John "The Captain" Ryan: Christian

Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts

Thursday, 30 August 2018

Back-to-school time not so joyous for some students (All Parents of school going children - Please Read)

Shocking news came out of the great U S of A earlier this week of a nine year old boy taking his own life after being bullied in school. One student actually told him to kill himself.

9 year old takes his own life after being bullied for being gay.

Jamel Myles had come out to his mom earlier this summer, and started wearing fake fingernails on August 20, the first day of school for his fourth grade year. Thursday, 23rd August at 11:17 p.m. was his time of death. 4 days back at school was all it took.

... 4 DAYS ...

(It's taken me longer to put this blog together)

Tuesday, 28 August 2018

A letter to the parish priest (who also happens to be my Godfather)

“Ignoring a son or daughter who has homosexual tendencies is an error of fatherhood or motherhood ... the child should be brought to a psychiatrist.”

Dear Father,

It is with heavy heart and trepidation that I write to you today. Less than a week after the Pope has visited Ireland.

Nobody writes letters anymore so I though the best way to say what I need to say in a constructive manner and in a medium that you can perhaps ruminate on and digest is actually in that very same medium.

I haven’t seen you since before I got married. I was sad when neither you, your brothers, their wives or children attended my wedding, a celebration of love and family. I can only speak for myself but I can say that I was and am still hurt by the fact that not one person who shares your surname attended my wedding.

For the first 30 years of my life, being a good, honest and devout catholic was a huge part of my life. As I became the person I am today, for my own peace of mind and mental health I had to say goodbye to a huge part of my identity. Losing one’s faith is not an easy thing. I used to love singing in the church choir and did so for over 7 years in Bride Street church. The love and support the church CHOOSES to give to those members of the community that prescribe to its teachings is beautiful and fulfilling. A common argument thrown at me is that being gay is a choice. If you are one of the people that believes this, then I would ask you to slightly change your viewpoint to “God has chosen for this person to be gay”. I need to tell you now, and if you take nothing else from this letter, please believe me when I say this:

The manner in which the Catholic church has turned its back on LGBT people is cruel and hurtful. There is a huge hole in one’s heart without faith.

You are a person of very strong faith, you are very intelligent and well educated. The Catholic church continues to this day to CHOOSE to judge Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people. You are of a generation that you may not understand some of this. Guess what. That’s ok. I won’t even bring more modern labels into the mix like cis-gender, non-binary or gender fluid. But I would ask that you do not judge us. The last time I checked, God is the only one to judge us.

How would you feel if you woke up in the morning and your faith was wrenched from your mind and heart. How would you feel if everything you believed in all your life was gone. But not by your own choice. By the judgement and choice of others in the Catholic church.

*******

I need you to re-read that previous paragraph.

*******

How do you feel being part of a church that has not only made dreadful mistakes in the past but continues to be cruel and hurtful to LGBT people today. Only last Sunday (26^th August 2018) your Pope and God’s representative on earth said that:

“Ignoring a son or daughter who has homosexual tendencies is an error of fatherhood or motherhood ... the child should be brought to a psychiatrist.”

To continue against all modern science and to still believe that being LGBT is an illness that needs curing is simply wrong. To suggest to a child or their parent that their child is intrinsically disordered and evil is wrong. The only thing evil and wrong is the Catholic church continuing in this vein of thought and teaching. I only hope you don’t believe in the concept of “pray the Gay away” and so called “conversion therapy” which will soon be outlawed in Ireland.

There are many reasons why people are leaving the church in their droves just like Moses led the Isrealites except no sea has had to be parted. It will take the church a long time to recover from the mistakes of the past but it needs to start fixing this wrong and welcome LGBT people and their families to the faith without judgement and condemnation. Ireland has changed over the last 3 years. The Irish Catholic church has two choices. It can decide to open its heart and love to the whole community or it can continue down its current path. If it takes the latter, your followers will be more devout and faithful but will harbour hatred and judgement in their hearts. Eventually the Red Sea will close back in and swallow those left and the Catholic church will be no more.

In my sinful opinion, every priest, including yourself needs to look towards your community. And yes, it is YOUR community. Don’t take that lightly. You can lead your community. You can be responsible to teach love and understanding to all members of your community. You can ensure that no child in YOUR school is ever bullied for being Gay (did you know that 70% of LGBT children say that schools are not a safe place for them).

I hope that you take this opportunity to reflect on the current situation and if you like, I would love the opportunity to discuss it further.

John Cunningham-Ryan

Your Godson.

Wednesday, 16 May 2018

The 8th Amendment. Retain or Repeal?

That is the question. Social media, the press and everyone and their granny has given their tuppence worth over the last couple of months. This is the one and only time I’ll be posting about the referendum.

This is a difficult question, both, for a nation and its individuals. It’s even hard to decide what language to use, what I (scientifically) might call a bunch of cells or a foetus in someone else’s mind is a baby from the moment of conception and a gift from God. And guess what...I’m not disagreeing with them. The debate has been hurtful, tiring and destructive. The debate should be about how we write laws, people's rights and how as a nation we can decide and make an informed decision.

AND NO! ... don’t be trotting out the line “Well I have a right to my opinion”. Have your opinion but unless it is informed keep it to yourself.

There are a few things I am 100% sure of and nobody knocking on my door will change my mind.

1. This is a personal matter. I’ll say that again. PERSONAL. What works for one person doesn’t work for another. You cannot equate the reasons why one person/family may want to keep a child and the next will not. And in some cases, will has nothing to do with it. So, as I’ve said before, the language we use is important. Don't be using the word dismemberment, murder and comparing the YES side to Nazi's.

2. This amendment (as like most of the constitution) was written at a time when the vast majority of Irish people didn’t only consider themselves Catholic, they practiced on a regular basis. The Ireland of today is different. There are people of many faiths, no faiths and people who write RC on the census form but only go to mass for funerals and at Christmas. The Ireland of the 21^st century is changing and we need to change our laws. It is my opinion that any laws about abortion DO NOT BELONG in the constitution.

3. Our constitution and politics are predominantly written and dictated to us by a group of old suit-wearing men. The likes of Jackie Healy Rae have no RIGHT to tell any woman what to do with her body. I have no right to tell any woman what to do with her body in the same way that if I am in the hospital no woman has the right to tell me what I can do with my body. Either a person has full anatomy over their body and their medical care or they do not. You cannot choose which elements of Equality you agree with and which you don’t. That’s not Equality.

4. Do I believe that abortion should be freely available to anyone who is careless and willingly has unprotected sex and is using abortion as contraception? HELL NO. Do i believe this will happen. No; because Ireland is still a morally strong conutry. Nobody chooses an abortion lightly.

5. Do I believe that a woman that is raped should be forced to have that child? HELL NO.

6. Do I believe that a woman should have to carry and give birth to a baby that is already dead in her womb or will only live for a few minutes? HELL NO!

7. Do I believe that it any of my business? HELL NO!

So, in summary. It’s none of my business. A woman should have 100% autonomy over her body and must be able to make an informed decision as to her medical needs after consulting with her doctor. In a perfect World, the father of the child should also be consulted but he shouldn’t have the final say. Laws in regards to abortion do not belong in our constitution.

To the Retain campaigners that called to my door a few days ago comparing the current government (who are crap), the Minister for Health and the Repeal campaigners to NAZIS. That argument is STUPID.

John The Captain Ryan

Friday, 20 April 2018

Young members of Fianna Fail should be ashamed of their party colleague Senator Jim Walsh.

He hates women

He hates LGBT people

He creates Fake News about himself and rewrites history

NOT IN MY NAME

Who the hell is Senator Jim Walsh and why the likes of him needs to be stopped? This is not Fake News. He has attempted to rewrite history (another FF trait) but has been caught - HERE. He even had the disrespect to change the facts from his office in the Oireachtas! In case he tries it again, here is a little snap shot of the man.

Like a boomerang, S.J.W. comes and goes but we can never get rid of him. He leaves the party and then returns. One thing is crystal clear, whilst the Fianna Fail Party wants to rewrite the history of the worst financial collapse that Ireland every experienced, at the heart of the party, they are still a bunch of conservative old religious bigots and misogynists.

This must be the reason Fianna Fail keep inviting him back, he represents the real Fianna Fail, and it’s a damning indictment for the younger generation of Fianna Fail members. He is a very vocal member of our electorate, and, at first glance you would think that is what we want in our politicians, but not when your opinions are the following:

He hates Gays - Walsh has repeatedly called for a freedom of conscience amendment to any LGBT equality legislation which would by-pass equality legislation, allowing people a religious exemption in providing goods and services to gay couples. What good is a piece of EQUALITY legislation if it allows exemptions. That’s not equal. Source

"dangerous, vicious elements within the gay ideological movement"

In the midst of the "Pantigate" controversy in 2014 he argued that some proponents of same-sex marriage were "“dangerous, vicious elements within the gay ideological movement”– Source.

"women working outside the home is a major cause of depression in young people"

He hates women and probably thinks they should be baby making machines that stay quiet in the corner. In November 2009, Walsh claimed that women working outside the home is a major cause of depression in young people. Source

Abortion is “dilation and evacuation”

His opinion of abortion is just disgusting, in the Senate said that abortion was a “dilation and evacuation” Source

Female Senator should get "treatment for hemorrhoids"

Showing continued disrespect towards women In December 2015, in abortion-related debate, Walsh told Senator Ivana Bacik she should seek 'treatment for hemorrhoids'.

"IVF treatment should only be "available to married heterosexual couples"

Continuing on his vendetta against any family structure that is not HIS perfect one of a man and woman married with children - he believes that IVF treatment should only be available to married heterosexual couples. Source

"encouraging gay people ... to believe that full equivalence and sameness are achievable would only cause more harm than good"

He believes that allowing LGBT equality will do them more harm than quote, saying “encouraging gay people and same sex couples to believe that full equivalence and sameness are achievable would only cause more harm than good to them and I would worry about that because of the obvious natural differences which will endure regardless of redefining marriage” Source

In January 2016, he was re-admitted to the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party but has said he will no longer be running. If there is even a whiff of this man running for office again we need to vociferously oppose it. He does not represent us.

The population of his little town in New Ross doesn’t support him either as in the Marriage Equality referendum in May 2015, 74% of his neighbours voted YES – source - I actually have the spreadsheet of every box tally in Wexford if anyone wants it (email me).

"€21 million spent on the 2015 marriage referendum should instead be diverted and used to test homosexuals for HIV"

This was a perfect response from my home town, another reason why I am proud to be from Wexford, especially as he suggested that the "€21 million spent on the 2015 marriage referendum should instead be diverted and used to test homosexuals for HIV". Source

He even complained in the Senate at not being allowed to refer to gay people as “fairies” Source. And this highlights the problem with a conservative right wing party and the electoral system for Senators. We the people end up with elected members who do not represent their constituents.

If there is even a whiff of this creature running for office again please do all you can to stop it. Let him know that his type of politics is no longer acceptable in a modern society. He can be contacted as follows:

Phone – 01 618 3763 or Wexford no. 051-421771

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/senatorjimwalsh

Twitter - https://twitter.com/SenatorJimWalsh

Email - jim.walsh@oireachtas.ie

Snail Mail - Mountgarrett Castle, New Ross, Co. Wexford

Let's ensure he never runs for election again.

John The Captain Ryan

Friday, 16 March 2018

Pray the Gay Away...Let me hear you now...Amen!

“Change the use of the word THERAPY and instead use the word TORTURE”.

(Source: https://www.nashvillescene.com)

Fair warning, this is going to be a bit of a rant but I have to put these thoughts down into some kind of coherent message.

But before I go down that winding route, I first want to give a huge shout out to Senator Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) who this week has introduced a bill to prohibit conversion therapy, as a deceptive and harmful act or practice against a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity and, or gender expression. It also aims to stop people being brought out of the state for such therapies. (proposed legislation HERE)

If you believe the Earth is flat, that God created the World in 7 days (a few thousand years ago), that dinosaurs are not real and that it is possible to Pray the Gay away...well by all means keep your opinion but you can stop reading now. If however you are a person of strong faith and believe in the love and understanding of your God(s) stay with me. Put it this way, I can respect you have a strong faith if you can respect the knowledge, study and opinion of medical professionals, or, look at it another way, if you need a heart transplant, you and your family and friends will probably say a prayer to God to keep an eye on you but you will still go to the heart surgeon for the operation. Any-who...

I want to talk about gay conversion therapy and why it should be banned in Ireland. I ask everyone to pester their elected representatives and ask them to support this new bill. Even using the term THERAPY is misleading. According to OED, therapy has two definitions:

1. Treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder. Example: “a course of antibiotic therapy” &

2. The treatment of mental or psychological disorders by psychological means. Example: “he is currently in therapy”

Being gay is not a disorder. When discussing this barbaric practice we should change the use of the word THERAPY and instead use the word TORTURE. Across Europe and the World, medical professionals are condemning the use of conversion (therapy) torture. Malta became the first country in Europe to ban these therapies

(You cannot switch being gay on and off.)

In the EU’s latest report on Fundamental Rights, there are many statements about the rights and freedoms of LGBT people (including Trans people being allowed to officially change their gender) and the Intergroup’s Sirpa Pietikäinen (MEP) says “The UN Committee Against Torture, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the Human Rights Committee have already condemned the practice of conversion therapy in several countries.”

In the UK, medical bodies including the NHS have signed a voluntary Memorandum of Understanding that disavows gay cure therapy. British health minister Jackie Doyle-Price said “The Government rejects utterly the notion that sexuality is something to be cured, and condemns gay conversion therapy.

It has been condemned in the US by groups such as the American Psychological Association and the American Medical Association. At home in Ireland, the practice of conversion therapy has also been condemned and discredited by the Irish Council for Psychotherapy.

(Irish National LGBT Federation)

The National LGBT Federation (NXF) Board Member Adam Long commented: “The National LGBT Federation is very pleased to be working with Senator Warfield to ensure that harmful and abusive so-called gay ‘conversion therapy’ is prohibited in Ireland. A ban is all the more pressing in light of comments by Mary McAleese recently, which highlighted the prevalence of this practice in Ireland, and also the very firm resolution passed by the European Parliament last week calling on all member states to implement a ban. We therefore call on all parties and members of the Oireachtas to support Senator Warfield’s legislation.”

The NXF also says: "This so-called 'therapy', which has been condemned by all reputable health organisations, is not only ineffective but deeply harmful to LGBT individuals subjected to such 'treatment'. It is rooted in homophobic assumptions and ideologies and has no place in any civilised society”.

So, I hope you are still with me. Summary so far, it is not therapy, it is torture and many professionals around the World condemn the use of such “therapy”. A complete list of professional opinion is here.

Ok, so we can agree this (therapy) torture never did and never will work. There is nothing medically wrong with not falling into a hetronormative role and there is nothing to be cured. There is no medical evidence to back up the practice of such therapies. But, you think, sure this isn’t happening in Ireland so it doesn’t matter...

Oh, darling you are so wrong. I heard it was happening a few years ago – back in 2010 Cormac O’Brien investigated and reported in GCN about it - https://gcn.ie/gay-conversion-therapy-brand-new-ireland/

In December 2017, Hot Press did a similar expose - http://www.hotpress.com/features/reports/Exclusive-Report-The-Shocking-Truth-About-Gay-Conversion-Therapy-in-Ireland/21558195.html

And now former President Mary McAleese revealed that an international Catholic group run by Courage was operating a chapel in Dublin where priests sought to help “persons who experience SSA [same-sex attraction] to grow into their true identities”.

So this is happening in Ireland. HERE and NOW.

Leo Varadkar is visiting Mike Pence this morning and he says he hopes there will be time to discuss gay rights. However, Pence has barred the press from the meeting and I can only imagine how "unfortunately" there will not be time to discuss these issues. Of course we already know that Pence is an advocate of such therapy. In reality, Varadkar probably cannot sway either Trump or Pence’s opinion anyway.

But here’s what we can do, we can keep tweeting and posting about the issue. We can keep asking our elected officials their opinion & educate them about the damage these therapies do. We can ask them to support this new bill. We the people are the only ones that can make a difference. Love is Love.

John The Captain Ryan

Tuesday, 2 January 2018

Kick all Gays out of the Church

Seriously, every single one of them. Yes, all of them.

Ok, let me explain.

Christmas for most people is all about spending time with family. Yes, we spend too much money on presents, stick up decorations and drink too much but we still travel the length and breadth of the World to see our families.

But it's also about celebrating the birth of Christ. Jaazusss...not him again! Except here's the problem, being part of a Catholic congregation is something we are born into. We don't really have a choice and then it's part of our identity and who we are. I was on a church choir for seven years and really enjoyed it, it was my way to feel part of the weekly celebration.

Then, shock horror,you realise you are gay and you come to terms with the fact you have to leave behind a huge part of your identity. For some people it's something that's really hard to do, but to be true to yourself and be the person you need to be you just have to do it. Some people can “marry” both parts of who they are, but for most it's really hard especially when Popes, Cardinals, Bishops and Priests are ready to preach how wrong and evil you are.

Normally, your parish priest, congregration & community support you in times of trouble & loss but this is one time not only do they refuse to help and support, the church actually make it worse. For someone with a strong faith, losing such a huge part of who you are can leave you feeling more isolated and alone than you already are. And this is made worse if you live in a small rural Irish village. And it gets worse when you have the parents that throw their children out of the family home when they come out. Wow, now that's a Christian thing to do. Just imagine you are 16 years of age, thrown out of your home, nowhere no live and it's Christmas. Thankfully there are places like Outhouse that provide services and organise events for those who have been abandoned by their family and church.

Nevermind that prick Eamon Martin, the Primate (i.e. Leading monkey of the Catholic church in Ireland) has the audacity to say he feels a “Bereavement”, and that gay marriage “is a defeat for humanity”. Cop on to yourself. If you and your buddies weren't so busy attacking people who just happen to love someone of the same gender you might instead try to help heal the rift. He should look in his own back yard first...

(photo source http://seminary.maynoothcollege.ie)

Did you see the Seminary in Maynooth is in trouble again – (no, not the trainee priests all on Grindr), check this out - https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/article34930984.ece.

Ironically, the best thing ever might be for your church to throw you out because then you are free to be who you are. Hopefully, the Catholic church is on it's knees (rather than the alter boys). So, where am I going with all of this! It's a long tale of woe for LGBT people in Ireland who were baptised into the Christian faith and then they are cast out just like Lot.

I'm asking that the church now throws out all gays, including ALL of the gay priests. There are quite a few gay priests in Ireland and if all of them were thrown out, coupled with the all-time lowest figures of boys entering seminary this would finally ring the death knell for the Irish Catholic church.

Fini

John The Captain Ryan

John "The Captain" Ryan

Thursday, 30 August 2018

Back-to-school time not so joyous for some students (All Parents of school going children - Please Read)

Shocking news came out of the great U S of A earlier this week of a nine year old boy taking his own life after being bullied in school. One student actually told him to kill himself.

Tuesday, 28 August 2018

A letter to the parish priest (who also happens to be my Godfather)

“Ignoring a son or daughter who has homosexual tendencies is an error of fatherhood or motherhood ... the child should be brought to a psychiatrist.”

“Ignoring a son or daughter who has homosexual tendencies is an error of fatherhood or motherhood ... the child should be brought to a psychiatrist.”

Wednesday, 16 May 2018

The 8th Amendment. Retain or Repeal?

That is the question. Social media, the press and everyone and their granny has given their tuppence worth over the last couple of months. This is the one and only time I’ll be posting about the referendum.

Friday, 20 April 2018

Young members of Fianna Fail should be ashamed of their party colleague Senator Jim Walsh.

Friday, 16 March 2018

Pray the Gay Away...Let me hear you now...Amen!

“Change the use of the word THERAPY and instead use the word TORTURE”.

Tuesday, 2 January 2018

Kick all Gays out of the Church

Seriously, every single one of them. Yes, all of them.

Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski (book review)

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