Bishop thumbs his nose at Vatican stance on gay issues proclaims the gay media of the U.K. Having lived at Rome's Irish College, the situation in the Irish church is particularly weak. They will be ordaining only five priests this year, down from over 100 ten years ago. Their "elite" seminarians are full of ecumenical-speak without the proper theological foundations and show a hostility to traditional piety (in my experience). They seem to be where the American church was in the early 1970s -- excited about felt banners, feelings, guitars, and dialogue. Our Lady of Knock, pray for us.