Dublin Auxiliary Bishop Paul Dempsey speaking with Monica Morley on MWR fm following Saturday’s (17 Oct) Synodal Assembly meeting in Gormanston

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1. What does God want of us?
   Very simple:

   “God made us to know Him, love Him and serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next”.

   Thus taught the late Cardinal Heenan in the old Red Westminster Penny Catechism. I still have my battered copy!

   Interestingly, this Catechism is selling very well instore and Online at Knock Shrine Bookshop.

   I recommend people read the book “Catholic Revivalism versus a Synodal Church” by Professor William Thomas, a Galway man and former Classmate of Leo XIV. He is a prominent Roman Catholic Theologian and professor of Mariology. Available on Amazon.

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2. It is easy to support many of the proposals of the recent National Assembly such as those referring to the need for further healing in relation to the residual hurt following abuse revelations, faith formation and training, many suggestions re youth ministry, engagement with Irish society in discerning the common good, the urgency to change the language & discourse about the LGBTQ community as well as the establishment of various commissions and frameworks for the mission of the Church.
   The document cites many references to the Baptism, Equality and Co-responsibility of all with the consequent involvement of all for the salvation of the world.
   If these strong emphases are true, there is no need to establish a National Office for women or to on-going exploration of women’s diaconate.
   The theological basis for a women’s diaconate has been more than established in the extensive research by Phyllis Zagano, which has not been refuted by the Vatican.
   The time for a “discipleship of equals” has more than passed its time for the mission of the Church.

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   1. “The urgency to change the language & discourse about the LGBTQ community ”

      Maybe the writer could define what language has to change. A concrete example of same would be appreciated.
      If we are followers of Christ and his teachings surely then it’s illrelevant if some one is pink or blue but we treat them with kindness and dignity and vice versa everyday and I appreciate that not all of us have experienced that.

      If it’s about changing core Catholic teaching around the acknowledgement of gay marriage well that’s a different discussion which more recent statements either directly or indirectly have been made clear by the Holy See.

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      1. “If it’s about changing core Catholic teaching around the acknowledgement of gay marriage well that’s a different discussion which more recent statements either directly or indirectly have been made clear by the Holy See.”

         Every day we meet more fine married same-sex couples, so that it becomes ridiculous to speak of them superciliously as if they were rare exhibits. These same-sex married couples will in time force the churches to drop their stonewalling tactics and recognize the human reality staring them in the face. Meanwhile the APOLOGY is still awaited for the havoc the churches have wreaked on lgbt folk, crushing the possibility of love. “Core Catholic teaching” is an example of diseased language that should be corrected. You do not erect a blind spot into “core Catholic teaching” putting it on the same level as the Council of Nicaea. You might as well embrace Cum nimis absurdum (1555) — the infamous Bull of Paul IV repeated by popes for centuries, stating that Jews were rightly condemned to perpetual servitude — as “core Catholic teaching”. The icy language of diehard prejudice often traffics in sanctimonious appeal to unalterable principles, as so many women, trans people, blacks, Muslims, indigenous people, and many other categories have learned over centuries.

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3. #1 “I recommend people read the book ‘Catholic Revivalism versus a Synodal Church’ by Professor William Thomas, a Galway man and former Classmate of Leo XIV. He is a prominent Roman Catholic Theologian and professor of Mariology. Available on Amazon.”

   To convince us that Professor William Thomas is not simply confused, Dermot, could you explain briefly how he thinks that ‘Catholic revival’ can be accomplished without Catholics meeting to share their stories of faith and settle on a plan to share that faith – i.e. without being ‘synodal’?

   As the dominant theme of the Synodal Assembly on Oct 17th was the need for lay adult formation, and especially the need to advance the ministry of catechist, it would be interesting to hear if Professor William Thomas thinks that this emphasis is also irreconcilable with Catholic revival.

   Far too much opposition to synodality arose out of a personalised and unreasonable objection to Pope Francis. Why any Catholic should ever be opposed to ‘walking together’ totally beats me.

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   1. Sean,
      I am an excommunicated layman. I adhere formally to the SSPX July 1st Schism.

      Of course, that doesn’t undo my Baptism many years ago in Westminster Cathedral. I regard myself as a member of the Church into which I was baptized: the One, Holy, Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church.

      I am unimpacted by Synodality.

      Sean, you are clearly a man of high intelligence. Ergo, why not read Professor Thomas’s Book? The retail price is about twenty Euros on Amazon.

      Check out his Credentials! There is no need for me to answer on his behalf. His short book will answer your questions. Like you, he is a man of high intelligence. As he is a Theologian and former Classmate of Leo XIV, he is far better placed to address your question than an ill, excommunicated Engineer!

      Pax Tecum.

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4. “The urgency to change the language & discourse about the LGBTQ community ”: Why ‘Intrinsically Disordered’ Hurts So Bad
   https://www.newwaysministry.org/2026/10/21/93587/#

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