This has been the hardest thing to come to terms with, the inescapable realisation that the overwhelming majority will simply follow the herd that follows authority, come what may. Even those one loves. Even when they know it to be absolutely wrong. It's important to document these exceptions, they resonate on a human level and, while they highlight the scale of the problem, they do shine a little light. Thank you.
Thank you Peppy. Yes that has been a huge disappointment to me, the herd mentality during Covid, and so I do so much admire the people who stood up and said no, rare though they were, and who lost a lot for their courage, they restore my faith in humanity
It was precisely this, that I found the most offensive. I live in Ontario, where we have a publicly funded Catholic school system that remained shuttered alongside all other public services.
I was absolutely outraged that the church -- who is to serve the children, the poor, and the outcast -- abandoned all in their time of need. Not only did they abandon them, they looked out for their own interests. In March 2021 when the government threatened yet another lockdown during easter season, the archbishop generated 15,000 letters to the government in 48 hours to support rules allowing a masked, less populated easter service. Not a peep about opening the schools.
The church failed us all when we needed them most. I cannot forget that. But there are/were some good brave lone people speaking out - if you have time do check out my post on Father Hughes who defied authority and kept his church doors open. The tentacles of evil reached into every institution including what we thought was the sacred one.
Yes, I read it just before this one. There were a handful (literally) across Canada that did the same, but not one was Catholic. There has still been no acknowledgement here from anyone that even closing the schools was the wrong. Not from the church, not from the city, not from the medical authorities, not from the boards, not from the teachers. Crickets. We had recent elections here for city council and Ontario legislature. No candidate -- all of whom were around and even had kids -- wanted to talk about it.
I remember protesting the school closures at Ontario legislature in June 2020 (I knew the lockdowns were wrong before they happened for a variety of reasons) and in December 2020. All five of us who showed up.
I've long given up being angry, because that was not helping anyone, but I won't forget and I will continue to push for accountability, because there still is none and this will happen again tomorrow, if the sociopaths in charge decide to do it.
I agree George. And I’m trying not to be angry too and instead just resolving to never ever let this be forgotten, and to try and do as much as I possibly can to prevent the authorities from ever being able to pull of this kind of thing again
We do absolutely! I hated that term “super spreader” and many other horrible phrases that suddenly became part of everyday speech, the scale of this nightmare hasn’t even begun to be examined 😢
It was a terrible time, wasn't it? Looking around almost everywhere for spiritual guidance because deep down it was clear that what was happening was an attempt to subvert human decency, and the ground of our morality, and to replace these with the latest iteration of 'rules'. A feeling of wrongness and sickness deep in the body, and so few spiritual leaders saying any of this.
In my area the churches were closed. Online, I found the Tron church in Glasgow, and the 'Irreverend' podcast. Small crumbs, but thank God they were there.
Thank you for this writing, and for telling the story of Father PJ Hughes.
Thank you for this. It really was shocking how the churches and temples almost all folded like wet cardboard— and just when they were most needed by so many of their members. All the spiritual teachings about fear and faith— all went "poof" with "follow the science." It is so important to remember and honor those who stood up against the lies and madness.
Fr Hughes showed the conviction and courage that most clergy lacked. Most, but not all. Even among those at whom criticism had to be directed (e.g. https://douglasfarrow.substack.com/p/divide-and-conquer) there were some who quietly got on with the job.
Thank you Douglas. It was wonderful to read this! I have followed some amazing Canadians since day one of this tyranny, Trish Wood, Julius Ruechel, David Freiheit, the truckers convoy and Tamara Lich - I shall add you to that list of inspirational Canadians who fought for truth and freedom. 🙌🏻
I have been very conflicted about the Church’s complicity in the scamdemic. The newsletter of my own local church published a rant about Covid deniers and anti vaxxers not being welcome. I never went there again. Good to hear at least one priest put his head above the parapet.
"What I will always struggle to comprehend is not just that the church closed its doors, it’s that so few people seemed to mind"
Am I correct in thinking the Archbishop of Canterbury said Jesus would have taken the vaccine?
What happened about the parable of the Good Samaritan or Jesus and the leper?
Let us suppose there was a deadly virus which was readily transmissible. I suggested to our church that a rota of say 6 people at a time could enter the church for say 20 mins at a time determined by their surname and the minister could offer prayers from 25 yards away at the pulpit.....after all the supermarket and the off licence directly across the road were open. Of course as you know only 275 people died OF covid in N.Ireland over 4 years--at the same rate as they would have died of flu-except nobody did (typical flu deaths=270) .Source Dept of Health N.I
Yes Hugh, that’s sounds like the kind of thing he would have said indeed, a fully paid up member and devoted supporter of the most sinister and egregious attack on humanity this world has ever seen. Shame on them, and thank God for the few dissenters who held the line 🙏
The list of people who followed their conscience and stood up against these mandates against personal freedom is too short. There was great risk in doing so, so we should laud those who did the right thing.
Beautifully worded, Trish... as far as I am concerned, the Vatican is no longer the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and most certainly not a beacon of light or hope; in January 2021, Pope Francis said that vaccination was a moral obligation and rejecting it was "suicidal denialism" and from 1 October 2021, all visitors and personnel were required to show proof of vaccination. On 23 December 2021, a decree was issued saying Personnel without a valid Green Pass or proof of recovery “will not be able to access the workplace and must be considered unjustly absent, with the consequent suspension of salary for the duration of the absence”. Furthermore, the Vatican also backs the main stream narrative regarding climate change - in 2015, the Vatican encyclical "Laudati Si" findings indicate that there is "a very solid scientific consensus" that climate change is "mainly a result of human activity".
Sadly our Gardai have long since given up their role of being "guardians of peace".
Yes Eleanor, the Vatican is fully onboard with Project DePopulation it seems. To me, the Vatican is just another institution, wholly disconnected to God, Jesus and the message of Christianity. Like pretty much all institutions its main purpose is self preservation and maintenance of its control wealth and power. It does not speak to or for me.
There was definitely push back in Australia. The Ezekiel Declaration was a petition to the Prime Minister not to enact vaccine passports ( remember them) and the petition gained significant support.
They were dark days but there were also patches of light. The majority of church leaders gave in to the panic however, and I still haven’t heard or seen any public apology or repentance.
It’s good there was pushback but very telling that the church leaders (and same here in Ireland) have never reflected on their actions or stance during that time, never apologised to the people - they failed us, and have done so much damage to the church, maybe that was the hierarchies intention all along
This is how I was guided to the TLM. I had just re-converted and couldn’t believe the Novus Ordo churches - masks, sprays, 6 foot apart etc. I thought, ‘where is their faith in God? As if God would ever allow anything untoward to happen to His sheep in His own house! ‘ Then a friend, a God sent friend, told me about the Latin mass. I’d never even heard of a Latin mass (mortified 😀) but the faith was alive and strong, the parishioners were wide awake to the agenda, no covid nonsense. I was home at last! 🙏
Thanks for this, Trish. In July 2025 I can find no current information about government imposed measures against Father Hughes for saying 'No'. I understand he refused to pay a fine of €500 in March 2021 for celebrating Mass with parishioners present, in breach of Ireland's Level 5 COVID-19 restrictions. There's no evidence I can find that though threatened with prosecution possible jail time and more fines, these penalties were actually imposed. Writing from my home in Corfu in Greece we experienced fines being imposed from early 2022 on the unvaccinated over-60s (mRNA vacs) which included us as residents. These penalties would entail €100 a month, which if not paid would be garnished from people's bank accounts. In January 2024, the Greek government announced it would scrap these fines, including accumulated unpaid fines on tax bills, with no further enforcement actions (e.g., asset seizures, or legal proceedings) for non-payment. All those who had not paid, us included, were not pursued. My understanding (not a clearly evidenced figure) is that only 4% of those fined actually paid, and indeed, though aware of the government's intention in 2022, we received no direct official notifications. Our Greek bank accounts remained untouched. What does this, along with Father Hughes' story, tell us about these governments' commitment to mandatory measures? Wasn't a great amount of the 'coercion' done by public shaming - which adds to the lip-curling contempt I have for the role of mainstream media. We second your excoriation of those you mention who did so much of the government's job for them. On a lighter note there were notices posted everywhere in Greece during lockdowns, buses included, saying "Η μάσκας είναι υποχρεωτική", which pronounced in English says "I maskas einai (are) hypocritiki" with the word 'hypocritiki' intended to mean 'mandatory' but smoothly treated by us with its later meaning.
This has been the hardest thing to come to terms with, the inescapable realisation that the overwhelming majority will simply follow the herd that follows authority, come what may. Even those one loves. Even when they know it to be absolutely wrong. It's important to document these exceptions, they resonate on a human level and, while they highlight the scale of the problem, they do shine a little light. Thank you.
Thank you Peppy. Yes that has been a huge disappointment to me, the herd mentality during Covid, and so I do so much admire the people who stood up and said no, rare though they were, and who lost a lot for their courage, they restore my faith in humanity
It was precisely this, that I found the most offensive. I live in Ontario, where we have a publicly funded Catholic school system that remained shuttered alongside all other public services.
I was absolutely outraged that the church -- who is to serve the children, the poor, and the outcast -- abandoned all in their time of need. Not only did they abandon them, they looked out for their own interests. In March 2021 when the government threatened yet another lockdown during easter season, the archbishop generated 15,000 letters to the government in 48 hours to support rules allowing a masked, less populated easter service. Not a peep about opening the schools.
I have not been back to church since that time.
The church failed us all when we needed them most. I cannot forget that. But there are/were some good brave lone people speaking out - if you have time do check out my post on Father Hughes who defied authority and kept his church doors open. The tentacles of evil reached into every institution including what we thought was the sacred one.
Yes, I read it just before this one. There were a handful (literally) across Canada that did the same, but not one was Catholic. There has still been no acknowledgement here from anyone that even closing the schools was the wrong. Not from the church, not from the city, not from the medical authorities, not from the boards, not from the teachers. Crickets. We had recent elections here for city council and Ontario legislature. No candidate -- all of whom were around and even had kids -- wanted to talk about it.
I remember protesting the school closures at Ontario legislature in June 2020 (I knew the lockdowns were wrong before they happened for a variety of reasons) and in December 2020. All five of us who showed up.
I've long given up being angry, because that was not helping anyone, but I won't forget and I will continue to push for accountability, because there still is none and this will happen again tomorrow, if the sociopaths in charge decide to do it.
I agree George. And I’m trying not to be angry too and instead just resolving to never ever let this be forgotten, and to try and do as much as I possibly can to prevent the authorities from ever being able to pull of this kind of thing again
What never came back in our local church was the sign of peace where we shook hands with each other.I miss that.
I also asked our local parish priest to come and give my sick father communion at home during Covid but
he told me he couldn’t as he was considered ‘a super spreader’.I asked myself thst day,what Jesus would have done,but we all know the answer to that!
We do absolutely! I hated that term “super spreader” and many other horrible phrases that suddenly became part of everyday speech, the scale of this nightmare hasn’t even begun to be examined 😢
It was a terrible time, wasn't it? Looking around almost everywhere for spiritual guidance because deep down it was clear that what was happening was an attempt to subvert human decency, and the ground of our morality, and to replace these with the latest iteration of 'rules'. A feeling of wrongness and sickness deep in the body, and so few spiritual leaders saying any of this.
In my area the churches were closed. Online, I found the Tron church in Glasgow, and the 'Irreverend' podcast. Small crumbs, but thank God they were there.
Thank you for this writing, and for telling the story of Father PJ Hughes.
Thank you Penny, it really was such a horrible time. “ A feeling of wrongness and sickness deep in the body” sums it up perfectly 😔
Only a few brave churches stayed open in Northern Ireland, some that we know of, some that still remain unknown.
I greatly admire their stand, that took courage and leadership 🙌🏻
Thank you for this. It really was shocking how the churches and temples almost all folded like wet cardboard— and just when they were most needed by so many of their members. All the spiritual teachings about fear and faith— all went "poof" with "follow the science." It is so important to remember and honor those who stood up against the lies and madness.
I will always be disappointed by the churches record during Covid, but also inspired by Fr Hughes and likely others who defied orders too
I imagine those most devout would say "it was a test of faith and most failed"
Fr Hughes showed the conviction and courage that most clergy lacked. Most, but not all. Even among those at whom criticism had to be directed (e.g. https://douglasfarrow.substack.com/p/divide-and-conquer) there were some who quietly got on with the job.
Thank you Douglas. It was wonderful to read this! I have followed some amazing Canadians since day one of this tyranny, Trish Wood, Julius Ruechel, David Freiheit, the truckers convoy and Tamara Lich - I shall add you to that list of inspirational Canadians who fought for truth and freedom. 🙌🏻
I’m here to serve the Lord and the people,” he said during the interview on RTE, “not the government.”
Well said Father ✝️💜✝️
I have been very conflicted about the Church’s complicity in the scamdemic. The newsletter of my own local church published a rant about Covid deniers and anti vaxxers not being welcome. I never went there again. Good to hear at least one priest put his head above the parapet.
I can’t blame you, I would not feel welcome there either 😢
"What I will always struggle to comprehend is not just that the church closed its doors, it’s that so few people seemed to mind"
Am I correct in thinking the Archbishop of Canterbury said Jesus would have taken the vaccine?
What happened about the parable of the Good Samaritan or Jesus and the leper?
Let us suppose there was a deadly virus which was readily transmissible. I suggested to our church that a rota of say 6 people at a time could enter the church for say 20 mins at a time determined by their surname and the minister could offer prayers from 25 yards away at the pulpit.....after all the supermarket and the off licence directly across the road were open. Of course as you know only 275 people died OF covid in N.Ireland over 4 years--at the same rate as they would have died of flu-except nobody did (typical flu deaths=270) .Source Dept of Health N.I
Yes Hugh, that’s sounds like the kind of thing he would have said indeed, a fully paid up member and devoted supporter of the most sinister and egregious attack on humanity this world has ever seen. Shame on them, and thank God for the few dissenters who held the line 🙏
The list of people who followed their conscience and stood up against these mandates against personal freedom is too short. There was great risk in doing so, so we should laud those who did the right thing.
Thanks for the story. God bless this man.
Thank you, yes indeed he showed great courage 🙌🏻
Beautifully worded, Trish... as far as I am concerned, the Vatican is no longer the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and most certainly not a beacon of light or hope; in January 2021, Pope Francis said that vaccination was a moral obligation and rejecting it was "suicidal denialism" and from 1 October 2021, all visitors and personnel were required to show proof of vaccination. On 23 December 2021, a decree was issued saying Personnel without a valid Green Pass or proof of recovery “will not be able to access the workplace and must be considered unjustly absent, with the consequent suspension of salary for the duration of the absence”. Furthermore, the Vatican also backs the main stream narrative regarding climate change - in 2015, the Vatican encyclical "Laudati Si" findings indicate that there is "a very solid scientific consensus" that climate change is "mainly a result of human activity".
Sadly our Gardai have long since given up their role of being "guardians of peace".
Swiss
Yes Eleanor, the Vatican is fully onboard with Project DePopulation it seems. To me, the Vatican is just another institution, wholly disconnected to God, Jesus and the message of Christianity. Like pretty much all institutions its main purpose is self preservation and maintenance of its control wealth and power. It does not speak to or for me.
💯... even though I am no longer a Roman Catholic, my constant role model remains Jesus
There was definitely push back in Australia. The Ezekiel Declaration was a petition to the Prime Minister not to enact vaccine passports ( remember them) and the petition gained significant support.
They were dark days but there were also patches of light. The majority of church leaders gave in to the panic however, and I still haven’t heard or seen any public apology or repentance.
It’s good there was pushback but very telling that the church leaders (and same here in Ireland) have never reflected on their actions or stance during that time, never apologised to the people - they failed us, and have done so much damage to the church, maybe that was the hierarchies intention all along
This is how I was guided to the TLM. I had just re-converted and couldn’t believe the Novus Ordo churches - masks, sprays, 6 foot apart etc. I thought, ‘where is their faith in God? As if God would ever allow anything untoward to happen to His sheep in His own house! ‘ Then a friend, a God sent friend, told me about the Latin mass. I’d never even heard of a Latin mass (mortified 😀) but the faith was alive and strong, the parishioners were wide awake to the agenda, no covid nonsense. I was home at last! 🙏
Thanks for this, Trish. In July 2025 I can find no current information about government imposed measures against Father Hughes for saying 'No'. I understand he refused to pay a fine of €500 in March 2021 for celebrating Mass with parishioners present, in breach of Ireland's Level 5 COVID-19 restrictions. There's no evidence I can find that though threatened with prosecution possible jail time and more fines, these penalties were actually imposed. Writing from my home in Corfu in Greece we experienced fines being imposed from early 2022 on the unvaccinated over-60s (mRNA vacs) which included us as residents. These penalties would entail €100 a month, which if not paid would be garnished from people's bank accounts. In January 2024, the Greek government announced it would scrap these fines, including accumulated unpaid fines on tax bills, with no further enforcement actions (e.g., asset seizures, or legal proceedings) for non-payment. All those who had not paid, us included, were not pursued. My understanding (not a clearly evidenced figure) is that only 4% of those fined actually paid, and indeed, though aware of the government's intention in 2022, we received no direct official notifications. Our Greek bank accounts remained untouched. What does this, along with Father Hughes' story, tell us about these governments' commitment to mandatory measures? Wasn't a great amount of the 'coercion' done by public shaming - which adds to the lip-curling contempt I have for the role of mainstream media. We second your excoriation of those you mention who did so much of the government's job for them. On a lighter note there were notices posted everywhere in Greece during lockdowns, buses included, saying "Η μάσκας είναι υποχρεωτική", which pronounced in English says "I maskas einai (are) hypocritiki" with the word 'hypocritiki' intended to mean 'mandatory' but smoothly treated by us with its later meaning.