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Clergy out of blood sports
It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. #LaudatoSi
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) June 19, 2015Over the years, the Irish Council Against Blood Sports has recorded clergy involvement in the blood sports of foxhunting and hare coursing. We have highlighted the priests who have gone hunting, blessed foxhounds at the start of hunts, cheered on greyhounds as they chased terrified hares and even presented awards to coursers at the end of blood sport meetings. While these individuals are very much in the minority, we find it unacceptable that any Church representative would associate with activities involving animal cruelty.
Causing an animal to suffer or die needlessly is contrary to the Catholic Catechism and that is why we continue to lobby Church authorities. Please support our action alert to the President of the Irish Bishops Conference to act to end clergy involvement in blood sports.
ACTION ALERT
Please join us in urging the President of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference to act to end clergy involvement in blood sports.
Archbishop Eamon Martin
Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland
President, Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference
Ara Coeli, Armagh BT61 7QY
Email: admin@aracoeli.com
Tel: +44 (0)28 3752 2045
Tel: 048-3752 2045 (from the Republic)
Fax: +44 (0)28 3752 6182
Fax: 048-3752 6182 (from the Republic)
Send a tweet to Archbishop Eamon Martin and Pope Francis
Tweet "Please act to end clergy involvement in Ireland's cruel bloodsports" to @Pontifex @ArchbishopEamon @CatholicBishops
Send a copy of your correspondence to the Papal Nuncio
Archbishop Charles John Brown
Apostolic Nuncio
The Apostolic Nunciature
183 Navan Road
Dublin 7
Tel: +353 (0)1 838 0577
Fax: +353(0)1 838 0276
Sign our petition:
Bishop Bill Murphy: Stop clergy involvement in cruel coursing
Irish Bishops Statement on Blood Sports
Blessing of foxhunt hounds in Tipperary
"A large crowd turned out at McCarthy’s Orchard for the opening meet of the Tipperary Foxhounds on Monday, October 29. Following the traditional blessing of the hounds, at which Rev. Canon Breen PP and Rev Canon Fryday officiated, led by joint Masters Paul Ronan, Liam Kearney and Tim Hyde, Huntsman Derry Donegan and Whipper-In Gavin Shorten, over one hundred mounted followers moved off to the traditional first draw." (Fethard News, 12th November 2012)
Kilkenny priest urged to stop hunt blessings
11 June 2014
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is calling on a County Kilkenny priest to end the practice of hunt blessings. The call comes after the emergence of photographs showing Fr Nicholas Flavin of Dunnamaggin parish performing a blessing of foxhunters on the grounds of a church.
The images, taken next to St Eoghan's Church in Kilmoganny last November, show the parish priest standing next to a pack of hounds and sprinkling holy water on mounted members of the Kilmoganny Hunt.
Visit this Facebook Page to see an image of Fr Flavin blessing the hunt.
In a letter to Fr Flavin, the Irish Council Against Blood Sports pointed out that blessing hunts is contrary to a 2003 announcement by the Irish Bishops Conference that the bishops "would not condone the practice of priests blessing foxhunts".
In foxhunting, foxes are chased to exhaustion and ripped apart by packs of hounds. Hunt terriers are sent after foxes who desperately try to escape underground, leading to horrific injuries for both foxes and dogs.
"Given the cruelty to animals involved in Ireland's appalling foxhunting, hunt blessing are inappropriate in the context of paragraph 2416 of the Catholic Catechism," we told Fr Flavin, quoting the paragraph in question which states: "Animals are God's creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence, they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St Francis of Assisi or St Philip Neri treated animals." Also quoted to Fr Flavin was paragraph 2418 of the Catechism which outlines that "it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly."
ICABS also expressed disappointment to Fr Flavin on the inclusion of hunting groups in his Christmas 2013 parish letter. Welcoming newcomers to the parish, he states in the letter: "It is hoped that you will integrate fully into the parish community and take an active part within the parish in whatever activity/activities attract you most."
ACTION ALERT
Ask Fr Flavin to denounce foxhunting, exclude hunting from future parish letters and announce an end to hunt blessings.
Fr Nicholas Flavin
Parochial House
Dunnamaggin
Co Kilkenny
Tel: 056-7728173
Mobile: 087-2257498
Email: napflavin@eircom.net
Scan to send a text message to Fr Flavin.
Ask the Bishop of Ossory, Seamus Freeman to act to stop hunt blessings.
Seamus Freeman, SAC
Bishop of Ossory
Ossory Diocesan Office,
James's Street,
Kilkenny
Tel: 056-7762448
Email: bishop@ossory.ie
Canon helped hunters gain access to land
14 February 2012
ICABS has complained to the Catholic Church after it emerged that a member of the clergy acted to persuade an anti-hunt landowner to allow a hunt to access his land.
The following extract from a pro-hunting article in the Kilkenny people last month outlines what happened...
"The late Canon John Kearns, one-time parish priest of Castlecomer, was a keen enthusiast of the North Kilkenny Hunt...
"When the Canon called to a farm in the countryside around Castleomcer there was nothing he liked better than a mug of tea while sitting beside the hob. Canon Kearns is well remembered arriving on house visits in the Comer or Dunnamaggin areas with an old dark green 'tam' perched on the side of his head.
"On one or two occasions when the hunt arrived at the gates of a farm, they found the farmer in an irate mood telling them that he was not allowing the hunt to ride over the land because their horses were 'cutting up' pastures. After having a quick confab together the huntspeople would sometimes send the popular Canon to meet the landowner at the front gate and within minutes the farmer's mood had changed when the Rev Canon asked with a whimsical smile on his face 'be gob do we really do all that much damage on ye? God rest your poor father, sure he never once stopped us.' Within a couple of minutes the horses were trotting over the land with the owner's full permission." (from "Tallyho - Kilkenny's hunts in full flight", Kilkenny People, January 27th, 2012)
ICABS has urged the Bishop of Ossory and the President of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference to remind clergy that hunting and all forms of cruelty to animals is sinful and contrary to the Catechism.
Complaint to Church over coursing patron priest
18 January 2012
ICABS has complained to the Bishop of Ossory about a parish priest who is a patron of a coursing club. On the front cover of the Sevenhouses coursing club booklet, the patron is listed as "V Reverend Kieran Cantwell PP".
In a letter to Bishop Seamus Freeman, we pointed to the Catholic Catechism which makes it clear that 'it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly.'
Photos from the Sevenhouses coursing meeting, held on January 14 and 15, show hares running for their lives. Links to these have been sent to Bishop Freeman.
We have also renewed calls on the Irish Bishops Conference to act to end clergy involvement with blood sports.
"Members of the clergy should surely be denouncing animal cruelty and not acting as patrons or associating in any way with this disgusting animal abuse," we stated.
ACTION ALERT
Ask Bishop Freeman to act to stop clergy involvement in blood sports.
Seamus Freeman, SAC
Bishop of Ossory
Ossory Diocesan Office,
James's Street,
Kilkenny
Tel: 056-7762448
Fax: 056-7763753
Email: bishop@ossory.ie
Ask Rev Cantwell to show compassion and disassociate from coursing.
Very Rev. Kieran Cantwell P.P.
Danesfort, Co. Kilkenny
Tel: 056 7727137
Mobile: 087 2661228
Fax: 056 7727137
Email: kierancantwell@eircom.net
ACTION ALERT
Urge the President of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference to act to end clergy involvement in blood sports.
Cardinal Sean Brady
Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland
President, Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference
Ara Coeli, Armagh BT61 7QY
Email: admin@aracoeli.com
Tel: +44 (0)28 3752 2045
Tel: 048-3752 2045 (from the Republic)
Fax: +44 (0)28 3752 6182
Fax: 048-3752 6182 (from the Republic)
Send a copy of your correspondence to the Papal Nuncio
Archbishop Charles John Brown
Apostolic Nuncio
The Apostolic Nunciature
183 Navan Road
Dublin 7
Tel: +353 (0)1 838 0577
Fax: +353(0)1 838 0276
Complaint to Church over TV3 hunt prayer
07 April 2011
ICABS has complained to Church authorities after a priest was shown on a TV3 documentary saying prayers at the beginning of a foxhunt.
On "The Truth About Irish Blood Sports" (TV3, March 22), viewers were shown an unidentified member of the clergy praying for the safety of Laois hunters before they set out in pursuit of foxes. During the programme, we were told that foxes targeted by hunts are savagely mauled by the pack of hounds and suffer broken backs and necks.
The hunt prayer scene can be seen on the TV3 Website (forward to the 13 minute, 20 second mark).
In correspondence to church authorities, ICABS expressed disappointment about the pre-hunt prayer and called on them to remind priests that associating with hunts is inappropriate.
"The clergy should denounce hunting and all forms of cruelty to God's creatures and spread a message of compassion," we added.
| The hunt prayer scene from TV3's "The Truth About Irish Blood Sports". |
Complaint about priest who is coursing club patron
05 November 2010
ICABS has complained to the head of the Catholic Church about a priest who is listed as the patron of a coursing club. We have renewed our appeal to the Church to stop clergy involvement in blood sports.
On the front cover of the Thurles and District Coursing Club booklet, a Fr Egan is listed as the club's patron. In an email to the priest, we pointed out that hare coursing is contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church.
We referred to Paragraph 2418 of the Catechism which states that 'it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly.' The Catechism also says that 'Animals are God's creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness.'
"Those who violently remove hares from the wild in nets, keep them in captivity and force them to run for their lives in front of greyhounds are certainly causing animals to suffer needlessly," we stated in our correspondence. "Hares removed from their habitats and manhandled suffer life-threatening stress. Those pounded into the ground by the greyhounds suffer internal injuries, including broken bones and dislocated hips. Every coursing season, hares die as a result of injuries sustained on coursing fields."
A photograph of a priest [who we believe is Fr Egan] at the Thurles coursing meeting appears online. Click Here to see it. A photo of the same priest at the Irish Cup coursing meeting was previously published in the February 27th, 2003 issue of the Sporting Press. You can see photos of hares running for their lives at the Thurles meeting in this online coursing photo gallery
We have urged Fr Egan to denounce coursing, disassociate from it and "work to convey the Catechism's message of compassion to those who sinfully take pleasure in causing suffering to defenceless creatures".
We have renewed our appeal to Cardinal Sean Brady to act to end clergy involvement in blood sports. Please join us by responding to our Action Alert above. Thank you.
Priest presented trophy at coursing meeting
28 September 2010
ICABS has brought to the attention of the Irish Bishops Conference a priest who presented a trophy at a coursing meeting earlier this year.
According to a report on an Irish coursing website, "Fr Dan Greene" presented a trophy following the "Glencar Stakes for bitches" at the Tipperary and District coursing meeting in February 2010.
Photos on the website show hares desperately running for their lives in front of muzzled greyhounds.
In our correspondence, ICABS urged the Irish Bishops Conference to act to end clergy association with coursing. We pointed to the Catholic Catechism which makes it clear that 'it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly.'
In coursing, hares do indeed suffer as reports obtained by ICABS under the Freedom of Information Act show.
The latest reports for the last season 2009/10 reveal that in Gorey, 12 hares were hit, 7 badly, with three deaths. Two days after coursing, the ranger discovered three more hares dead from injuries In Ardpatrick & Kilfinane last December, 16 hares were hit, 5 injured, 3 killed and another dead hare was found afterwards; 1 hare suffering from a dislocated hip was put down. At Tralee last December, 7 hares were hit, 1 put down, and a further 4 found dead afterwards; a ranger described a mauled hare with "marks on its back and bare areas", while a vet noted the cause of a hare death as "knocks sustained during coursing the previous day". Another ranger noted that the muzzle came off a greyhound which caught a hare in its mouth and ran up the coursing field with the "hare hanging limp", while a hare with a damaged leg was noted at Fermoy.
ACTION ALERT
Urge the Irish Bishops Conference to act to end clergy association with coursing and all blood sports.
Irish Catholic Bishops Conference
Columba Centre
Maynooth
Co. Kildare
Tel: +353 (0)1 505 3000
Fax: +353 (0)1 601 6401
Email: columbacentre@iecon.ie
SAMPLE LETTER
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter)
| Dear Sirs,
I am writing to urge you to please act to bring to an end the association with bloodsports of some members of the clergy. Paragraph 2418 of the Catholic Catechism states that 'it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly.' The Catechism also says that 'Animals are God's creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness.' Thank you. I look forward to your response. With best wishes. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location] |
Complaint to Catholic Church over priest's coursing connection
22 September 2010
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is horrified to learn that a Catholic priest is chairman of a coursing development committee that "has been busy organising the Irish Coursing Club Stand [at the Ploughing Championships festival]". Fr. Dan Dunne of Ballyadams Parish, Co. Laois has been brought to the attention of church authorities as part of a formal complaint.
According to the Sporting Press, the Irish Coursing Club's newspaper, "The Coursing Development Group Committee, under the Chairmanship of Fr Dan Dunne, has been busy organising the ICC Stand and they look forward to welcoming thousands into their marquee over the three days."
"It is utterly shameful that a Catholic priest should be promoting and developing a barbaric activity which has no place in a civilised society and should be long since banned," said Aideen Yourell, Spokesperson for the Irish Council Against Blood Sports. "Not only that, he is in direct contravention of the Catechism of the Catholic Church which clearly states that 'it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly.'"
Hares do indeed suffer as reports obtained by ICABS under the Freedom of Information Act show. The latest reports for the last season 2009/10 reveal that in Gorey, 12 hares were hit, 7 badly, with three deaths. Two days after coursing, the ranger discovered three more hares dead from injuries In Ardpatrick & Kilfinane last December, 16 hares were hit, 5 injured, 3 killed and another dead hare was found afterwards; 1 hare suffering from a dislocated hip was put down. At Tralee last December, 7 hares were hit, 1 put down, and a further 4 found dead afterwards; a ranger described a mauled hare with "marks on its back and bare areas", while a vet noted the cause of a hare death as "knocks sustained during coursing the previous day". Another ranger noted that the muzzle came off a greyhound which caught a hare in its mouth and ran up the coursing field with the "hare hanging limp", while a hare with a damaged leg was noted at Fermoy.
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has made a formal complaint to the Catholic Church authorities regarding Fr. Dunne's connection to coursing.
SEE ALSO: Priest defiant over stance on hare coursing
The Laois Nationalist has reported that Fr Dunne was "unmoved by the complaints and was not about to justify himself". He reportedly told the paper that he had yet to receive a single complaint about his connection to coursing. Read the report
ACTION ALERT
Send a letter of complaint to the Church authorities
Mgr. Brendan Byrne
Diocesan Administrator
Bishop's House, Carlow
Email: brendan.byrne@kandle.ie
Tel +353 59 9176725
Fax +353 59 9176850
Send a copy of your correspondence to the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference
Columba Centre
Maynooth
Co. Kildare
Tel: +353 (0)1 505 3000
Fax: +353 (0)1 601 6401
Email: columbacentre@iecon.ie
Make a complaint directly to Rev. Dan Dunne PP
Tullamoy, Stradbally, Co. Laois.
Email: danielgdunne@mymeteor.ie
Tel: 059-8627123
SAMPLE LETTER
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, feel free to send the short sample letter below. Be assertive, but polite, in all correspondence. Thank you.)
| Dear Sirs,
Paragraph 2418 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that 'it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly.' The Catechism also says that 'Animals are God's creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness.' I therefore appeal to you to intervene to urge Fr Dan Dunne of Ballyadams Parish to end his association with hare coursing, a blood sport that causes suffering, injury and death to hares. According to a Sporting Press report, Fr Dan Dunne is chairman of the Irish Coursing Club's Coursing Development Group Committee which 'has been busy organising the Irish Coursing Club Stand [at the Ploughing Championships festival]'. I find it shameful that any Catholic priest should be involved in promoting and developing a cruel and barbaric activity such as coursing. I hope you will act to ensure that clergy connections to coursing are ended. Thank you. I look forward to your response. With best wishes. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location] |
ICABS tells bishop: Clergy blessing hunt dogs is inappropriate
Animal Voice: April 2010
In March, ICABS expressed disappointment to the bishop of Cloyne that a priest in his diocese was involved in a hunt blessing last season. We reminded then bishop of Cloyne, John Magee, about a previous statement from the Irish Bishops Conference that bishops "would not condone the practice of priests blessing foxhunts".
According to a report in the Irish Field of 12th Sept 2009, "hunt supporters and locals attended the blessing by parish priest, Fr Barry Flynn, of the United Hunt Club's new kennels in Clonmult, Co Cork last week." An accompanying photo shows the pack of hounds being blessed above the caption "Fr Barry Flynn blesses the hounds at the United Hunt Club's new kennels." The United Hunt is a foxhunt.
Highlighting the cruelty of foxhunting, ICABS pointed to Paragraph 2418 of the Catechism which states that "it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly". We also quoted from Paragraph 2416 which outlines that: "Animals are God's creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals."
"We believe it is very inappropriate for members of the clergy to bless hounds that carry out cruelty to Irish wildlife," we added.
Church asked to reject hunters' "blood money"
20 March 2009
The Irish Bishops Conference has been asked to intervene after a Wexford parish accepted a donation from a hunting group. In a letter of appeal, ICABS highlighted that hunting is contrary to the Catechism and that clergy should never accept money from those involved in terrorising and killing God's creatures.
Brought to the bishops' attention was an Irish Field report from February 28th 2009 which tells of how the hunt set off from Mayglass Church on a "great day's hunting" which brought them across a road, stream, dyke and river in their merciless pursuit of foxes. Alongside the article was a photograph of the parish priest standing next to the pack of killer hounds before the hunt began and shaking hands with one of the mounted hunters.
In a report outlining our objections, the Wexford People quoted the parish priest as saying that he was happy to accept the hunt's donation (scroll down to read full report).
The hunt in question - the Killinick Harriers - is responsible not only for the killing of wildlife but also for the violent savaging of a cat (a favourite animal of Pope Benedict XVI, we hasten to add). A report from the Wexford People in January outlined how the family pet was "torn to pieces by the hounds" while they were on the trail of an unfortunate fox. The traumatised homeowner told of how the dogs "came up the driveway and pinned the cat against the garage door and massacred it". The side of her house was left splattered with blood.
Hunt donation denounced as 'blood money'
Wexford People - March 11 2009
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has claimed that a donation accepted by the community of Ballymore-Mayglass for the restoration of a church is 'blood money'.
'We wish to express our great disappointment that the church authorities have deemed it appropriate to accept a donation from a hunting group whose terrorisation and killing of local wildlife is in clear contravention of the Catechism of the Catholic Church,' said Philip Kiernan.
A cheque for Eur 6,000, the proceeds of a hunt, was handed over by the Killinick Harriers recently towards the restoration of the church in Mayglass, a project which will cost in excess of Eur250,000.
The fundraising committee, led by Fr. Murty Byrne, have been making great strides in recent times, with even Munster captain and Irish lock Paul O'Connell lending his support to the cause, as his aunt is on the committee.
However, the Irish Council Against Blood Sports has objected to the donation from the Killinick Harriers and says hunting is 'clearly condemned in the Catechism', paragraphs of which Mr. Kiernan quotes to support his arguments. 'Instead of fraternising with hunters, the clergy in Ballymore and Mayglass should outrightly condemn their coldhearted cruelty and refuse to allow the contributions of decent people to be tainted by blood money,' said Mr. Kiernan.
Fr. Murty Byrne said that Killinick Harriers are noted local fundraisers who give to worthy causes. While acknowledging that everyone, including the Irish Council Against Blood Sports, is entitled to their opinion, he said they were happy to accept the generous donation to their restoration fund when it was offered.
Bishop advocates mercy towards all creatures
04 October 2007
ICABS has welcomed a statement from the Bishop of Killaloe, Willie Walsh, in which he advocates "mercy, kindness and love towards all God's creatures". The bishop was responding to an email from ICABS in which we called for the bishops of Ireland to condemn blood sports.
Although Bishop Walsh expressed his view that "such condemnations [by clergy] can be counterproductive", he pointed to the promotion of compassion as being a way forward.
"I believe that preaching mercy, kindness and love towards all God's creatures will be more effective in the long run," Bishop Walsh stated.
"I fully respect your own approach on the matter," he added.
The ICABS appeal to Ireland's Bishops
Your Excellency,
Earlier this year, we were delighted to learn that the Conference of Catholic Bishops in the US state of New Mexico came out strongly against the cruel blood sport of cockfighting. "The Bishops recognise that cockfighting is abusive of God's good creation and is not a cultural treasure," they stated prior to a ban being implemented. "Cockfighting promotes violence."
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is respectfully asking the Bishops of Ireland to consider following this good example and openly condemning the blood sports which continue in this country. Hare coursing, carted deer hunting, mink hunting and fox hunting are cruel activities which cause horrendous suffering to animals.
They are also contrary to the Catechism which outlines that "it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly" and "Animals are God's creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness."
It would be a great help to our campaign if you could join us in calling for a ban on these inhumane and merciless acts of cruelty against God's creatures.
ACTION ALERT
Please get in touch with your local clergy and ask them to condemn blood sports and/or promote compassion towards all creatures in Ireland. Ask them to have a look at our websites which reveal the reality of blood sport abuse - www.banbloodsports.com and www.youtube.com/icabs
Hunt priest reported to Limerick Bishop
From Animal Voice, Winter 2006-07
ICABS has highlighted a hunting priest to the Bishop of Limerick and renewed our call for an end to clergy involvement in blood sports.
In our letter to Most Rev Donal Murray, we quoted an Irish Field article which stated that "I don't think that Fr Brouder from Crecora Parish made it [on horseback over a river bank] either, even with access to more divine sources."
We urged Bishop Murray to persuade Fr Brouder to end his involvement with foxhunting, not only because of the terrible animal cruelty involved in the blood sport but also because participation in hunting is discouraged in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Paragraph 2418 says that "it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly."
The hunt which Fr Brouder reportedly participated in, was said to have involved a run of over an hour and a half.
The Irish Field outlined how "the fox ran on through Rusheen near Drewscourt Bridge, swinging left-handed back into Co Limerick. He then took a line that brought him back to the plantation close to where they found him. They gave him best as they were running back into the country already hunted after a run of one hour and 35 minutes at a cracking pace."
Priest presents coursing award
From Animal Voice, Winter 2006-07
Among those presenting awards at a Co Limerick coursing meeting was a priest, ICABS was horrified to learn.
According to the Sporting Press website, the priest presented the Paddy Reidy Cup for the winner of the Oaks Trial Stake at Glin.
ICABS has brought this to the attention of the Catholic Communications Office and urged them to take steps to convey to the clergy the inappropriateness of associating with coursing clubs.
At a previous visit to a Glin coursing meet, ICABS observers witnessed hares being mauled into the ground and a greyhound suffering a broken leg. At this year's event, another greyhound sustained an injury and had to be carried off the field.
Hunt master priest caught on camera
From Animal Voice, Winter 2006-07
The Irish Bishops Conference has been notified about a priest who spends his spare time hunting hares and foxes.
A report in the Irish Field referred to Fr Shane McCaughey as being the joint-master of the Drumlin Hunt Club in County Cavan. A photograph showed the mounted priest jumping over a gate next to the caption: "Drumlin Master Fr Shane McCaughey tackles a five-bar gate".
Published in December 2005, the article also detailed how wildlife was chased by the hunt's hounds.
In harrier hunting, both foxes and hares are pursued; when the unfortunate animals are caught, the dogs tear them apart.
The Monaghan-based priest is listed as one of the Drumlin Hunt's five joint masters in the Irish Field directory. He also acts as a whipper-in for the hunt which has meets on Saturdays and Wednesdays throughout the season.
In a letter to the Bishop of Clonfert, Most Rev Joseph Duffy, DD, ICABS expressed disappointment that yet another priest has been found to be involved in blood sports.
Coursing trips with priest were a pleasure: Minister
Animal Voice, Winter 2006-07
Minister of State, Sean Power, has revealed that, as a boy, he "had the pleasure" of travelling around Ireland with a priest to racing and coursing meetings.
The Fianna Fail TD for Kildare South made the statement in June during a Dail debate on the Greyhound Industry (Doping Regulation) Bill 2006.
"I was a greyhound owner in the past and my family was involved down through the years in the industry," he proclaimed. "I was an altar boy to a priest who loved both horse and greyhound racing and I had the pleasure of travelling around the country to attend horse and greyhound race meetings and even the odd coursing meeting."
"I learned a great deal and my experience with this priest was joyous and educational," Mr Power reminisced. "I am grateful for the education I received about greyhounds and horses."
Reacting to the Minister's comments, Aideen Yourell of ICABS criticised members of the clergy with links to cruelty.
"Snatching timid, delicate creatures out of the wild in nets and using them as live lures before greyhounds is, without a doubt, in direct contravention of the Catholic Catechism," she said. "Worse still is the fact that a priest of the Catholic Church took an impressionable altar boy to coursing meetings to witness hares being terrorised and abused for 'sport'."
"The vast majority of Mr Power's constituents, and indeed the vast majority of the Irish electorate, are opposed to live hare coursing," she added. "It's high time for him and his party in government to respect the wishes of the electorate and outlaw live hare coursing and other blood sport activities."
Irish Bishops don't condone hunt blessings
13 May 2005
The Irish Bishops' Conference have announced that they do not condone the blessing of hunts by members of the clergy.
A letter to ICABS from Executive Secretary, Reverend Aidan O'Boyle, confirmed that the "involvement of some members of the clergy in blood sports" had been discussed in recent times by the bishops at their quarterly meetings in Maynooth. However, while stressing that the Bishops' Conference "would not condone the practice of priests blessing foxhunts", he indicated that it was an issue to be dealt with locally.
"The Bishops' Conference is of the view that the practice of priests blessing foxhunts, and indeed the regulation of access to Church land for hunts, is a matter for the local diocese where these practices are happening," he wrote.
ICABS welcomes the bishops' condemnation of hunt blessings and hope that the individual bishops which make up the Conference will act at a local level to prevent further such blessings.
We will continue to press the Catholic authorities to unequivocally denounce blood sports and to prevent priests from partaking in these cruel activities. A small minority of priests around Ireland continue to flout the Catechism of the Catholic Church by supporting or partaking in foxhunting and hare coursing activities.
According to paragraph 2418 of the Catechism, "it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly." Paragraph 2416 states the following: "Animals are God's creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals."
Bishop asked to stop hunt master priest
Animal Voice - April 2005
ICABS has written to the Bishop of Clogher, Most Rev Joseph Duffy DD, to complain about a priest in the diocese who is involved with a local hunt.
A listing in the Irish Field Directory 2005 reveals that Fr Shane McCaughey is a joint-master and whipper-in with the Drumlin Hounds.
"Harrier hunting involves chasing and killing foxes and hares," we explained in our letter to Bishop Duffy. "When the unfortunate animals are caught, the hunt's pack of hounds tear them apart."
"We are disappointed at the involvement of Fr Shane McCaughey with an activity involving animal cruelty," we continued. "While we acknowledge that the majority of members of the clergy would condemn hunting with hounds, we feel that those who insist on taking part should be urged to stop and to treat animals with compassion. We appeal to you to urge Fr McCaughey to disassociate from blood sports and to instead preach a message of respect and appreciation for Ireland's wildlife."
Another hunting priest is exposed
Animal Voice - January 2005
Yet another priest has been exposed as being involved in blood sports. According to the Irish Field newspaper dated 25th December 2004, a priest in Co Wexford mounts a horse and goes hunting with the Killinick Harriers twice every week. Harrier hunting involves chasing and killing foxes and hares; when the unfortunate animals are caught, the hunt's pack of hounds tear them apart.
The report had the following to say about the hunting priest. "Fr David Murphy of Cahoreigh Parish deliberated before take-off, casting his eyes up to the sky, presumably looking for divine inspiration. He only started hunting seven years ago. Consequently there are no ceremonies on Mondays or Thursdays, the days the Killinicks hunt."
Outlining the day's hunting (which was also attended by Wexford footballer, Redmond Barry), particular reference is made to the chasing of a fox which was sent running for its life from a covert: "hounds found a fox that ran on by Dermot Days, running on to Jim Powers of Thornville, [then] ran on to Mattie O'Briens and through Pat Esmonds, where he turned again at Ringaheen, as if to retrace his steps back to Silversprings. Whips were spread out as hounds split and were hunting hard."
This is the latest in a long line of members of the clergy who defend or are involved in blood sport cruelty. In recent years, ICABS has highlighted:
- A Catholic bishop in Co Galway who allowed the Galway Blazers foxhunt access to his 70-acre farm.
- An Anglican bishop in Limerick who claimed that "not much suffering is involved" in bullfighting.
- A priest in Meath who plugged the controversial Ward Union carted deerhunt on national television.
- Priests in Limerick, Waterford, Kilkenny, etc blessing packs of foxhounds before the start of hunts. This involves reading prayers from a bible and shaking holy water over the dogs.
- Priests around the country participating in hunting and coursing
- A priest in County Clare acting as chaplain to the County Clare Foxhounds.
- A Cork-based priest whose greyhound won in the national coursing finals in Clonmel and who described his involvement in coursing as being "well intentioned".
Although acknowledging that most members of the clergy are compassionate and would condemn cruelty, ICABS will be expressing its disgust once again to the Catholic Communications Office that any priest would find it appropriate to take pleasure in terrorising and killing wildlife. Please join us by following the action items below.
Priests spotted at Clonmel coursing
Animal Voice, Summer 2004
A Sunday World journalist has reported the presence of priests at the national coursing finals in Clonmel in February.
"I spotted a couple of priests in the crowd and was surprised when a seasoned campaigner told me that the clergy are huge into [coursing]," wrote Amanda Brunker.
ICABS finds it disgraceful that these priests - who are supposed to be setting a good example to their parishioners - find it appropriate to support animal cruelty events.
We have brought this to the attention of the Catholic Communications Office and reminded them that paragraph 2418 of the Catechism states that "it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly."
Priest attends coursing meeting
ICABS Letter Writing Appeals - June 2003
A priest was photographed attending the Irish Cup hare coursing meeting in Kerry in February. A priest is acting as a chaplain to a foxhunt in County Clare. In County Cavan, a priest hunts regularly with a harrier hunt. Meanwhile, the tradition of priests blessing foxhunts continues around the country. According to paragraph 2418 of the new Catholic Catechism: "It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly."
Please write to the Irish Bishop's Conference and ask that all members of the clergy be asked to disassociate themselves from blood sports like foxhunting and hare coursing.
Church challenged over hunt chaplain
Animal Watch, Issue 1, 2003
The Catholic Church has been challenged over reports that a priest in County Clare is acting as chaplain to a foxhunt.
According to an article in the Irish Field newspaper: "Fr Joe Hourigan is chaplain to the [County Clare Foxhounds], an enormous responsibility given the characters he has to deal with!"
And he is not the first member of the clergy to be involved with this particular hunt. The report goes on to outline that Fr Hourigan "follows in the tradition of hunting priests like Fr Loughnane, who hunted regularly with both the Blazers and the County Clares."
ICABS has sent a copy of the article to the Catholic Communications Office in Maynooth and asked for all priests to disassociate themselves from activities involving extreme animal cruelty.
Bloodsport back on bishop's land
Letter Writing Campaigns - March 2002
Foxhunters have returned to terrorise wildlife on the Bishop of Clonfert's farm in Loughrea, Co Galway. Members of the Galway Blazers hunt were spotted on the church land by a local anti-hunt observer who says mounted hunters jumped over a wall and into a field directly in front of the bishop's house. It remains unclear at this point whether the hunt had permission from the bishop to be on the land on the day in question. There is a suggestion also that the bishop was not at home that day.
Please write to Bishop John Kirby at St Brendan's, Coorheen, Loughrea, Co Galway. If you have written already, please write again. Alternatively you can telephone him on 091-841560.
Priestly Behaviour
Coursing Cleric unrepentant over involvement in cruelty
Animal Watch, Spring/Summer 1999
A Kerry priest whose greyhound won in the national coursing finals in Clonmel has once again highlighted the hypocrisy of certain members of the Catholic clergy in Ireland.
South West Cork-based Fr Maurice Brick caused outrage over his participation in the blood sport event and has led to renewed calls for the Church to discipline priests who partake in acts involving animal cruelty.
Responding to criticism of his involvement in coursing, Fr Brick refused to acknowledge the integral cruelty. Speaking on the Pat Kenny Radio Show, he outlined how a former parish priest acquired the dog for him in 1994 and that he has since been involved in what he described as the "whole phenomena" of coursing.
He went on to claim that those in his parish who are opposed to live hare coursing would "respect my involvement in it [because] of the fact that it is well intentioned".
One caller into the show, however, reflected what might perhaps be a more likely response from a right-minded parishioner. Caller John's remark was: I am amazed that a priest condones blood sports - If I was in that parish, I would refuse to attend Mass officiated by Fr Brick.
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Catholic Church blesses blood sport!
Animal Watch, Summer 1998
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has called on Catholic Church authorities to stop promoting animal cruelty after a priest in County Limerick was pictured blessing a foxhunt.
Given the controversial nature of foxhunting with hounds and the terror and cruelty meted out to foxes by hunts in the name of "sport", ICABS was incensed to see local curate, Fr John Dunworth, pictured in the Limerick press holding a bible and shaking holy water at the start of a hunt in Dromin. It is appalling that certain representatives of the Catholic Church continue to be allowed give support, approval and worse still a blessing to such barbarism.
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Thou Shalt Kill: Limerick priest, Fr John Dunworth, gives his blessing to foxhounds |
"The idea of a priest blessing a foxhunt is an abhorrence and a perversion and is akin to priests in the middle ages urging the faithful to go out and inflict cruelty on black cats which were then considered the familiars of witches who were also persecuted by the Church," commented ICABS PRO, Aideen Yourell.
The Catholic Church unfortunately has a very poor track record in regard to blood sports. There are a number of priests actively involved in live hare coursing and hunting, and despite protests and entreaties to the Church authorities over the years by ICABS, this involvement continues. We have now renewed our appeal to the Catholic Church to request their clergy to cease all involvement in blood sport practices and to ensure that sacred rites of the Church such as blessings should not be given in such totally inappropriate and bizarre circumstances.
It is now time for the Catholic Church, as we approach the new millennium, to promote caring and compassion for all living things, not give its blessing to animal cruelty!
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