St. Patrick’s Day--or as it’s known in the Ordo, the Feast of St. Patrick--falls for the first time since 1940 during Holy Week. Not surprisingly, that means no Masses in honor of the patron saint of Ireland (that is, the man born Patricius in Roman Britain) on March 17. A few Catholic bishops have also asked to have the parades on that day moved as well. Predictably this has disappointed, frustrated and even angered some Irish-Catholics. CNN.com has a good piece on the controversy "St. Patrick’s Day Controversy"and tells what’s going on in Columbus, Ohio.... [In] Columbus, the Shamrock Club is going ahead with its March 17 parade, drawing protests from the local bishop. A handful of Irish-American politicians have lined up behind church leaders, breaking with tradition by refusing to march in the parade. In a letter last fall, the Catholic Diocese of Columbus told the Shamrock Club, the group that organizes the parade, that Bishop Frederick Campbell wanted "all observances honoring St. Patrick" -- religious or otherwise -- removed from Holy Week. "It’s not a sin to celebrate your Irish culture," countered Mark Dempsey, the club’s president. "Actually, you’re born Irish first," he said, "and then you’re baptized Catholic." Look, I’m half-Irish (as near as I can make out from our complicated family tree). And I have a great devotion to St. Patrick. But, for Pat’s sakes, it’s Holy Week. You have to wonder what St. Patrick would say to someone who thinks that being Irish is more important than being Catholic. James Martin, S.J.St. Patrick's Day Smackdown
St. Patrick’s Day--or as it’s known in the Ordo, the Feast of St. Patrick--falls for the first time since 1940 during Holy Week. Not surprisingly, that means no Masses in honor of the patron saint of Ireland (that is, the man born Patricius in Roman Britain) on March 17. A few Catholic bishops have also asked to have the parades on that day moved as well. Predictably this has disappointed, frustrated and even angered some Irish-Catholics. CNN.com has a good piece on the controversy "St. Patrick’s Day Controversy"and tells what’s going on in Columbus, Ohio.... [In] Columbus, the Shamrock Club is going ahead with its March 17 parade, drawing protests from the local bishop. A handful of Irish-American politicians have lined up behind church leaders, breaking with tradition by refusing to march in the parade. In a letter last fall, the Catholic Diocese of Columbus told the Shamrock Club, the group that organizes the parade, that Bishop Frederick Campbell wanted "all observances honoring St. Patrick" -- religious or otherwise -- removed from Holy Week. "It’s not a sin to celebrate your Irish culture," countered Mark Dempsey, the club’s president. "Actually, you’re born Irish first," he said, "and then you’re baptized Catholic." Look, I’m half-Irish (as near as I can make out from our complicated family tree). And I have a great devotion to St. Patrick. But, for Pat’s sakes, it’s Holy Week. You have to wonder what St. Patrick would say to someone who thinks that being Irish is more important than being Catholic. James Martin, S.J.
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16 years 9 months ago
I don't think anyone is laying claim to Patrick being Irish, he was supposedly born in the North of England (not Wales). You don't have to be Irish to be our Patron Saint... The issue seems to be whether any saint should be celebrated with marching bands and festivities during Holy Week. I think that Cardinal Egan is handling it correctly, does Fr. Martin think the Cardinal is wrong?
16 years 9 months ago
You can't be a little bit pregnant or a little bit Catholic. Mr. Dempsey should be concerned about eternity. The Ancient Order of Hibernians and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians in Columbus is standing behind our bishop's request and not marching as a unit nor do we allow any of our members who march to wear their AOH baldrics.
16 years 9 months ago
Another reply, I suspect, might be that Patrick himself was Welsh (I believe) first, not Irish. No?
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