Herr Kenny in Rome

Just back from visiting my brother in Australia.  I have to say it was bloody brilliant.  I read no newspapers and did my best to forget about Ireland and our awful government.

So I've been catching up with the latest embarrassments.  I see Herr Kenny has been on his first visit to Rome.  And for the first time - I'm pretty sure ever - a Taoiseach on his first visit to Rome failed to seek an audience with the Holy Father.

Reminiscent of another world leader visiting Rome who failed to get an audience with the Pope.

I sent the following email to the Department of An Taoiseach:

Can I ask, concerning the Taoiseach's visit to Rome:

Why the Taoiseach isn't meeting the Pope?

Was any attempt made to arrange such an audience?

Was any contact made with officials at the Vatican to request an audience?

Was the matter considered at all by the Taoiseach and his officials?

Is this one more indicator of the decline in relations between Ireland and the Holy See?

I think it's unheard of for a Taoiseach on his first visit to Rome not to have an audience with the Pope.

Brendan Doyle,
Clonakilty.

And guess what?  No answer, no acknowledgment.  Probably too busy writing Thank You letters to the Chinese.

Why was Kenny allowed to eulogise his mother?

"A brief homily based on the readings should always be given at the funeral liturgy, but never any kind of eulogy." (Order of Christian Funerals)

So why was the most blatantly anti-Catholic Taoiseach in the history of our country given a pulpit to preach in?  Because that's what Catholic funerals in Ireland have become.  There were poems read out by grandchildren (to applause), there was commentary from a son as flags of Mayo and Donegal were carried up at the Offertory, and there was Enda with his moving words about the ocean and lighthouses and applause for mothers everywhere.  Modern Ireland.  The GAA at prayer.

Can Kenny get worse?

Perhaps I'm misreading this - but Enda Kenny, on being asked about his infamous speech and the Vatican's reaction to it - i.e. their rejection of his accusations point by point - basically says "they weren't asked to comment on my speech - they were asked to comment on the Cloyne Report".  Perhaps I'm misreading him but if I'm not, then he is the most arrogant little creep that Ireland has ever had the misfortune to have as leader.  In today's paper:

"I made my statement to the Dáil, and obviously the question being asked by the Tánaiste on behalf of the Government was to have the Vatican respond in respect of a statutory commission of inquiry arising from the Cloyne situation,”

Kenny's judgment has always been decidely iffy - remember his joke from 2002 to party members and journos - well let's just say it was about an African leader who'd been murdered, it contained the N word and several of the man's family happened to live in Ireland.