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RTÉ HAS SAID it has no plans to cease broadcasting the Angelus, and said it aims to strike a balance in considering the “diversity of views” on the matter while fulfilling its obligations to “reflect the rich and diverse religious culture in Ireland”.
It also said that polling it has recently commissioned on the topic has shown a majority of people are in favour of the Angelus continuing to be broadcast.
It comes after the publication of the Mother and Baby Home Commission report earlier this week prompted some to argue that RTÉ should stop playing the Angelus twice a day.
The one-minute Catholic reflection – aired on RTÉ Radio One at noon and 6pm, and on RTÉ One TV at 6pm – has been in place since the broadcaster’s inception. On TV, it has not featured religious imagery for over 10 years.
An online petition calling for its removal has had over 3,000 sign ups at the time of writing and it’s been backed by Sinn Féin TD Louise O’Reilly who tweeted: “I think we’re ready to have the 6 o’clock news at 6pm.”
I think we’re ready to have the 6 o’clock news at 6pm https://t.co/3om4iKIAZm
— Louise O’Reilly TD for Dublin Fingal (@loreillysf) January 13, 2021
In a statement to TheJournal.ie, an RTÉ spokesperson said that one complaint had been received this week in relation to the transmission of the Angelus on RTÉ One and RTÉ Radio One.
There had also been 12 calls and emails to RTÉ’s information office at the time of writing, expressing a “range of opinions”.
The spokesperson said: “RTÉ continues to consider the views expressed by our audience, and by various groups, and aims to strike a balance in considering the diversity of views while fulfilling RTÉ’s obligations under the Broadcasting Act (2009) to reflect the rich and diverse religious culture of Ireland.
“RTÉ has reviewed and revised the format on The Angelus on television over the years, to ensure the slot reflects the culture, including the religious culture, of contemporary Ireland.
“In 2009, the slot evolved to feature short films depicting a variety of people in moments of reflection, intended to be accessible to people of all faiths and none. The People’s Angelus project, from 2015, continued this evolution, utilising short films made by members of the public.”
The RTÉ spokesperson also pointed to a “recent RedC Poll for RTÉ” which asked if the Angelus should continue to be broadcast.
In response, 68% of people said they’d keep the Angelus, while 21% said they’d stop it. A further 11% refused to say.
The poll referenced comes from an exit poll conducted for RTÉ for the most recent presidential election in October 2018.
“The BAI has not upheld any previous complaints,” the spokesperson added.
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Religion aside, the Angelus is a great bit of Irish culture.
@Nomad: Reflection piece no problem, Catholic angle not necessary. Most non practicing at this stage in the country. Also ‘survivors’ of the Catholic church, should they be reminded of their abuse publicly once a day across this country? Nobody could advocate for that, out dated gone, only matter of when…
@Declan: every time they pass a church or hear a church bell they would be reminded of that too then. The Angelus is no longer a Catholic prayer slot, it’s a slot for reflection. No problem with it.
@Nomad: I agree. It is our culture and it should stay.
While abroad I have been regularly woken at 4am for the call to prayer. This call also happens several times during the day. That is the culture in those countries and I accept that.
If we’re not careful over time different parts of our culture will be gotten rid of and we will eventually lose our identity.
@Nomad: nothing says Irish culture than a trance daily call to prayer for the Christians in Europe fighting in the crusades. It’s about as Irish as the colour orange!
@GrumpyAulFella: agree with ya passing the church bell is an unfourtunate reminder as well for the large number of Catholic church abuse survivors. Lose the bells from the angel us so and play classical music or something else if it’s a reflection slot. Equally then you would have no problem so with a Musli m reflective piece at 6pm every evening so. Only a matter of time tik, tok..
@Nomad: I wonder if all the people who want the Angelus banned from broadcast would also like to see Christmas Day, St Stephens Day, St Patrick’s Day, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday become just ordinary days that we all have to work, and for those people that do already have to work these days, take their overtime rates of them for doing it? I also wonder how many of them accepted a present at Christmas time, you know, the religious festival? Surely you can’t be offended by one religious act like a bell ringing and then enjoy the benefits of a religious day, unless of course you are a total hypocrite. ;)
@Gordon Larney: you do know that Christmas was a pagan festival for winter solstice thousands of years before Christianity and scholars don’t know when exactly Jesus was born and the church decided to tie it in with the solstice festival?
Easter is tied in with the Jewish pass over so again pre dating Christianity.
Point is we have other holidays that are not based on religion so I think will find a suitable alternative to call these holidays and enjoy them every bit as much.
@Gordon Larney: I’d like to see them turned into public holidays instead of religious ones. I celebrate Christmas as it’s immediately after the winter solstice, which means that brighter days are coming. Christmas was originally celebrated as such – if you do your research you’ll see Christ wasn’t even born at Christmas time! The narrative was changed to take over an already existing festival. I do not celebrate the religious aspects of any holiday. I also celebrate Halloween with my kids, as do many who also are not pagans or devil worshippers!
@Ted Logan: and nothing you have just said takes away from the fact that the days I mentioned are religious festivals in this country and are celebrated by the vast majority of our population and the state.
@GrumpyAulFella: Why does RTE need to remind the public its time to ‘reflect’?
Stop telling lies. It’s a Catholic call to prayer and RTE broadcasting it is deeply offensive.
@Gordon Larney: Exactly why separation of church and state is needed! They should all be public holidays. The vast majority celebrate them as time off (if they are lucky enough to be in a 9-5 job) so why not call them what they actually are to most?.
@Gordon Larney: Get rid of all religious holidays. Ha ha, do you not realise that all religious holidays are based on far older pagan holidays.
Christ was not born on the 25th December as any Presbyterian will tell you.
@nineteen: I couldn’t even begin to tell you the last time I was in a church, that wasn’t for a wedding or a funeral, but I find it very strange that people like yourself want to take away the religious aspect of those holidays just because you are not religious, is that not forcing your beliefs on others, the exact thing that you are claiming that they are doing?
@Gordon Larney: No, it’s the opposite – these were not catholic holidays to begin with. The church has forced their religion onto our time old festivals, with state help. Separate church and state. Stop forcing religion on us.
@Declan: you might as well argue that they shouldn’t be reminded of Ireland. The state was complicit as were the families that signed the permission forms for these young women to be “incarcerated”. Not every Catholic or aspect of the Catholic Church was to blame for this tragedy just as not every Irish citizen was complicit.
@nineteen: i genuinely feel sorry for you if you feel that you are still being forced to participate in religion by the church and state.
@Gordon Larney: you are claiming these holidays are religious holidays and those of us that are non religious disagree that they are exclusively. We want the Angelis removed from RTE the state broadcaster because this is a secular pluralistic state or at the very least claiming to be one. The angelus represents a time ling gone in Ireland thankfully & those wishing to hold on to it are trying to prevent us moving on.
@Nomad: just stop and think about that for 1 minute…
@Gordon Larney: all stolen from pagan religious beliefs and adopted and changed to support the Christian dogma
@Nomad: That’s your idea of culture sixty seconds of bongs. Farcical as religion itself.
its one minute long, its not like its 100 minutes long, SF would do anything to jump on the populist queue, its not doing any harm to anyone.
@larry bird: It is a free advertisement for the Catholic Church. It is on a publicly funded TV station and a publicly funded radio station. Every single day.
@larry bird: it’s paid for by TV licence holders. I for one want it gone. Let the Journal ask the survivors of the mother and homes. Wonder what the answer would be.
@Jim Lingk: RTE was imposed on the Irish people to reflect the view of the political elite. The time has come to defund rte the tv licence concept is of another age
@Jim Lingk: the angelus tells the fairy story of god impregnating a virgin. Good luck with that
@Jim Lingk: Lots of stuff on RTE would be not “in line” with church views and in many cases openly anti Church …. Maybe we should get rid of that… for the sake of “balance”. Something odd if you can’t ignore a minute of something on tv that you can’t agree with. Catholics, according to the census make up a sizeable part of our population and are also part of the public funding RTE.
@Jim Lingk: it’s not a Catholic programme though.
@GrumpyAulFella: 11.00am on RTÉ 1 today catholic priest saying prayers for an hour
Who’s paying for that
@Jerriko17: why didn’t Catholics take this advice about a comedy sketch at New Years?
@Jim Lingk: anyone seeing it for the first time would hardly even know it was Catholic
@Valthebear: until you press the “I” buttonb on your remote, and it says “the Angelus: religious programming”.
This should not even be an argument – it serves two purposes alone – for old catholics to say the country is still in the gross of their cult, and to remind abuse victims they will not be heard.
@David McDermott: Because, as RTE itself admitted….the sketch breached its own regulations and standards. It goes to your attitude when you’re comparing the two!!!
@James Ward: in your opinion. I can’t remember last time I was in a church. As for your other comments as a nation we are at last addressing the damage done by an overbearing Catholic Church. Recent days have thankfully shown that. We are not in thrall anymore to any religious ‘cult’. Again I ask what is particularly Catholic or even Christian about the current Angelus format?
@Valthebear: ‘not in the thrall of a religious cult’? 90% of primary schools are controlled by catholic church. Teacher training college St Pat’s openly says on its website Q&A section “teachers who choose* not to do cert in religious studies (which btw only covers Catholic & protestant religions) may not be able to get a job in these schools”, and even if they do, “may be ineligible for promotion”.
The current angelus has church bells ringing from start to finish – this is daily, so ingrained in Irish people it’s become normalised. Look up brain washing.
*The option to do a cert in ethical studies instead is only very recent option.
@Jim Lingk: a publicly funded station is right but you don’t pay the Licence Fee so it’s hard to understand why you watch the Station if you are so opposed to its content.
@Paul Harvey: I don’t listen to RTE R1 TBH but if 80% or so of our state declare themselves to be Catholic on a state census then I’ve no problem with the state broadcaster accommodating a Catholic mass. I just switch over.
@Paul Harvey: at 11am next Sunday there will be another group praying for an hour – a vicar or minister-
@GrumpyAulFella: Yes, it is.
@Jim Lingk: and how do you think this “advert” is supposed to work? It doesn’t feature any religious imagery at all let alone Catholic imagery. It contains no doctrinal teaching. It gives no details of where to contact the Catholic Church. It doesn’t say what the Catholic Church offers. Not really an advert is it?
@June Fardey: I don’t watch it anymore.
@larry bird: I love that aul “it’s not doing any harm to anyone “ argument. 9/11 changed that type of thinking.
@Jakie McLean: why don’t RTÉ set up a subscription only religion channel and see how many subscribe. Why should my license fee fund one sided religious beliefs
@Jim Lingk: No, it’s not. It’s a reflection. They tried the angle that it offended our muslim citizens before. That didn’t work, so now they’re using the abuse by church and state angle.
I don’t care what anyone says here. There are plenty of non-practicing catholics who aren’t offended by something so small as a 1 minute, now non-denominational, reflection.
The abuses that happened in Ireland fall on the church, the state and the people of Ireland. Every one of our ancestors are to blame. If we deny that, then we are living in la la land. We, the people, facilitated this. Not us, but the people who came before us.
Women were raped by their own families and put into these homes when they got pregnant. Where was the law? Why did the men not pay for what they did? The entire country treated women as second class citizens. We look at middle-eastern countries today and think “isn’t it terrible!” Well, that was Ireland and it’s not that far in the past. Women pay for the sins of men in those countries and it all comes down to their culture.
A completely unnecessary reminder of the brutal stranglehold that the Catholic Church had on this country. That this is still a feature shown by the national broadcaster in the current day is disturbing.
@Michael Philips: The majority of Irish are Catholic. If it is disturbing to you don’t watch RTÉ at 6.
@Michael Philips: disturbing to who? I wouldn’t consider myself religious. What was once a symbol in catholic Ireland to pray Is now a minute for reflection. It also reminds me that the news is about to start.
@mark daly: Can we not pay our tv licences as well.
@mark daly: the majority of irish were born catholic. The majority are not practicing Catholics
@Michael Philips: What’s more disturbing is the number of people who still support it and the CC Church.
@Ronan Fahy: incorrect, no one is born any religion. They are indoctrinated (brainwashed essentially). Your born human.
@Tony Gordon: we’re baptised very young here, and it’s on government records. I remember looking into leaving the Catholic church when I was 13 and it was impossible to do so. So on paper I’m a Catholic, while in reality I’m an atheist.
@Brian Madden: The news actually starting can remind you that that news is starting.
@Teresa Ryan: I do not and will not pay it for a variety of reasons, including this.
@Fephie Stitz: What does that mean though? To my knowledge the census is the only thing used for these type of demographics.
@Ronan Fahy: So if you go to Saudi Arabia are you going to complain about the call to prayer? O and 78% said in the last census that they identified as Catholic. Define practicing Catholic please?
@mark daly: weasel words, the majority aren’t practicing as you well know, it’s presence is disturbing and brings up bad memories for many…
@Ronan Fahy: that’s why there’s no religious iconography in it now. For someone who knows nothing about it, they could think it’s a Buddhist reflection thing
@Fephie Stitz: no child with no understanding can be any religion, it’s just a religious trap.
Children are exactly that, children.
@Tony Gordon: You’re not brainwashed if you’re born into a slum, penniless or well to do into a leafy suburb… same with religion, its pure luck.
@Michael Philips: ‘had’ being the operative word. Those days are gone and good riddance. But the current Angelus is a nice reminder of our cultural influences in much the same way as you see roadside grottoes or statues in other countries. It is also a nice time out from modern fast paced consumerism. You would hardly know its Catholic these days. I presume Ms O Reilly and the present day anti Nationalist Sinn Féin will now be making representations to the embassies of Middle East countries to remove the Muslim call to prayer.
@Valthebear: The call to prayer does not occur on our publicly funded national TV station. I agree the Angelus should be stopped. If people need a moment of reflection during the day thats fine do it when they please. I’m sure they don’t need RTE to remind them.
@Fephie Stitz: What do you answer on the Census?
A lot of people put Roman Catholic because they are “culturally Catholic” and somehow link this to Irishness. This link is created through constant indoctrination by the states link to the church.. Schools, hospitals, the angelus, Service on Sunday on the national broadcaster.
As someone who was raised non-Roman Catholic I have certainly seen the link first hand and have been told by many, sometimes directly, “sure you aren’t really Irish”.
@Declan: it’s astonishing the amount of pinko lefties on here today trying to deny the remaining Catholics in this State the right to practice their religion.
@Setanta Stylfox: I’ve no issues with people with genuine faith in a god practicing their religion (as long as their belief does no harm to others). I just don’t want it shoved down my throat every day when I switch on the news. Or practiced in school around my kids. They are opted out but still have to sit through religious instruction and prayers. Before you say change school then, 90% if primary schools are in control of catholic church. It’s not a realistic option.
@Jerriko17: not the same at all. Religion is (should be) a choice.
@Valthebear: Roadside grottoes should also be removed and or smashed to smithereens. The adulation of icons is surely a sign mental illness.
Iconography is also deeply creepy.
Why would you presume SF should make representations to Middle East countries to remove the call to prayer.
This is what I mean by Catholicism, icons, the Angelus, equates to illogical and irrational thoughts and behaviour.
It’s also leads to mental illness.
@mark daly: Going to mass for a start,obviously. Comparing Ireland to Saudi is a bit like invoking a hitler comparison in a normal argument. Do you really want Ireland to be like Saudi? We are supposed to be a secular republic where freedom to believe or not is guaranteed. They are not. The problem with eveyrone ticking that box as catholic for nostalgic / please the mammy reasons, is that people like you trot it out as support for your argument. Frankly i’m always a little disturbed when i see people of a reasonably young age aligned to the church but that’s my personal opinion. it’s like smoking – you can’t blame people above a certain age as they knew no better in those days, but young people starting to smoke in the past couple of decades I can’t fathom. Same with religion and young people.
@Tony Gordon: True…. In an ideal world. The reality is that billions are born into a religious or Aetheist system with very little choice.
@Setanta Stylfox: How? Nobody is calling for that.
@Jazz Buckler: what are you talking about? It is literally called ‘The Angelus’, a Catholic term.
@Michael Philips: well said. Couldn’t agree more.
@Brian Madden: disturbing to abuse victims maybe?
‘We wish to strike a balance based upon a diversity of views. So we have decided to side with just one view and keep the Angelus because the Arch-bishop told us to keep it’ – RTE Religious Affairs Spokesperson Fr. Brian
@D Mems: RTÉ Pay for the Privilege each year, around €10,000
@D Mems: They should replace it with the Muslim call to preyer.
Keep it but while it’s bonging(assume that’s the official term), flash up the crimes the church has committed so we will never forget them
@pkunzip doom2.zip: I think the people who were so wronged and had their lives destroyed don’t need further reminding. I’m sure the nightmares are plenty.
@Tony Gordon: Are these people tuning into the Angelus each day? I would think the Angelus itself would remind mant victims of the violence, rape and torture inflicted upon them.
@Tony Gordon: I suspect @pkunzip’s point may have been to remind the Romans what their bongo-bongo is so closely associated with. Disassociation from reality is a trait with cults.
@Fachtna Roe: Yes but it’s the wronged we should be protecting
@Jim Lingk: maybe they tune into the news to see if the church had been held to account, and instead they get this in their faces.
@James Ward: it was in their faces, in religious form, for 50 years or so without a peep from anyone. It’s now in reflective form and people want to burn it. Surely church steeples, COI and Catholic, would be a stronger reminder. But sure what would most of us know and who are we to say, not having been victims ourselves.
@GrumpyAulFella: You must be a practising Catholic as you do not have an ounce if compassion in you.
It doesn’t specify a particular religion, it’s bells tolling and a few pictures. My mother loves it and she’s my mother so anything that makes her happy makes me happy. She’d be so upset if it didn’t continue and, in fairness, it’s only a minute long – very selfish of self absorbed people to only consider themselves. Switch channels if you’re bothered by it ffs.
@Laura Halpenny: very selfish of Catholics to only consider themselves. I doubt Hindus are tuning in, and Judaism doesn’t have anything called ‘The Angelus’ either…why don’t we broadcast the Call To Prayer if RTÉ are going to be diverse? Why not a Buddhist chant? Your thinking is so flawed on this.
Buy a bell and ring it on the hour if you want to hear the Angelus so badly.
@Carol Conway: read my post Carol
@Carol Conway: if pubs were closed because of other religious groups objecting, you wouldn’t be long going ape sh*t
@Carol Conway: my thinking is flawed because I think of others…you’re very selfish..as another comment mentioned it’s considered a moment of reflection. It doesn’t HAVE THE ANGELUS written in big white letters..get the remote and switch channels..or are you too upset at the sight of it that you lose the strength to do so..ffs, ridiculous comment
@Laura Halpenny: it has church bells tolling very audibly.
Turn down the volume
@nineteen: If it was changed to a Buddhist temple bell, you’d still be moaning
@Laura Halpenny: just remember ‘Church bells’ not ‘ just bells’
@Carol Conway: why do have to bend over backwards for ‘diversity’?
@Tony Gordon: oh ffs…big deal..
@Jazz Buckler: yes, I don’t think the state television should be promoting any religion.
@Laura Halpenny: yes it is a big deal, it’s symbolic of the church.
@nineteen: It’s not “promoting” religion or maybe there’s some devilish subliminal programming I’m missing…. Maybe those bongs played backwards are recordings of Bishop John Charles ranting from the pulpit back in the 50s. It just reflects a major part of our culture and society and has been updated to try and include non Catholics who might enjoy the chance of a minute’s peace and reflection… with no agenda!!!
Speaks volumes about RTÉ.
It’s really the bellringing that people have a problem with I’d think.
2 silent periods of reflection (afternoon and evening) would be a more suitable compromise. This would be far more inclusive and indeed may serve to many to reflect on the memories of those who suffered or lost their lives to past abuses.
@Pat Butler: BBC Radio 4 have thought for the day in the morning where different religions get a slot to speak. Sometimes it’s interesting sometimes awful but everyone gets a say. I’m not religious but I have to say the Catholic one is often the most boring.
@Pat Butler: Do a CNN 30 seconds of calm. Got to enjoy it while following the U.S elections:)
I’m an atheist, raised in the Catholic Church. The Angelus on RTÉ has changed into a one minute reflection. I can’t see anything wrong with this. It’s still in our minds as religious but it won’t be for the younger generations as there is no religious imagery in it at all. We need to let go of our own associations with it and let it be what it is now: a minute of quiet reflection twice a day.
@Róisín: I don’t mind the reflection, its the church bells ringing throughout that bother most people. I pay my tv licence, I don’t want to support any religious organisation but the catholic church get free advertising every single day with this.
@Róisín: well put.
The church still have way too much influence, pushing their skewed mesoginistic religion agenda on our children – in 90% of primary schools, majority of secondary schools, still have massive sway in hospitals. We live in a modern multi cultural society and they still do not acknowledge other religion/atheism in school, homosexuality or sex education e.g. they would tell our children pre marital sex and homosexuality are evil… The time has come for a sea change in Ireland. The Angelus is just another daily subliminal reminder of their power and influence in our subconscious.
@Spbeak: there are no religious symbols in the current angelus. This minute of reflection can be used by people of all religions or none.
@Brian Madden: said like a true Catholic. The problem is that whilst you may now simply view it as a minute of reflection, your inherent bias is communicated in your response. Its not your fault, Ireland was indoctrinated. The catholic origins of the Angelus act as a barrier to other religions as the cultural link in popular culture remains.
@Brian Madden: so a ringing church bell is not a symbol?
@D Mems: I’m not a religious person. Try again
@Brian Madden: I didn’t say you were religious, I said you were subject of a cultural bias as a result of the inherent indoctrination that Ireland was subjected to.
@Brian Madden: even if people in ireland do not identify as Catholic, due to the culture they grew up in they are generally the subject of subconscious Catholic biases, that’s the effect of cultural indoctrination. Clearer?
@D Mems: yes that is true. I totally agree. I think religion can be good in moderation. We were indeed brainwashed.
@D Mems: and? Even if the language we speak and much of our morality, art, architecture etc. derives from Judaeo/Christian influence.
It’s the Six One way and half a dozen the other.
@Jeremiah A Craic: Six O’Clock News at 2 Minuets past I don’t like.
@Jeremiah A Craic: Thank God I’m an atheist
@Paul Dorgan: An atheist, a vegan, and a CrossFitter walk into a bar. I only know because they told everyone within two minutes.
I wonder if the people who don’t want the Angelus have a church wedding? And will they or their family members have a church funeral?
@Lady Mary: that’s one of the best points made Mary, fair play
@Lady Mary: do you not see the increasing number of weddings taking place at the wedding venues, or the increase in non religious funerals at the crematoriums?
The catholic religion is dying, well more like a slow suicide really when you think about it.
And hopefully in another couple of generations it will disappear altogether.
It is a failed concept, and has failed all of its followers.
@Lady Mary: Just goes to show how that evil institution pervades every aspect of our lives.
BTW, can you point me in the direction of a secular burial ground?
@Teresa Ryan: yes…. Any that are not on properties owned by any of the main religions….as far as I know most cemeteries are owned and run by county and city councils. It must be an awful burden trying to live in a society where you think that an evil institution pervades every aspect of your life… You need serious help!!!
@Jerriko17: you had me until”as far as you know” then you just type a load of bull
@Lady Mary: I had a church wedding but not in a Catholic church. I’ve 2 kids, neither baptised. When we have funerals it won’t be in a Catholic church. Why anyone thinks it’s appropriate to put church bells ringing on the national TV station is beyond me but what I’m finding hillarious here is people rewriting history.. It’s only the angelus not really about religion. If the Catholic Church was a supermarket it would be long since closed down and the staff all in prison either for crimes or for hiding them.
@Lady Mary: Nope, had a Humanist wedding and I’ll have a Humanist send-off when the day comes. There are nearly as many non-religious weddings as there are Catholic 41% vs 43% so in a few years religious weddings will be in the minority
Should be gone and religion can keep away from the publicly subsidised tv and radio channel.
@Scott Crossfield: two words – dummy and pram
@Laura Halpenny: a society or cult involved with oppression, Sex crimes, forced adoption and a list of other things not suitable for a cv shouldn’t really have so much access to the public. People want to forgive and forget or ignore them that’s fine but I’m grand I’ll keep my distance.
@Laura Halpenny: I’ll say again dummy/pram boo hoo
RTE diverse ? Very witty
It would be regrettable if RTE cancelled the Angelus
We all know that RTE is anti Catholic
We all know that RTE is anti Christian
The Directors of RTE need to change is anti Catholic and anti Christian culture which exists now for over 30 years.
@Dermot O’Reilly: regrettable to whom? You?
Ah to all of ye against Catholicism, Catholics hold their faith from the bible – not the atrocities that have occured. Dont judge, lest ye be judged.
@Laura Halpenny: I’ve no issue with people who have faith in a god, as long as they don’t push it on me or my kids, or use that belief to harm others. I do have issue with supporting an organisation well known for the atrocities it committed on the most vulnerable in our society. If you truly have faith, why do you feel the need to support an organisation that has completely violated so called Christian values and harmed so many? Is your faith not strong enough without constant reinforcement?
@nineteen: I’m an atheist but my mother is catholic darling…leave people to have their faith in God if they so wish – they have their faith for their own reasons. She still thinks everything that has happened in ireland, all the atrocities occurred are unforgivable, she believes they should be punished for their crimes but she has her faith in God for herself, to live as a good person and be rewarded for it when she passes.
@Laura Halpenny: and what about the atrocities in your ‘good book’ ?
@nineteen: I’m an atheist but I’ve more respect for my mother than to attempt to persuade her not to believe in a higher power….and it’s her business what she does, where she does it, whether on the couch or the church, not anyone else’s.
@Laura Halpenny: I don’t attempt to persuade anyone not to believe in a god – it’s actually the opposite that happens. I just ask that my beliefs are respected. Daily my kids are subjected to listening to religious ‘education’ in school. Daily the church bells are ringing on tv. Each to their own, as long as it’s not shoved down my throat as happens with school, pressure to conform with communions etc. I have never told anyone not to believe
@Laura Halpenny: Catholic teaching is not based on the bible as any Protestant church will attest. Protestants don’t even consider Catholics christian and rightly so.
I wonder how many people under the age of 30 ever tune in to RTE. Or even have a TV for that matter.
There was an electronic poll on here last week which showed almost 60% wanted it to remain and still the minority bang their drum loudest.
Surely removing it would be a greater gesture to ‘strike balance’. Did anyone see an RTÉ journalist press the Archbishop or even a priest on the issue. Seen a lot of talking heads speak about remorse. haven’t heard RTÉ press the issue of collective responsibility as the church has a hierarchy, how they didn’t know when the abuse was so widespread throughout the organisation. Let’s face it all the priests that we supposedly can’t paint with the same brush are old. They were of age to know what was happening when it was happening. There was so much of it there is no way they could claim ignorance. They did nothing and their organisation prevent justice from taking place. A journalist could bring up these points with the Archbishop instead of just letting him rattle off his deepest regrets.
Hilarious- can you imagine all these people commenting against it, the pure rage at the first bell lol – jaysus. 28 minutes of it a month, ah lads, how ridiculous are you all. Now what ye should all do is get out your calculators and calculate that amount of time from the viewing time, go back to the government and say “hey there lads, I’m not paying that extra cent a month coz ye have that thing on the telly” lolololol
Did anyone ever try to say the whole angelus before the bells ran out? It’s not easy and this is how I passed the time during those moments as a child when I wasn’t allowed to talk lol.
@Anna Carr: I did the same when I was younger lol…impossible..akin to a tongue twister
@Anna Carr: As long as you mumble in the right key you’re good.
There are two, too many words in the petition. They should have omitted the words “the angelus” from the end and left it at that.
The Angelus is one of the main reasons I refuse to pay for a TV license.
@Cookie: mine’d be the lat late toy show but hey, still pay my licence, pitiful excuse
If they want diversity and balance then remove the bells and don’t call it the angelus. Otherwise it’s a Catholic prayer no matter what.
It was the bells,the bells that made me deaf you know
There should be no religious influence or symbols of any type on TV, radio or any media platform
@M.J. O’ Neill:
As can be seen in the USA social media has played a major role in spreading lies and conspiracy theories , enough to have citizens attack their own Capitol Building and threaten lawmakers lives led by Trump. These are the types of bad influences you should be worried about not something so minor and insignificant as the Angelus Bell. People who believe can say the prayer , those who don’t should think of peace and tolerance in this world.
I wonder about the people that moan about the angelus being played on the radio or tv and would ask them to look at some of the real problems that are in the world ,children going blind children being married off at a very young age ,child brides and people drinking filthy water .Would you get a grip and look at the real problems .the older I get I feel the world is filling with g###b s*****tes .I would most people don’t even know or hardly remember what it is all about
It’s our culture. It would be discriminatory against RCs of which I am one. I would definitely sue the Irish Government if they made RTE stop the Angelus.
Not one bit surprised! Rte find change as abhorrent as a neighbour spreading slurry on the only fine day in the summer.
A lot of people like to say the Angelus, and some don’t, that’s a freedom of choice we have. If it really bothers those that don’t like the Angelus, don’t listen to it. It is now more a cultural time for reflection than it is religious.. surely there are more important things to do other than argue about the Angelus..
I’m not a devout religious person, but the corruption in the catholic church has all but nearly destroyed the religion itself.
The Vatican must be held responsible for its failings.
Replace it with the national anthem showing visuals relevant to the time. And start it off with a remembrance to the mother and baby victims.
@Seymour business: Just give us the News at 6.
Factually incorrect of RTÉ to claim they have received one complaint, when I have submitted a complaint a day on the broadcasting of the Angelus. Why did they lie??
I don’t see it as a religious thing at all, It’s like Big Ben on Radio four, when it rings I know it’s 6 o’clock and the need will follow.
@Dorothy Giselsson: It’s the; Principle, why pay €10,000 a year to; Whom we don’t know but that’s what the Angles cost RTÉ each year.
See the Catholic adherens are out in force today to defend The Angelus after what’s been another bad week for them.
What this country needs is a process of de-Catholicisation, just like the de- nazisfication of the German people.
@Teresa Ryan: RTÉ is a Government institution, they should in light of past; Crimes against Children by Roman Church, should DO, and not just keep, Regretting. Do the decent thing; Break for once and for all, with the; Hold The Roman Church has or appears to Still have over some Governmental Apartments. Actions not Words.
A daily reminder of how the church ran the country worse than the nazis
A bit of a ding dong about this at the moment
It should be more religion-neutral / agnostic. Happy for it to remain but in a more neutral way. It’s a reminder to be mindful and reflect for a moment. That said, I watch RTE very little these days anyway.
Bells pealing at 6pm, were a sign that work read finished, no matter what the clock in the workplace said. It wasn’t unknown for employers to change clocks to get more time from employees. In the country it was more important as, in England, it wasn’t unknown for landowners to bribe the verger to ring the bell late, especially at harvest, with king summer evenings. Keeping the bells from around the country is a good idea. It would be nicer if all of the bells were recorded and played on rotation. There are only two full peals in Dublin, it would be nice to hear and identify them
Bells are synonymous with religion. Anytime I hear bells, they remind me of the great Quasi Moto. When he retired, his son took over the bell ringing in Notre Dame. He was a ringer for his owl fella.
It’s the exact opposite ffs
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