    Dec 27th 2018, 9:44 AM

    FFG want total control..

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    Mute Adrian
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    Dec 27th 2018, 9:53 AM

    We know from experience that anything “independent” thats set up by our govs is really not independent at all.

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    Mute Gerard Heery
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    Dec 27th 2018, 9:28 AM

    Dictatorship on the cards by the looks of it ,never needed any one to overlook the elections since Bertie’s s voting machines and look at the mess and cost entailed

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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    Dec 27th 2018, 6:15 PM

    @Gerard Heery: F.G. is learning using the film, The rise and rise of Michael Rimmer, as a guide?

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    Mute Dominic Leleu
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    Dec 27th 2018, 10:11 AM

    What a joke.

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    Mute Ianmoone
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    Dec 27th 2018, 10:41 AM

    More money down the drain for the EU and our globalist politicians to decide if our answer fits with theirs.

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    Mute paul kelly
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    Dec 27th 2018, 9:08 AM

    Along with using pps numbers this will stop the “home to vote” group.

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    Mute John Flood
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    Dec 27th 2018, 8:42 AM

    Perhaps some good could come from this like “vote by mail”, early voting, and voting on weekends.

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    Mute tommytukamomo
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    Dec 27th 2018, 9:06 AM

    @John Flood: it’s Ireland so I doubt it.

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    Mute Niall
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    Dec 27th 2018, 10:41 AM

    some comments on here really crack me up!! Hilarious!!

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    Mute Fergus Robson
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    Dec 27th 2018, 10:52 AM

    @Niall: literally all the swivel-eyes have come out for this one. Remarkable really the extent of uncomprehending hostility they exhibit while remaining almost totally clueless about the political and electoral process and why this is a positive change.

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    Mute Chin Feeyin
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    Dec 27th 2018, 12:41 PM

    @Fergus Robson: and most of them too young to vote!

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    Mute Frank McGlynn
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    Dec 27th 2018, 2:40 PM

    The role of the State in our democracy should be absolutely neutral as regards policies and parties. Funding for political parties favours the insiders i.e. the existing parties and puts new emerging parties at a disadvantage.

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    Mute marydebbie
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    Dec 27th 2018, 1:27 PM

    Like the ‘true results’ of the abortion referendum!!!!! Shower of liars :(

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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    Dec 27th 2018, 6:14 PM

    Why???

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