Gerrys religious beliefs

[pete2]

Gerry Adams has admitted that his religious beliefs are more compatible with Protestantism than Catholicism... Sinn Fein president has revealed that he has not gone to confession “in years”, preferring to speak directly to God. “I have formed an opinion — and it’s probably a Protestant thing — that the notion of having some sort of middleman isn’t altogether necessary,” Adams said in an interview to be broadcast tonight on RTE television...

He also expresses admiration for Protestant churches, and believes that Christian churches should be united. “I think the Methodists are the best, but I love the democratic nature of the Presbyterian church, .. I also think it’s downright nonsense that Christian churches are so divided. I think it’s madness.” Asked if the host at holy communion is the real body of Jesus Christ — a central tenet of Catholic faith — Adams replied, “Who knows?”

..“I just resolved that I wasn’t going to stop being a Catholic. I took succour. I went to mass in Long Kesh when it wasn’t the thing to do,” he says. “I like the gospel. I do think that Jesus Christ was a mighty man. I’m entirely taken by so many of the parables.”

..Adams says that he has been meeting the families of IRA victims in private for several years. “I meet a lot of people who come to me in these more peaceful times who did lose loved ones to the IRA, who come to me privately and who want to talk about that. “We do talk about it, and in so far as I can if they have questions to ask and issues to vent, I think I have a duty to help them to come to closure.”

Gerry Adams cuts out middleman with 'Protestant' beliefs - Times Online

[Duth Ealla]

I'd be RC but i have to say i agree with him.

the protestant faiths seem more grounded and decent than hierarchical RCism

[myk]

Gerry Adams doesn't do confessions, shocker!




It is interesting to hear, and I'd be interested to hear other politicians talk about their faith. But I'd be wary of politicians using such discussions as a spin exercise.

[Christine Murray]

He's not a protestant , he's an a la carte RC. ( O I do hope that evangelicism is not
gripping politics up there, thats an absurd proposition- where RC/Protestant/evangelical
all ball together under some Blairite homogeny)

[Catalpa]

[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black]I think many of those who still go to Mass are of the same opinion now anyway.[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black]For me the Lord's Prayer is what I 'believe' in as its as much I think has a solid enough grounding for us to follow.[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black]Does God exist - Yes IMO[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black]but our knowledge of the Deity is by Nature going to be somewhat limited.[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black]The Bible is indeed a great book and well worth study.[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black]I also like Marcus Aurelius Philosophical writings too.[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black]It certainly would help though if any residual fears of Catholic domination were laid to rest within the Protestant communities in the North.[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black]Thought TBH I think the religious element was overplayed when National Identity is the real crux of the matter.[/COLOR][/FONT]
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[Alliance 109]

[COLOR=black][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman] [/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]I think many of those who still go to Mass are of the same opinion now anyway.

I agree. I think that the Irish have moved away from RC in their thinking and in their religious belief but the idea of the Church being a badge of ones Irishness is still very strong and for that reason people will continue to attend masses and see themselves as roman catholic.

On pure theological and structural grounds, the Roman sect of Catholicism has very few legs to stand on and people know it. Theres a lot of resentment too given the actions of the church for so many decades. If we could avoid the inevitable, a discussion on it here would be very interesting, but I guess that road is closed before we start.

I also agree with you about the religious element of the national identity. The United Irishmen spring to mind.

One thing Gerry said though baffles me:

I also think it’s downright nonsense that Christian churches are so divided

??? I think its downright nonsense how someone can make such a statement.

[turdsl]

Not many of our politicians down here would give as straight an answer to some of those questions.

[Duth Ealla]

In the holy land one church building has four actual churches minding a part of it. They dont talk to each other, they wont agree maintenance costs, sometimes they fist fight and generally hate each other.

But they are all christians. Now if thats not crazy then what is.

[Tiernanator]

I think for those of us who come from the north and that includes the counties of Donegal,Cavan,Louth,Monaghan and Sligo our sensibilites while Catholic have been informed through a Calvanist prism. I see myself as Catholic and have great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, hardly a protestant thing except I suppose for high church Anglicans, Moravians and some Lutherans, however I also have a radical free thinking streak that doesn't really sit well with Catholic doctrine. I think many Catholics in Ireland have this streak and it doesn't make them less Catholic, in fact after all my internal argument I still believe in the "one holy,catholic and apostolic church". This does not mean that I can't have a brain and think for myself. Catholicism generally cannot and does not seek to subvert individual conscience. It is the extreme of Catholicism that promotes this.

[swansandtyphus]

YouTube - Omniscient Sadist

Gerry is just hedging his bets.