AOH Home of the Brooklyn Irish
Baile na nGael
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Posted by Jim on May 29, 2018
Two great Hibernians meet in Ireland to secure the bonds that tie us together.
President Gerry McGeough of the County Tyrone AOH with Martin Galvin New York State AOH Freedom for All Ireland Chairman and Bronx Division President
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Posted by Jim on May 28, 2018
IRISH NEWS
Fr Sean McManus (May 21) enquired whether Free Presbyterian congregations were in the dark regarding ecumenical advances, as he continues to mull over my article printed in The Bulwark about the Mass. It can never be argued that congregations affiliated to the Presbytery of Ulster are ignorant about ecumenism. One of the prime reasons why the denomination was formed in 1951 and why thousands have been led by the Holy Ghost to join our ranks, is because of the ecumenical trend that exists within certain Protestant denominations.
This is not the real question.
I would suggest another more pertinent question: Is ecumenism a biblical approach towards Catholicism?
Fr McManus has chosen to present ‘the great Martin Luther’ as an exemplar whose teachings on the Eucharist can help to provide common ground between Protestantism and Catholicism.
My article (I wonder how many who criticise my words have read the article?), highlighted this very issue. I agree that Luther did accept the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, but he also rejected transubstantiation, believing that while the Son of God became present in the sacrament, the essence of the bread and wine remained unchanged. This became a hot debate between the Lutheran and the Reformed Churches, led by John Calvin.
It is somewhat disingenuous, however, for Fr McManus to use Luther’s teachings as a light showing the way to unity with the Papacy. One of the German Reformer’s most influential works, published in 1521 was ‘The Babylonian Captivity of the Church’. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to hear from Luther himself rather than the opinion of a commentator in the form of Lyndal Roper.
In Luther’s introduction he described the theology of Rome as propping up an idol, by the way in which the Papacy was elevated. What would he have made of the more modern invention of Papal Infallibility, when the Pope speaking Ex Cathedra defines faith and morals for all Christians?
Luther went onto to argue that the true Church was held in captivity because of the way the Papacy had corrupted the sacraments. In this work he reduced the sacraments from seven to three, reserving his most intense criticism for the corruption of ordination and the office of the priesthood.
Has the Roman Church changed since the days of Luther? Does the Papacy continue to dominate? Can the Church of Christ exist without being in subjection to the Pope?
Yes, it is sadly true that some Protestant Churches have capitulated and have become part of a process leading their flocks back into the Babylonian bondage that Luther so boldly and bravely broke free from. We call on Christians to resist this trend, not only by objection but by separation because truth cannot mix with error.
Rev PETER McINTYRE
Clogher, Co Tyrone
Posted by Jim on May 27, 2018
May 25th
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Families who lost loved ones at the hands of unionist paramilitaries
acting in collusion with the state have criticised comments made by a
former Director of Public Prosecutions for an end to conflict-related
prosecutions.
Barra McGrory QC said mechanisms proposed to deal with the legacy of the
conflict will only result in “litigating the past for years to come”.
Mr McGrory said that current legacy proposals are “well meaning” but
“unworkable”. He called for the end to prosecutions in favour of a civil
inquiry.
“The criminal process will significantly inhibit the information process
and to what end?
“Very few convictions will result, people will be as unhappy as they are
now, and the opportunity to have a process which makes people truly
accountable will be lost.”
His comments come amid strenuous efforts by Tories to block prosecutions
of British soldiers over killings in Derry and Belfast dating from the
1970s.
Six families who lost loved ones at the hands of collusion have said
they were “disappointed” at Mr McGrory’s comments.
Their loved ones died in attacks in Moy, Cappagh and Craigavon between
1990 and 1992 carried out by the UVF with the support of members of the
locally-recuited British Army mregiment, the UDR.
In a joint statement the relatives said; “It is with dismay and great
disappointment we read the interview with Barra McGrory.
“It is well known our loved ones were killed by paid state agents and
members of the UDR.
“The murders were never properly investigated at the time and it is our
belief that ample evidence exists to easily secure convictions if proper
investigations were instigated.
“To halt such investigations would only serve to add to our suffering
and deep sense of injustice we already feel.
“It doesn�t matter to us if the perpetrators ‘only’ serve two years in
prison, simply to see them convicted in a court of law and named and
shamed would greatly help the healing process and finally give a sense
of closure.
“It is patently obvious Barra McGrory hasn�t a clue what victims’
families go through and we find it hard to understand why he would
effectively give the state an amnesty for its agent’s deeds.”
McGrory’s attitude to prosecutions has also drawn criticism from legal
figures. His decision not to prosecute a British soldier who shot dead a
15-year-old child in Derry in 1972 was described as �irredeemably
flawed� by High Court judges in February.
That decision was formally quashed by the High Court this week after
Daniel’s sister, Margaret Brady, issued judicial review proceedings
against it.
Outside court the schoolboy’s family called on senior prosecutors to now
being charges over the point-blank shooting of their son.
Mrs Brady said: “I would expect the prosecution service to come back
within three months and say we are now going to prosecute, not drag it
out for another four years. Are they waiting for all of the family to
just die off?”