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Conference tallis::celt

Title:Celt Notefile
Moderator:TALLIS::DARCY
Created:Wed Feb 19 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1632
Total number of notes:20523

1013.0. "Fr. Des Wilson" by HILL16::BURNS (Sound Ballyvaughan) Mon Mar 02 1992 10:04

			Doors of Hope
		Father Des Wilson - Human Rights Tour
			March 9-14, 1992


	March 9 - Monday Night - Clark University - Atwood Hall - 
	Jefferson Rm 320 - Worcester Ma - 7:30 PM

	March 10 - Tuesday Night - Middlesex Community College -
	Merrimack Street - Lowell Ma - 7:30 PM

	March 11 - Wednesday - University Of New Hampshire - 
	Memorial Union Building - Durham NH - 12:00 Noon
	Notre Dame College - Elm Street - Manchester NH - 7:30 PM

	March 12 - Thursday - UMASS Boston - Healey Library -
	Faculty Lounge - Floor 11 - Boston Ma - 7:30 PM

	March 13 - Friday _ Plymouth NH - TBA



	Father Des Wilson is internationally known as a crusader for human
	rights and social justice in Ireland. He helped initiate the MacBride 
	Principles campaign for equal opportunity in Northern Irish hiring
	practices. He has with the help of other community activist founded 
        the Conway Mills Community Center. The renovated Conway Mill provides
        a wide variety of programs and opportunities for the besieged people
	of West Belfast.

	Father Des Wilson is also cofounder of the Doors of Hope American
	Charity for Ireland. The Doors of Hope is a tax exempt foundation 
        which gives grants to small businesses, job creation projects, and 
	child care facilities in the most deprived areas of Ireland.

	The recent allegations of collusion between the British forces and 
	the loyalist paramilitary organizations and the increased deployment 
	of troops on the streets of Northern Ireland have led to increased 
	tensions on the streets of Belfast. Father Wilson will be lecturing
	on the realities of daily life in British Occupied Northern Ireland.
    
    
       PS. On a personal note, I am posting this info for a friend that is 
           involved in this worthwhile project. If you really want to know 
           what's going on in Northern Ireland, then I highly recommend that
           you try to attend one of these sessions.
    
    
	keVin
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1013.1Worth a listenSIOG::OSULLIVAN_DB� c�ramach, a leanbhMon Mar 02 1992 12:344
    I attended a Fr. Wilson talk some years back and can say that he is a
    terrific speaker.
    
    -Dermot
1013.2Des WilsonMACNAS::TJOYCEWed Mar 04 1992 05:2815
    
    By all means, go to see and hear Des Wilson, but also read topic
    1004 above. I would encourage anyone interested in Northern 
    Ireland to use other sources of information as well. Des Wilson's
    is just one voice, there are many others.
    
    [I am using "Des Wilson" because I am not sure if he still uses
     the "Father". No disrespect is intended. He has been removed from 
     his parish in West Belfast, and as far as I know has no official 
     duties for the Catholic church. When I saw him last, he dressed in 
     black without the Roman collar.]
    
    Toby
    
    
1013.3They come here, and we go there .....HILL16::BURNSSound BallyvaughanWed Mar 04 1992 07:4716
    
    Agreed .....
    
    Anyone interested in Northern Ireland SHOULD avail themselves to
    other sources of information, however most of the people with
    first hand knowledge of the situation in the North (and specifically
    from West Belfast) are routinely denied visas and the freedom of speech 
    when they try to enlighten us "Americans" ....
    
    And to the best of my knowledge "Father Des Wilson" is the correct
    title, as I have no other information to indicate otherwise, but I'll
    be certain to ask him about that when next we meet.
    
    
    keVin
    
1013.4SIOG::OSULLIVAN_DB� c�ramach, a leanbhWed Mar 04 1992 11:538
    re: .2
    
    Have I missed something?  What has topic 1004 got to do with Fr.
    Wilson?  It is I believe on the subject of abortion.  That coupled with
    the little snippet on whether he is a priest or not a priest smells of
    a smear to me.  Maybe I'm misreading it.
    
    -Dermot
1013.5By an other name ....MACNAS::TJOYCEThu Mar 05 1992 09:359
    
    re: -1
    
    Meant 1007 "Peace Meeting". Father Wilson/ Des Wilson attended.
    
    I'm sure he will have no issue explaining his maverick status 
    within the Catholic church.
    
    Toby
1013.6DELNI::CULBERTFree Michael CulbertThu Mar 05 1992 14:0716
    
    Toby,
    
       It's okay, you may use "Father" when addressing Father Wilson.  He is 
    still recognized as a priest by the Church.  He was relieved from the 
    duties of a large parish at his request.  He still serves Mass and is able 
    to administer ALL sacraments.  
    
       The last time I spoke to him (Fr Wilson) he had his collar on.  Maybe 
    he saw you coming and took it off for the affect.  Hey Toby,  I have seen 
    priests dressed in green shirts and blue pants before too.  What's the 
    matter with you guys over there in Ireland anyhow.  Don't you know there 
    is no requirement to wear black all the time.  They even play
    horseshoes on occasion...  8*)
    
    paddy  
1013.7Fr. DesSIOG::OSULLIVAN_DB� c�ramach, a leanbhFri Mar 06 1992 06:156
    re: Toby
    
    Yes I'm glad to read that it was a wrong reference and I'm also sure
    he'll have no trouble explaining himself.  
    
    -Dermot
1013.8Typical American condescension.CLADA::JDOOLEYTake no chances;Cry no tearsFri Mar 06 1992 06:202
    I would like to assure Mr Culbert that there is nothing wrong with
    "us guys" over in Ireland. 
1013.9DELNI::CULBERTFree Michael CulbertFri Mar 06 1992 09:0616
    
    RE:   .8
    
              -< Typical American condescension. >-
    
    > I would like to assure Mr. Culbert that there is nothing wrong with
    > "us guys" over in Ireland.
    
      One of the things wrong with notes is sometimes things that were
    supposed to be said in a friendly joking manner get misinterpreted.
    
    This is one of those times.  I guess I should have made it a seperate 
    paragraph and ended it with more than the one 8*) I used...
    
    paddy
    paddy
1013.10Why the defensiveness?BRADAN::TJOYCEFri Mar 06 1992 09:2023
    
    Re: .6
    
    If you read some of the other notes around you will gather that 
    I don't meet priests very often. A lot of them may be secret
    naturists for all I care. The occasion of my sighting of Fr.
    Wilson is recounted in 1007.
    
    It IS important that if someone is presenting himself
    as a priest (or businessman, or politician) and is going to 
    command respect due to the dignity of his office, he should state 
    up front where he is in regard to the organisation from which he 
    derives that dignity. In this case, the Catholic Church (who dignified 
    Fr. Wilson with the title of "Father") have seen fit to deprive him of 
    any pastoral duties whatsoever on its behalf. I don't know the reason
    but if this gentleman is presenting himself as a Chruch representative,
    there's a few questions he should answer.
    
    Why are "you guys" so defensive about Des Wilson anyway? I don't
    think he needs it. Why should he be turned into a sacred cow?
    
    Toby
    
1013.11DELNI::CULBERTFree Michael CulbertFri Mar 06 1992 11:3723
    
    re:  .10
    
      Toby,
    
       Get on the ball here lad.  Don't be so thin skinned.  As I said in
    my last note it was meant as a friendly joke I tried to impart that
    with the 8*)...........
    
       I didn't read, in 1007, that Father Wilson was representing the
    Church at the conference.  He maintains the title "Father" the rest of 
    his life, much as I maintain the title "The Honorable".
    
       But back to the issue.  Why can't Father Wilson represent a cause
    that has nothing to do with the Church (maybe that's why he didn't have
    the collar on at the time)?  I remember a priest here that was a Mass.
    Congressman for a couple terms.  He surely wasn't fulfilling and
    pastoral duties in that capacity.....
    
       So I guess the question is, can a priest represent political
    matters and remain a priest in good standing with the Church? 
    
    paddy 
1013.12Turbulent PriestsMACNAS::TJOYCETue Mar 10 1992 11:5815
    
    I've re-read my notes, and I can't find anywhere that I said that
    Fr Des couldn't or shouldn't speak out on political issues. Priests
    and Bishops do it all the time (don't we know, I hear you groan),
    except that Fr Wilson's "speaking out" seems to be at odds with
    just about everyone else's in the Church when it comes to peace
    & justice issues.
    
    Recently, John Hume publicly called on the clergy to get down from 
    their Ivory Towers and get talking to the paramilitaries like the IRA
    and UDA to stop the campaigns of violence. I hope Father Wilson has 
    taken the message to heart.
    
    Toby
    
1013.13The church and politics.MACNAS::JDOOLEYGo on outa dat,we don&#039;t believe yaTue Mar 10 1992 12:128
    I think the restriction applies to party politics in particular rather
    than politics in general.
    
    It would be great to see people of all types ( poets,priests and
    politicians etc. ) talking on a one to one basis with the terrorists
    and their apologists. It would help people like me to try to understand
    the mind of a bomb setter, which I can't do now.
    
1013.14Only true Republicans play horseshoes; Des Wilson maybe a priest, but is no ChristianBODACH::WOFARRELLSun Mar 15 1992 12:0910
I thought the Honourable Paddy Culbert ceased playing horseshoes 
with priests and others once he stopped being a Republican!

I used to have a lot of admiration for Des Wilson as a 
communicator, until one day on Irish TV he was asked to condemn 
the people who shot dead a young female schoolteacher on her way 
home from Mass one Sunday.  Her only "crime" was that her father 
was a judge.  He refused to condemn the people responsible for the 
murder/"mistake" and justified the shooting by saying "mistakes 
happen in time of war"
1013.15Des Wilson is a brave man.EPIK::HOLOHANMon Mar 16 1992 15:517
  Spare me the stupid remarks about Father Des Wilson.
  I went and listened to him speak in Manchester.  I
  would characterize him as a man to be admired and
  respected.  He was a very intelligent and interesting
  speaker.
                Mark Holohan
1013.16PEKING::WOODROWJThe Purple People EaterTue Mar 17 1992 04:337
    You are entitled to your opinion, Mark, much as others are entitled
    to disagree with you.
    
    The fact that others may disagree with your opinion makes them no more
    stupid than it makes you wise.
    
    Joe