Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Katherine Zappone (L) and Pope Francis (R) Rollingnews.ie

Katherine Zappone warned Tánaiste that using State funds for Pope visit 'undermined' work for LGTBI+ rights

An email released under the Freedom of Information Act shows how Zappone had ‘very serious’ concerns ahead of the visit.

MINISTER FOR CHILDREN Katherine Zappone warned the Tánaiste that spending State money on the recent papal visit undermined the work done for LGTBI+ rights in Ireland, previously unseen correspondence shows.

A letter released to TheJournal.ie under the Freedom of Information Act details how the Minister raised concerns over the World Meeting of Families to Simon Coveney in February.

It followed media reports in late January that organisers of the triennial Catholic festival – which was held in Ireland in August – edited documents to remove references to LGTBI+ Catholics and their families.

“Very serious concerns have been brought to my attention by former President Mary McAleese and others regarding World Meeting of Families (WMF) and the potential use of State funding,” the Independent Minister wrote.

“As a Government Minister I share these concerns and believe they must be urgently addressed.”

Financial support

Citing reports in the media that World Meeting of Families documents been edited, Zappone speculated that statements on gay marriage that would cause “hurt and offence” to LGBTI+ people across the world could possibly be made at the event in Ireland.

In her capacity as Minister and as a TD, she sought assurances that State funding was not used to support views and events which did not represent Government policy.

“Our Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs has been to the forefront in promoting equality and human rights offering hope to those facing inequality, discrimination and abuse,” Zappone wrote.

“Financial support for an event which encourages discrimination and inequality undermines and compromises this work, which has the support of the Irish people.”

The Minister later used the visit to raise the issue of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home, where the remains of children were found in a sewage system, with Pope Francis. 

Meanwhile, another letter released to TheJournal.ie showed how Minister for State Kevin “Boxer” Moran lobbied the Taoiseach to make more tickets to be made available for the Pope’s visit to Knock Shrine.

Disappointed

A letter from Fianna Fáil TD Eugene Murphy to Moran, forwarded by the Junior Minister to the Taoiseach’s office, described how many of his constituents were “bitterly disappointed” after not receiving tickets to the event.

Murphy said many of those who were left disappointed were elderly people without Internet access, leaving them at a disadvantage when it came to booking tickets.

“I am calling for a further 5,000 tickets to be made available through a postal request or phone line service so that those people at least have a chance to go to this historical event,” Murphy wrote. 

Minutes from an early meeting in advance of the visit, also released under Freedom of Information legislation, also showed how state bodies initially considered that 800,000 people could have attended the papal mass in the Phoenix Park on 26 August.

The figure was suggested at a meeting between various bodies on 27 March, when the Office of Public Works and the National Transport Authority liaised on transport arrangements for the mass.

“Contact has been made with all transport providers and the total capacity for 26 August is approx. 800,000,” the minutes read.

The capacity was later revised downwards to 500,000 people, while just 130,000 people eventually attended the event when it took place.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
84 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joanna
    Favourite Joanna
    Report
    Jan 6th 2015, 10:44 AM

    This is what happens when you bring good exclusives to the table *embraces PS4 lovingly*

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam Ó Séaghdha
    Favourite Liam Ó Séaghdha
    Report
    Jan 6th 2015, 10:53 AM

    Brilliant device! Much better than Xbox and better exclusives. However the range of games still needs improvement. Big releases like COD Advanced Warfare and Killzone failed to deliver.

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kieran Ryan
    Favourite Kieran Ryan
    Report
    Jan 6th 2015, 5:37 PM

    You can’t really blame Sony if someone makes a game for it that isn’t good. Didn’t Microsoft buy Call of Duty anyway? Sony can hardly have a say with that obviously

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derek Mahon
    Favourite Derek Mahon
    Report
    Jan 6th 2015, 12:05 PM

    Now that Sony are making a profit, might we see some investment in their server capacity to stop these DDOS attacks from taking down the system. Lizard Squad repeatedly said Sony and MS’ systems were useless so now with all that money hopefully they’ll invest some of it into the people who made their profits.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave
    Favourite Dave
    Report
    Jan 6th 2015, 12:55 PM

    To my knowledge MS use Cloudflare for such attacks. Sony don’t which is why their service was down for days

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Damien
    Favourite Damien
    Report
    Jan 6th 2015, 3:59 PM

    Your knowledge is wrong.

    7
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave
    Favourite Dave
    Report
    Jan 6th 2015, 5:19 PM

    Right or wrong, XBL was back up in 24hrs after the attack. Sony for their size should step it up especially after 2011.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Live Long
    Favourite Live Long
    Report
    Jan 6th 2015, 11:11 AM

    Xbox rules, PS4 drools!

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán A Haon
    Favourite Seán A Haon
    Report
    Jan 6th 2015, 1:17 PM

    18.5 million * €400 = WTF!!!!!

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joseph Murphy
    Favourite Joseph Murphy
    Report
    Jan 6th 2015, 12:08 PM

    It’s pretty incredible how well it’s selling considering how lackluster the second half of 2014 was for exclusives. The Last of Us Remastered (a last gen game), DriveClub (disastrous broken launch, but now fixed finally) and LittleBigPlanet 3 (sent out to die) the only ones that I can think of. Thank god for 3rd parties! Really looking forward to Bloodbourne in March, though! I think Microsoft must be kicking themselves for the cock up that was E3 2013. All that online only stuff and Kinect disaster drove people away from them in droves and they’re only now recovering.

    It will be an interesting year ahead between the two.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute CitizenSmith©
    Favourite CitizenSmith©
    Report
    Jan 6th 2015, 10:49 AM

    The play station is a loss leader, they make the money on the games

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Doctor
    Favourite The Doctor
    Report
    Jan 6th 2015, 11:00 AM

    No, they are now making a profit on each unit sold.

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sternn
    Favourite Sternn
    Report
    Jan 6th 2015, 2:36 PM

    Doesn’t beat the Xbox One. I see they glossed over posting how those sales were in comparison…

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kieran Ryan
    Favourite Kieran Ryan
    Report
    Jan 6th 2015, 5:39 PM

    Yes, how easy it must be to gloss over sales figures that have not even been released

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cormac Mc Greal
    Favourite Cormac Mc Greal
    Report
    Jan 7th 2015, 1:02 PM

    Tyumen

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds