Ireland: Scandals Undermine Church Authority Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit News from the Wire Services Re: Ireland & the Irish RT 02/04/98 05:45 Scandals Undermine Irish Church Authority - Survey AP 02/04/98 04:20 Clinton To Welcome British Pm Blair ****************************** Scandals Undermine Irish Church Authority - Survey RTw 02/04/98 05:45 Copyright 1998 Reuters Ltd DUBLIN, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Large numbers of Catholics in Ireland, many disillusioned by scandals within the church, have abandoned regular practice of their faith, an MRBI survey showed on Wednesday. The poll conducted for television talk-show Prime Time showed more than 90 percent of Catholics believe controversies involving convicted paedophile priest Fr. Brendan Smyth, who has since died, and Bishop Eamon Casey have damaged the authority of the church. Bishop Casey has been in exile in South America following allegations that he fathered a child with American divorcee Annie Murphy. Murphy wrote a book about the affair. The MRBI poll showed weekly attendance at mass in the predominantly Catholic Republic of Ireland was down by 30 percent in less than 25 years and just six out of 10 Catholics attend mass every Sunday. The survey, of 922 Catholics at 100 locations nationwide, showed a widening gap between the church's teachings and the views of the laity. Most disagreed with the church's teachings on contraception, divorce and priestly celibacy and half of those surveyed would like to see women priests. REUTERS ****************************** Clinton To Welcome British Pm Blair APO 02/04/98 04:20 Copyright 1998 The Associated Press By MAUREEN JOHNSON Associated Press Writer LONDON (AP) -- Tony Blair's first official visit to Washington this week can only make the British prime minister look good, highlighting the political similarities -- and personal differences -- between him and President Clinton. Blair, who arrives this evening for the four-day visit, is Clinton's staunchest supporter in the Iraq crisis, readier than any other ally to join in a military strike. And, domestically, they share left-of-center political views. But the trip is especially promising on a personal level. Blair, a 44-year-old family man who has not been touched by sexual scandal, will be standing solidly by his friend in a time of need. The British prime minister, who will be accompanied by his wife, lawyer Cherie Booth, has brushed aside suggestions that the visit could be overshadowed by Clinton's troubles over allegations that he tried to cover up an affair with a young White House intern. "Politics shouldn't be run at the level of a gossip column," Blair told American reporters in London this week. He hailed Clinton for continuing to focus on the "big picture issues" despite the furor. Blair, who took office in May when his Labor Party ended 18 years of Conservative Party rule with a landslide victory, is set to act as if nothing had happened to Clinton personally since the visit was set several months ago. Although British media will surely dwell on Clinton's problems, even right-wing newspapers concede Blair, who enjoys 55 to 60 percent approval ratings in opinion polls, will look good. London's pro-Conservative Sunday Telegraph commented that at Friday's joint White House news conference, "Mr. Blair will stand by Mr. Clinton's side acting as a sleaze-free human shield." Commentators spoke of a royal welcome, of Blair offering Clinton a "lifeline," and made much of an itinerary in which, for three days, the two men and their wives will scarcely be apart. Both Blair's wife and U.S. first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton are high-powered lawyers. But Mrs. Blair, as she is usually known except in her professional life, does not take an active political role. Since running unsuccessfully for Parliament in 1983, the year her husband was elected to the House of Commons, she has concentrated on a lucrative career specializing in employment law, and on raising their three children. Blair and his wife will stay at Blair House -- the name is just a coincidence -- a four-story yellow stucco building where Queen Elizabeth II stayed on her first visit to Washington after her 1953 coronation. Events include lunch at the White House on Thursday and a glittering dinner, a shared news conference and radio broadcast. There will be a brainstorming seminar with officials over what Blair, too, calls the "third way," a brand of politics somewhere between the old right and left. Blair will reiterate support over Iraq, and express gratitude for Clinton's endorsement of peace talks between Protestants and Catholics in British-run Northern Ireland, for keeping U.S. troops in Bosnia, and for being a good friend. Still, Blair, whose country currently holds the presidency of the 15-nation European Union, avoids references to a trans-Atlantic "special relationship" favored by his older, Conservative predecessors. "I do see Britain as in some ways a bridge between the United States and Europe," said Blair. "It is important, in my view, to say to America, `You know we value your friendship, your contribution and we want you thoroughly engaged with Europe.'" Jay Dooling (jdooling@worldnet.att.net) Irish Aires - 90.1FM KPFT in Houston http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Irish_Aires/homepage.htm Dooling & Mabe, CPA http://www.doolingmabe-cpa.com/ ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytire-02.05.98-00:46:52-16292