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FOR TWO WEEKS in a row, the front page stories I penned for my local paper in Crossmaglen, involved the abuse of dogs.
Firstly an elderly lady was out walking her dog – her family had bought her a pet for companionship – when a group of young people on bikes grabbed the lead out of her hand and dragged the little dog along the road as they sped off.
The poor pet was eventually found whimpering underneath a lorry on the other side of the town.
But the second incident, a few days later, dwarfed that one – it was absolutely horrific.
A beloved family pet was doused in corrosive acid. The vet who treated the dog said: “This is the worst case of animal cruelty I have ever come across. I will take this case to my grave.
“You could smell the burning off the animal and the skin was falling away. The dog’s tongue was ulcerated as it was licking the acid off of its skin,” he said.
Sadly the dog’s injuries were so severe that the vet had no choice but to put him down.
How someone could be so cruel and vicious towards a defenseless family pet is beyond my comprehension.
Had the latter incident happened to my family dog, I would obviously have been distraught but then I would have done something which some people might not understand. I would have held a religious end of life ceremony for my dog.
I am a Catholic (although admittedly I attend mass very infrequently) and as such, I believe that everyone is imbued with God’s spirit and so everyone is worthy of respect and dignity.
If God created the universe, he also created animal life and I believe that God’s spirit is imbued in all his creatures.
Pope John Paul II said: “animals possess a soul and men must love and feel solidarity with our smaller brethren.”
He added that animals are “as near to God as men are.”
Family pets, especially dogs, add so much to people’s lives. They offer companionship, loyalty and comfort. Very often, they are valued members of the family who have been with us for many years.
As members of our families surely a ceremony of some sorts to acknowledge all they have given to us would be appropriate.
Father Declan O’Loughlin, a Catholic priest and Diocesan Advisor for Post-Primary Religious Education, says that while we should love and respect all of creation there is a spiritual distinction between us and our pets – as animals don’t have souls in the same way as human beings do.
“When a person dies we honour the person’s mortal remains as it possessed the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit and was once a dwelling place for divine life. Hence a funeral liturgy is special for deceased human remains,” says Father O’Loughlin.
“Pets are close to us; they return affection to us and are often loyal and beautiful companions,” he says.
But “Jesus speaks of preparing a place in his Father’s home for his disciples. He does not hint that other creatures will share in his resurrection and so share in his divine risen life,” he says.
Despite the clear assertion that pets are spiritually very different from humans, Father O’Loughlin doesn’t object to pets being given some type of ceremony when they die.
“It is nice to bury pets with affection and dignity. It affords comfort to their owners. For a family to thank God for the loyalty, pleasure, and affection shown to them by their departed pet seems fine to me,” he says.
Although that wouldn’t be a religious service akin to a human funeral, in his view.
Yet there are religious leaders who do perform such ceremonies. The Anglican Reverend James Thompson, who died in 2015, was affectionately known as the ‘animal Padre’ and he regularly blessed animals and held religious end-of-life ceremonies for them.
In 2012 he appeared on Channel 4’s 4thought.tv – a show that reflects on religious and ethical issues, and aspects of spiritual life.
“It is only right and proper that when an animal dies that it should receive a blessing from a clergyman,” said Thompson speaking on 4thought.tv.
He recounted the story of a young Czechoslovakian woman who asked him to bury her dog, as part of the ceremony she lit a candle to represent each year in the dog’s life.
As those candles flickered, Thompson sensed the presence of God. “I could have wept – not wept with sorrow, but with blessing because I felt the presence of God so close,” he said.
He also recounted his visits to animal cemeteries, where he said the atmosphere is deeply spiritual. He could feel “the little animals’ presence all around the cemetery,” he said. “The atmosphere is truly idyllic. It’s a foretaste of heaven.”
I believe that lots of people would like to hold a ceremony for their dead pets especially those that have been part of their family for many years.
Indeed children often do bury animals and erect crosses on their graves.
So if you feel it is the right thing to do, then you should hold an end of life ceremony for your pet, if you choose to bring religious scripture into it that is also your choice.
Indeed, in the Old Testament, there is a passage from the third chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes which seems to support the idea that we are the same as animals in death.
Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other.
All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. All go to the same place; all come from dust and to dust all return.
Diarmuid Pepper is a freelance journalist and formerly a teacher of philosophy and religious studies.
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Good on them for not caving in under pressure.
Will the Orange Order resort to its traditional tactic of egging on Loyalist killers to up the pressure by shooting someone. A standard tactic up to much of the 90′s.
They are hell bent on reversing any move to a shared and normal society.
The nationalist groups are really coming out on top with regards to positive PR. They’re really making loyalists look like bigoted cavemen. Unionists would be foolish not change tack.
When has this ever not being the case?
My dad was telling me that he knows people originally from the North who moved to the South because of these people AND THEY WERE DENOMINATIONAL PROTESTANT TOO!
I’ve heard of orange lodges borrowing drums from the local GAA clubs for July marches, across the boarder, no animosity whatsoever.
“Look like”
They are bigoted cavemen.
The PR is all from the Order, that it is negative all the way is their own fault.
They were offered the option of marching across in the morning but not in the evening when they are often half cut and their followers even more so. They refused to talk or engage with people.
In Derry, a overwhelmingly Nationalist and Republican city they worked with people and in return have been supported in getting a key role in events in the city of culture.
Orange Order in Belfast and its leadership are still driven by sectarian supremacy and hate.
The Leads Are Weak.
Many Protestants in the North despise the Orange Order and the type of individual that make up its leadership.
Why all the red thumbs, its true that not everywhere orange marches are met with such hostility.
Why would a GAA club have drums in the first place?
It’s where they keep their money.
The Klu Klux Klan isn’t always met with hostility either perhaps.
They’ll disperse at 4:30 alright! Then re-group at 9:40 to smash the place up! They don’t listen to their own, so they won’t listen to a parades commission !
It’s the 21st century !!!
Would they just let it go……
Changing or facilitating their culture will not be possible as it is a carefully thought out colonial plan which has stood the test of time The original plantation of the northern part of what was then a united Ireland by Sectarian Britons was with people who would not inter-marry and integrate with Irish Catholics and becoming more Irish than the Irish themselves. Sectarianism IS their culture.
Listen, this has nothing to do with nationalism or unionism, its got to do with a) bigoted old farts parading for a battle won donkeys ago, nowhere near the battleground, won purely because the irish were outnumbered 2:1, and were mostly farmers against cavalry (good win there lads) and b) young, bored, little ratbags who love an excuse for a good riot.
Regular, sane people in the middle age range regardless of religion want no part of this sh”te. Do you really think the 18-23 year olds out rioting are Protestant extremists? Not a care do they have about religion.
Spread the love guys, have a beer, light a doobie, the sun is shining, life is good, just chill.
The members of the Orange Order that go to services in a Protestant Church are actually quite small. Religion has feck all to do with it. Power and control is all that matters.
I went to Belfast for a weekend a couple of years ago & had a wonderful time there, the people we met were really nice and friendly. We had a really positive experience everywhere we went & we were 4 County Cork people so we only had to open our mouths to be recognised as being from the South of Ireland. I can’t believe that these people would sacrifice the future of their wonderful city and people for some stupid tradition that I imagine many of the young people don’t even know the origin of. I am not saying they shouldn’t march if that’s what they want but Belfast is a big place so why do they insist on marching through Catholic areas just to rub peoples nose’s in it? I genuinely do not believe that the vast majority of Protestants agree with this carry on. It is such a shame to see this carry on as it risks undoing so much of the great work that was done by both sides over the last number of years. I doubt if any of the hardliners are reading the journal so in the absence of that I just hope and pray that they will see sense before somebody is seriously injured or killed. I know now I’ll get the red thumbs for mentioning “praying” but each to their own & if I feel it might do some good sure what’s the harm in that?
Mary, I’m 55yrs old and never been in NI and chose not visit. Because of the sectarianism up there I’m quite frankly afraid. I’ve eaten sushi in Tokyo, rodeod in Canada, squated in Amsterdam, beach bummed in France, Greece and Spain. I’ve seen every county in Ireland…. bar the North. I have cousins in Co. Derry. But because of the barbarisms reported from this tiny part of my own island… I’m still afraid. Your post has gone some way to changing my mind. Thank you.
Ah thanks for that William, it is really worth a visit, we went on the bus tour of Belfast and I must say I found it quite emotional, we were there the time of the Queens Coronation so you can imagine the contrast between The Falls & The Shankill but definitely made me more aware of how important each sides traditions are to them. Lovely experience we’re going to do Derry next hopefully.
William I hope you are aware that this idiotic carry on and rioting only occurs in a very small area of Belfast. There is a only a few hundred moronic f**kwits who carry out the stupidity every year. There are around 1,8 million people in the region of Northern Ireland and the vast majority aren’t the sectarian morons that are seen marching every summer.Theres not much of a difference from these loyalist rioters in Belfast than from the skangers in Dublin,Cork or Limerick really..
Theres lots of lovely places to visit in the North. From the Fermanagh lakes to the Sperrins, the Glens of Antrim or the walls of Derry. ignore the morons and see some of the nicest places on the island of Ireland
They dont march through catholic areas, Crumlin road is the location of this march and its predominately Unionist, neutral at worst.
Theres an IRA parade soon in Castlederg, one of the most bombed town in NI during the conflict!! Yes bombed by the very people who are soon going to be marching in it. Why are they marching? To commemorate two bombers that were killed while planting heir own bomb in that very town.
Whats peoples opinion on this parade?
james/david thompson/patrick lyons/eastbank derry/pauric mclying
taking a break from rioting, are you?
Never broke the law in my life mate.
Can you address my question above?
Derry lovely place and same goes for the people there!
Sh.t James/David is back and he was going to report me to the Police and his solicitor:(
I’m outta here…
The wheels are already in motion Bobby
Anybody want to take a stab at answering my question above, anybody?
James.
If the people on that March get violent, drunk and disorderly, attack people on the street etc then they will be banned as well.
Same rights, same responsibility.
Why is it being allowed to proceed though, its a glorification of terrorists and part of the rout passes a spot on the road where the PIRA murdered three security force members. If the OO is a problem for nationalists can this parade not be construed as a problem for us?
the ira killed three heavily armed british terrorists
So do you disagree with the OO marching on Crumlin road but support the IRA marching in Castlederg?
JusticeforIreland
The IRA lost the war in he end up didnt they.
david,
nope, the ira won democracy and civil rights.
Imagine 100,000 british terrorists couldn’t defeat a few thousand ira personnel.
ruc/uda/uvf/brit army/shoot and scatter et al.
you must be gutted, having to share power and all…………….
“PIRA murdered three security force members”? Act of war by Irish Freedom Fighters.
Proud of that active service unit, nice one! You have just made a Cork man proud to be Irish, James/David
If they act outside of the law then the Castlederg march should not go ahead again.
Same as the Ardoyne Orange march being blocked. They had their chance to work in a neighbourly fashion and ended up acting like thugs.
The law applies as much to the Orange as the Green.
The OO dont go through Ardoyne though, it stays on Crumlin road which is unionist.
Give me an example of this misbehaviour by the OO, what did they do to the Ardoyne residents?
James “the IRA lost the war”? Do you see any British army/RIR check points, is the fascist Orange Order allowed to march through the Ardoyne…..Nope! has the Union Jack being removed from flying every day over the Belfast City Hall..Yes!
Joint authority and power sharing………Dream on James/David, tactics my man tactics….
@ Connor, deep down I’ve always felt what you say….. I’ve always been a solo traveler and when I do, now I’ve decided so, I hope to meet people such as you when I do go north. All cultures I’ve met over the years have enriched me… the social and cultural wealth of NI I’ve longed to experience, with the same mind I’ve met other cultures. Landscapes aside, two cultures reside and as much as I think I know one I want to know the other as well; I’ve a feeling there exists more commonalities than differences. Thank you for commenting.
Re: Ardoyne residents
It’s the only place on the trek to Springmartin that you can toss a few WKD bottles, have a bargy and do some spitting (also turn up the volume and roar out some good tunes) – if the OO are to get home the problems of SF and their enemies at Ardoyne will have to be sorted by themselves. The Ardoyne has always been good for a fight just like the SS.
Re: the War
The war just petered out. The UK redefined it. Nobody won it. It’ll resurrect itself at some stage.
James who exactly is marching? The IRA no longer exist.
Wise up william. You could even drive up, look around and stay in your car just in case the savages got wind of you for a quick get away. Nl is not Afghanistan!
…..and dont forget we have some of our own green wearing morons here and in the north as well…..
Fair point conor, only differences is the banners “songs” and Tshirts
I think one day history will show in the greater scheme there was no WAR just a dirty little three pronged spat (i know 3000 people died, in 30 years, but 100,000 haver petished in two years in Syris) …with certain rules, ie you dont bump off too many of our (IRA) people and we wont bomb the underground etc.
I suspect the Brits could have bumped off at least 90% of IRA ASUs in the north and probably in the south as well. ( ibase that statment on having worked in jobs in London where x soldiers worked, the one interesting thing they all said was when being deployes to NI they were shown pictures of all the local “players” in their area of operation. ) of course they could have being bull s******g, and of course the IRA could have left a big on the tubes instead of a nearly empty canary wharf.
Just my observation!!
Brilliant news and all down to the resilience of the Ardoyne residents. As a Cork man, the spirit shown by the nationalist communities in the North and recently the Ardoyne people, make me feel proud to be Irish again. No surrender!
Attitudes like yours are part of the problem.
They won’t be happy ’til they’ve gone past a Catholic district beating their lambegs and screaming sectarian abuse, this country could really do without them.
What sort of anarchic idea is it to have a march through an area to celebrate the victory of an ancient battle over that areas “people”, time for the Orange Order (and the Republican paraders) to dragged into the 21st century I say!
what republican paraders? When did republicans want to march down the shankill?
you gave yourself away with that comment.
You wanted to look bipartisan, instead you look like a troll.
It was England v Holland played on neutral ground. Last time Ireland should host a playoff
I predict a riot!
Jesus that orange lad is well prepared for the messin!
Hugh in your profile picture you are the spitting image an actor named Tony Hirst. ( I think he plays a fireman in coronation street)
Er, thanks Gary.
Why did you have to go and racially abuse Lloyd? How does Eileen put up with you?
Wouldn’t say spitting image, slight resemblance maybe. He also does the voice over for ” how it’s made “
One word. No two: Ha ha
Can we not all just get along. As a previous post says…. It’s the 21st century for feck sake.
Riot live on SKY come Saturday then, so predictable, so depressing
Why don’t they go to Holland and march?
Loyal Orange Lodge. LOL!
They break so many Dutch laws surrounding equality, gay rights and racism that they would’nt even be left in there.
John go to Holland….do you want them to get a shock and discover William of Orange is dead?
Bobby. The irony of your post is not lost on me.
Have a read of the Ed Maloney biography on Ian Paisley if you want a good reference book on this organization. They should have drowned in the great flood as they belong to centuries past.
Ourdoyne
March out to sea ya bigoted pr#cks
Been around this globe a fair bit and every Ulster-Scot I’ve ever met has been dismayed by the futility of sleeping in the past. Religion and tribalism is a thing of the past and fortunately most of us recognise this fact. Please NI do us all a favour and educate your working classes so they don’t feel aggrieved that history has proved them wrong. You have your nation don’t abuse it. X
Orange Order is across all classes and the values and hate that it espouses are not just in the working class. The Loyalist mob are always riled up for political reasons and then left rot in jail.
Peter Robinson and the DUP want their seat back in Belfast.
They need captain planet
They need a good kick up the a$$ is what they need!
They want to march past a couple of shops, nobody’s house can see the march.
It seems to me that people in NI are going out of their way to be offended.
Prior to all these parades being banned the GOLI was dying off. It consisted of a few old men.
If they had been ignored in the first place there would be none of these problems now.
Roman wishful thinking, get over it because it won’t be happening,game over! :)
Makes one wonder who exactly the bigots are ?
Roman, you don’t have to wonder to long, just look at the DRUNKEN COCAINE FULED SC.M with bowler hats and a big Orange shoe-lace straddled over their shoulders trying to slice a Police mans head with a ceremonial sword, that’s your classic……..”BIGOT”
The Loyal Orders are dying out because most Protestants in the North despise them as homophobic and sectarian bigots that make most towns in the North a living hell for the week of the 12th.
People can be overly sensitive but this march has consistently proven to be one of the most hateful displays in Europe over the last few years.
Classic bigotry there Booby.
There are Nationalist houses on the route, hence a residents group oppossing the parade rather than a traders association. Do try to keep up Ronan…
i wondered when david thompson would show up…………….or is ronan patrick lyons/pauric mclying/ east bank derry?
lmao………………
Orange Order style Roman!
JusticeForIreland, David Thompson will not be able to hide under another new identity,he will not be able to conceal his Bigotry to long.
Out with it now David, let it out man,Jesus Christ David you’ll do yourself damage trying to contain your hatred!
david just morphed out of james…………laughable really…..sad on the other hand.
Justice for Ireland???
Merkel will give you no justice boys lol
No there are no ‘nationalist’ homes along the route, it passes a few small shops and a pub.
I am not a supporter or apologist for the GOLI but all these protests just inflame the situation.
about time they started clamping down on these sectarian marches,nothing but destruction and violence caused by hatred from out of control louts,they cast a bad shadow over ireland every summer when shops and business are relying on a tourist trade now as much as ever,they should now press on and ban these parades completely they would be tolerated in no other country for so long!
F**kin morons..this is such childish bollox. I can’t believe grown men and women attend these marches. It’s like something from lord of the flies!!
I ask this question…why is paddys day celebrated around the world but yet this crap is only up the north by 1 religion?????
Because its stupid and bigoted!
They are nothing but modern day Ku Klux Klanners. Can nobody shout this out?
Will a lot of read your postsbandvconsider ah f*** it can’t be bothered Bigotry and stupidity god help you. Ex british army served a lot of time in the north, went to school in Ardoyne and Newtownards rd Catholic. do you know how the majority of the world including here ion Dublin look upon you?
have your say