Are Nuns Human? Ireland 1971

What role do nuns have in Irish society?
Father Peter Lemass introduces the first of two programmes in the ‘Radharc’ series looking at the place and image of nuns in Irish society.
If the work they are doing is going to continue, they must be able to attract young people into their ranks. Young people who see the way nuns work and live and who like what they see.
However, the number of young people choosing vocations is fewer and fewer. John Wall meets two young girls who talk about their impressions of nuns and what it means to be a nun. One of the girls comments,
The idea of a veil is thoroughly ridiculous
While another says,
I think they fulfil a role in society... where would we be, say in education or hospitals or anything except for nuns?
‘Are Nuns Human?’ was the first in a two part programme on nuns. This programme was broadcast on 19 January 1971 with John Wall reporting.
‘Radharc’, a series specialising in religious programming, was produced for RTÉ by Radharc, an independent production company run by Catholic priests and lay staff. ‘Radharc’ can be translated to English as ‘view’ or ‘panorama’.
Co-founders Fr Joe Dunn and Fr Desmond Forristal, who had received training in television production in New York in 1959, gathered around them a team of like minded priests with creative talent.
The ‘Radharc’ team made their first production in 1960 in Donegal, a short film about customs relating to St Brigid’s Day. The first programme in the ‘Radharc’ series for RTÉ was broadcast on 12 January 1962.
Between 1961 and 1996 the Radharc team would produce over 400 films in Ireland and 75 countries worldwide. The films dealt with human rights, injustice, faith, religion, persecution, struggles against oppressive regimes, famine, and Christian heritage.
The popular series ended production in 1996 after the death of Father Joe Dunn.

[@edmundpower1250]

It was the mother superiors birthday and father Jones trying to be polite asked her would it be okay to give her a little kiss on the cheek to which she replied :"that's fine as long as you don't get into the habit"

[@AG-fl3kl]

Lol

[@timcotter8879]

😂😂😂

[@f.b508]

😂😂😂

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

Edmund Power - A good one, that is!

[@seandelap6268]

This reminds me of Fr Jack jumping through the window.

[@staffy4389]

Ah now , we'll have nun of that. 🙄 ...who remembers Sister Gemma in Crumlin, Dublin....she had a bad reputation in the 60s , but I'm sure she meant well, she was a product of her time....Thanks Sister Gemma, even though you scared me , xxx

[@SrGemmaRose]

I’m a Carmelite nun. I entered at 24 and am 26 now. Our youngest is 24 and the majority of us are under 35. Many many young people are joining the convent. We are still here 🥰

[@SrGemmaRose]

Yes we still believe in purgatory. It’s where people go who need to atone for sins on Earth before they enter Heaven. They are not damned souls neither are they perfect. Only the perfect can see God so they go to purgatory to become perfected.

[@extanegautham8950]

you'll have your work cut out for you trying to compensate for the abusive cruel nuns that ever kid from catholic school has stories about. i took a class at Uni from Sister Mary McConnagle, a Harvard educated scholar, "The Bible as Literature" it was wonderful, and she was a great teacher, very polite, and kind. a little severe by nature. I was a monk myself for 12 years, and there is something about never being touched by other humans, that both starves you, and at the same time keeps you safe to be available to all humans....Good luck to you Sister Rose.

[@extanegautham8950]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqDYnZSbndd3las&ab_channel=TheNewYorkTimes. What you are up against. My question is, what is wrong with an ideology, that in practice led to so much horrific abuse of children, sexual abuse, physical abuse, mental abuse, even murder....

[@kellyryanobrien1]

My great uncles were both Monsignor’s Irish American in Cleveland. I’m desperate to find more answers about their experiences because so much doesn’t line up. Curious if these younger women are aware of the shift of consciousness

[@geoffwhite7535]

evil kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYiQi6FnrtiDldE

[@francesblabey3055]

I haven't anything positive to say about the early Irish nuns in my school. No compassion especially if you came from a large poor family which they encouraged. What they forgot was if it wasn't for these large families they would have no one to bully. Of course they delighted in the families that could financially support them .

[@LeMerch]

Well said Frances. Some of them were nasty. Ideologs with baggage most of them. Some were good too.

[@dibble2005]

the reason they were stuffed into schools and hospitals was the vatican had nothin else to do with them.

[@baabaabaa2293]

Australia too, ma, dad, me & me sis all attendees at Catholic schools....there were some particularly vicious sadists out here, lm sure some had been sent far away (here) for past transgressions.

[@maestroCanuck]

@@LeMerch Haven't you just described most human beings? Today I am disgusted by the nasty ideologues in our political and governing class.

[@florenceobrien2822]

absolutely they wewre eveil physcial abuse every day from been punched hair oulled and kicked that was my days in school from 13 yrs to 18 yrs we never told our parents as we knew we would get another beating next day we couldnt teach i wasnt instrested in learning no support no encouragement

[@Mostrichkugel]

The girl in the interview shows intelligence and eloquence as well as great face language. It is quite fascinating listening to her.

[@Rolando_Cueva]

I bet you wouldn't notice it without a posh accent.

[@Mostrichkugel]

@@Rolando_Cueva How do you mean?

[@Domarius64]

That's because if you watch any footage of young people the further you go back, they come across as a lot more eloquent and mature than people of the same age today.

[@Mostrichkugel]

@@Domarius64 Often, yes.

[@o00scorpion00o]

@@Domarius64 Yeah Children today can hardly talk at the age of 4 or 5 with so much screen addiction today. Screen addiction, why do Parents allow it ? that is a form of Child abuse if you ask me and the reason I noticed the poor speech of many Children today is when my two Boys went in for their 3 year check-up with the local health nurse she was really amazed at how well they could speak at the age of 3 compared to many Children today, even at the age of 2 they could speak far better than a lot of 5 year olds. Screens, the internet and Kids mental health today isn't been taken seriously enough, Parents gladly give their Small Children a tablet to shut them up and keep them out of the way rather than spend some time teaching them things or getting them to read. The time goes fast and you never get it back.

[@florenceobrien2822]

Witches in black shrouds horrid they were to us in school beating every day

[@gerrycastlemanwarde5933]

All religious orders should disband in shame! They proved who they are!

[@doloresaquines1529]

@@gerrycastlemanwarde5933 And if you only knew the vast amounts of money that are (mandatory) sent to their main house in Rome. And you will remember how Edna O'Brien's books were banned in Ireland (she had to publish in England) just because of certain items she mentioned about her convent school education. (Loughrea).

[@sjdwise9330]

Educated the poor and meant well, idk about witches

[@florenceobrien2822]

@@sjdwise9330 meant well a joe u wasnt subject to abuse every single day from nuns

[@marymary-ur6ff]

Well some of them didnt act very human back then ...very cruel ..towards young children .some nice nuns in our school ...but ...

[@gerrycastlemanwarde5933]

Yes! many were evil people in religious garb. I do remember the cruelty. Not very christian.

[@padraig4530]

Witches in disquise.

[@helenhughes9420]

I mean the track record of their behaviour more so in past times have more in common with the devil. I was taught by nuns in secondary, one decided to take an instant dislike to me, she taught English which I loved every aspect of, language, poetry etc...I worked so hard on a show & tell one day I was so looking forward to, all the popular girls did their talk first followed by the rest except me . I'm still reeling to this day at 54 🤣!! The other nun slapped my face a couple of times on different occasions for giggling. Of course this is my experience with nuns & my heart aches for the young women at the mercy of those evil wretches who ripped newborns from their mothers & either murdered or sold off the babies in the name of god!! I realise some have a true calling & do untold good but the bad outweigh the good.

[@patienceobongo]

Lol. Sad eejit

[@helenhughes9420]

@@patienceobongo let me guess?!?! You have a burning desire to be a NUN.

[@sylviadrummond7293]

@@eileenbailey1897 It is not sad, it is an abomination

[@alansimpson596]

The Irish nuns ran the Magdelene Laundries in Ireland for 200 years. These were places that single mothers were incarcerated and forced into laundry work and often beaten for minor offences against the rules. Their babies were taken from them and sent into adoption. Some ot the babies died in suspicious circumstances prior to adoption and were deemed unfit to be buried in consecrated ground. There is early evidence, currently being investigated, that some where buried in mass graves. In general terms these laundries were places of horror and a shame on any branch of Christianity.

[@christinaroche8147]

Horrible to the core so they were and all in the name and love of god 🤔

[@thet1375]

@@christinaroche8147 Even Catherine Coreless admitted that the enquiry report gave a glowing report of the nuns. Anti Catholic RTE have not reported the truth.

[@baabaabaa2293]

Was there a documentary on the laundries & the awful going ons a yr or two back? Sure l watched something very similar. The young boys bought over to Australia (for resettlement) was another that took yrs to come to the publics attention.. most of the mongrels had died by the time it went to court, ruined a lot of kids.

[@sylviadrummond7293]

@@christinaroche8147 Evil more like

[@theresaclancy6091]

Your comment is not founded on truth ,but hearsay to destroy the Catholic church. Sure there was bad nuns and priests as in all walks of life. You refuse to look at all the good the nuns and priests have done for Ireland and the world.

[@stacyblue1980]

I wanted to be a nun. I took it seriously. Sometimes I ask myself if I missed out on something. Lol (sigh) I'm older and looking back, I suppose.

[@Sinnerboy88]

Honestly, I think you made a lucky escape! My Grandmother was intending on going to be a nun also. I'm lucky she didn't or I'd never have been born! Her and her Cousin were similar age and they were going to go and become nuns together. I don't know what happened but it turned out my Grandmother didn't but her Cousin did. My Grandmother went on to marry and have a family. While her Cousin became a nun. She done a lot of work out in places where there was a lot of extreme poverty, crime and war etc. I think she was in South America and Southern Asia a lot. She lived out in the slums and shanty towns with very poor helping them. People suffering with extreme poverty, disease and everything in between. I don't know which order of nuns she was in, but she wasn't allowed to enter her Father's home again after she joined. It wasn't allowed. She was a nun since she was a young woman of probably 16 or 17 right up until she died in her 80s. She only got to visit her family home back in rural Ireland once in her 70 or so years as a nun, but by that time her parents were both dead. Her siblings still lived in the family home though. But she couldn't go in the house. She could only stand outside and look through the window to look at where she once grew up. I always found that strange and kind of sad.

[@stacyblue1980]

@@Sinnerboy88 Oh goodness. 😔My god how sad. But a wonderful glimpse into their lives. I almost cried. Wow. Thank you for sharing this. Maybe something good is waiting for me.

[@doloresaquines1529]

@@Sinnerboy88 Not strange and sad, Aloona. Plain insane! What kind of religion imposes these rules! I ask. And I know what you mean. In far more recent times a friend of mine got married and her sister (a nun) was only allowed to the church ceremony but not to the reception and dinner afterwards! Her own sister! The utter lunacy of it all just baffles me.

[@jackies7218]

God loves you and had His plans for your life.

[@mjw12345]

For various reasons, drama, debates....a lot of contact with nuns secondary school years. Marvelous memories, Am, will be forever shocked that many, tragically, it seems all were complicit in a torture chamber directed at Irish girls, totally pitiless. I say ALL - reluctant to say all ever but is there even one instance even one nun revolted, became a whistleblower? Nearly as incomprehensible as Germans and the Death Camps. Worse, they still won't release their archives, worse they will not agree reparations. Even now, they want to interfere with the National Maternity Hospital. Where is the Irish government, why tolerate this continuing assault on this republic?

[@RealBadGaming52]

How can half the country be lying ????

[@larrygerry985]

51 years later, we are still trying to find out

[@hindenpeter2.04]

Based AF rare footage. Heard the last proper nun of called lucia dos santos drove TPTB nuts so the Vatican took her out and replaced her with a dummy. Rare species alright

[@jackietreehorn5561]

I read that wrong I thought it said are huns human.... definitely prefer nuns

[@baabaabaa2293]

It's a fine line!

[@jackietreehorn5561]

@@baabaabaa2293 definitely, would love to see a sketch comedy tho huns on the run

[@pulchralutetia]

I watched this but I'm nun the wiser.

[@markofsaltburn]

Half-shark half-penguin.

[@gerrycastlemanwarde5933]

The world is a better place without many of the angry frustrated dragons! They beat children in the name of Jesus.

[@johnkosterimages]

Nevermind the Magdalene laundries

[@exulHibernicus]

The Magdalene laundries were charitable safehouses for women who became estranged from their families/community. The nuns offered them a second chance.

[@geometricstranger7198]

@@exulHibernicus Charitable? It was a for profit scheme where vulnerable women were put to work under the guise of "penance". Don't pay attention to the mass graves either, just sweep that under the carpet.

[@exulHibernicus]

@@geometricstranger7198 Nuns take a vow of poverty, and the laundries made very little money. Look at the expenses for any of the laundries-not a very profitable venture! Those mass graves covered a period of world war, economic depressions, rationing, lack of antibiotics, and much less hygienic conditions than today-a far harsher reality.

[@fluffyunicorn57]

@@exulHibernicus No, it was where people could be confined without trial, habeas corpus, or the right to leave for an indefinite period of time. Think of how many lives were ruined because they were forced to work as slave labor in the landries.

[@Cenotaur1]

Who is sweeping it under the carpet? The Orders or Govt? The Orders of nuns aren't trying to seal records...don't swallow the red herring.

[@hindenpeter2.04]

They're very real to jake nd elwood🐧

[@spmoran4703]

And they were on a mission from God .

[@Kaiser3945]

My school experience of them in the 1960's was not good to put it mildly. I had the misfortune of being taught by them from kindergarten up to the age of 10. I found them, without exception, to be utterly mean-spirited, nasty, sadistic arseholes. The bulk of them should have been behind bars or forcibly confined to a psychiatric institution. In hindsight, it amazes me how they were allowed to run amock in our school system for so long?

[@jni6825]

Sorry to hear that. Similar stories in my family.

[@cilliano7357]

Thank God human conscious has moved on ,people have a lot more understanding of each other these days but we still have along road ahead.

[@AllStarsNoStripes]

They were that same way in my father's school at St. Monica's in New York and in my generation at Sacred Heart in Idaho. Also in a Catholic convalescent home where I worked. The title ought to be "are nuns inhumane?"

[@doloresaquines1529]

Yes. Mean spirited, envíous and unkind No humanity

[@Alex-gn2rb]

were the lay teachers any better , society had a very low bar on child welfare. I was in primary in the 80s and some of the teachers should have been jailed. definitely not any where near a child in any format,

[@healthydee381]

I have a relative who gave birth in a mother baby home in the early 1970s. She said the nuns there were nice to her.

[@johnwhite1889]

And the ones in Golden Bridge left a lot to be desired.

[@jazzhands7771]

No. They're lizards. Moving on....

[@daviddarcy7336]

A teenage child being asked about how the Catholic Church be run .......THE PRAYER FROM MASSES CONVENTS AND MONASTERIES BRINGS LOVE PEACE HOPE FAITH AND HELP IRELAND TO GET ITS PEOPLE INTO HEAVEN IN MUCH HIGHER NUMBERS THAN THIS GODLESS GENERATION

[@janesmith9024]

The girls speak well. The La Sagesse ones we had teaching us were very gentle, it was 1960s England, the Beatles, peace, love guitars kind of nuns, post 2nd vatican council - very different from before then.

[@cosmicdancer6169]

“Women in black”

[@gerrycastlemanwarde5933]

More like evil witches!

[@richardshiggins704]

"And always will be here" ?? They're gone ! The girls were very articulate and a credit . The children looked so innocent at that age .

[@patrickdowney2778]

A little less blue, a little more nun...

[@waynemcauliffe2362]

Looks like a Father Ted ep

[@lesliebarwise8069]

Nuns Reverse Reverse

[@spmoran4703]

Are nuns human . Well , the ones that taught me at school just about passed as human.

[@jamiebaker355]

Repressed lezzers

[@claudiaschneider5744]

Those nuns did horrible crimes to many irish people, young girls and their babies.

[@user-lx5ue4wm5k]

No they are not ..done a lot of bad in the name of God in many convents

[@williamneary3166]

If they only knew what we know now

[@thet1375]

What do we know now?

[@RealBadGaming52]

@@thet1375 we know how evil nuns really were , most Irish society had no idea , of course they knew nuns were bad with all the canning they cave kids but how truly evil they where

[@johnsometimeswrong8742]

They dont have nuns in the Muslim faith....missed a trick there.

[@alansimpson596]

I'm a huge fan of the comedy series Father Ted. On one occasion Ted was reluctantly entertaining some nuns. Father Jack was in a wheelchair at the time and being pushed along by Father Dougal. He wheeled Father Jack into Ted's room and when Jack saw the nuns he shouted to Dougal "Nuns, nuns, reverse, reverse". That sums up nuns for me.

[@maestroCanuck]

Well for someone that doesn't like nuns, you've come here twice to comment. Nuns are like all humans, good, bad, ugly, and beautiful. You've every right to reverse when you see one, but there are those of us who would embrace them too. Personally, I think the ledger on Nuns is more positive than negative.

[@alansimpson596]

@@maestroCanuck Thank you for your reply. May I point out that it was Father Jack who said "reverse, reverse" and not me. I'm mystified how you deduce that you find it unusual that I comment twice on nuns. I could comment ten times and it wouldn't change my attitude. I concede that I treat all nuns with suspicion ever since I learned about the Magdelene laundries. My views have probably been coloured by the film starring Judy Dench. If you think it's fine to incarcerate ten of thousands of single mothers because they delivered a child out of wedlock then so be it. Not only were these women detained but they were savagely beaten by the nuns for any indiscretion. Meanwhile, some priests were engaged in abusing children. I can't reconcile religion with the attitude to "fallen women" and priests preying on children. Indeed, I can't reconcile Christian religion with the sheer magnificence of the Vatican while appealing to everyone to help provide clean water for children in Africa. In short, I think this whole affair is an ecumenical matter. As an atheist I wish that your God go with you (there's quite a selection to choose from").

[@maestroCanuck]

@@alansimpson596 Thank you for your reply as well. No need to point out it was Father Jack who said "reverse, reverse" I have good reading comprehension. You did though say it sums up your attitude to Nuns. Fair enough. I was rather facetiously pointing out that you were not really reversing yourself but coming back for more on the topic. I have no problem with you commenting any number of times on any number of topics as I believe fully in free thinking and free speech. May I point out though that you are extrapolating a lot about me, a complete stranger, in commenting that I somehow "think it's fine to incarcerate ten of thousands of single mothers because they delivered a child out of wedlock". You have no idea what I think on the issue, nor do you have the right to put those words into my mouth. I am appalled at what happened there. It is my opinion those acts were cruel and evil in nature. I detect some slight sarcasm in your final comment regarding "my God going with me" and it is not appreciated Alan. It is infinitely better for us to wish each other all good things.

[@alansimpson596]

@@maestroCanuck Thank you for your prompt response. I''m amazed that you accuse me of extrapolating a lot about you while you are doing the same with me. While I have no religious beliefs I understand that us humans need something to cling onto in times of need and our inevitable death. Religion satisfies those needs. I don't fear death but I do fear the manner of it. I hope it's not going to be a long drawn out affair. Many people look upon atheists such as me with great suspicion whilst the only thing we are guilty of is thinking for ourselves and not slavishly following some religion. I'm not sure if you are old enough to remember Dave Allen and his views on religion which I share. He always ended his performance with the words "may your God go with you" (whichever one you choose). I hope we part in peace and friendship.

[@maestroCanuck]

@@alansimpson596 "I hope we part in peace and friendship." The best way to leave any discussion is it not? The world needs more of this attitude. Thanks Alan.

[@bridgetholbourne6849]

Now that would depend who u ask and if they went to a Convent school 😮

[@AG-fl3kl]

Look at the state of Ireland now, hardly a Catholic trace, mores the pity. It would be good to have some nuns now to put it right again.

[@daithiocinnsealach1982]

Religion in Ireland has caused untold misery. But ultimately it's humans behind the whole affair and they're still causing misery now in whatever roles they take up as they crusade for whatever agenda they insist will set us all alright again.

[@gerrycastlemanwarde5933]

I guess you are joking! Many of the nuns were frustrated evil people who beat small children. My grandmother said there is a special place in H E L L for the religious.

[@fintonmainz7845]

You want to get back to the days of child abuse, on an industrial scale.

[@thet1375]

@@johnbalance3989 Ireland is now ran by an atheistic communist anti Catholic Govt we are possible entering the worse period in history but sure whatever you say 🙄

[@michellemcdermott2026]

true

[@jquill6]

Nuns!, Nuns!, Reverse! , Reverse !

[@garryfitzgerald6233]

No, they are penguins!

[@maxpower1337]

2:23 there you go now

[@paulholland5270]

Micheal cain playing a priest in the 60s😀😃😄😆😅😆😁😂🤣😅😁😃😁😆😆😄😅🤣

[@geoffwhite7535]

evil

[@Ephemeral-songs]

Reminds me so much of the priest from 'Killinascully'

[@rxw5520]

The girl is describing a sister, ie a nun who isn’t cloistered. You could say sister is to nun as friar is to monk, but sisters are often called nuns anyway.

[@FirstnameLastname-vo1jb]

Caught in that sensual music all neglect/ monuments of unageing intellect

[@daithiocinnsealach1982]

Father Trendy looking good

[@Globe14]

I look at this man, the presenter, and I see something very harsh, cruel and arrogant. I might be totally wrong.

[@ciaranoh]

Nuns? REVERSE|| REVERSE!!

[@Minime163]

No

[@sabertoothwallaby2937]

Maybe

[@mickeyh1961]

God it really is a prejudice and bias documentary and one sided presentation

[@doloresaquines1529]

No it isn't Mickey. I can assure you of that. I went to a convent secondary school (Ireland). And we are not talking medieval times here!

[@mickeyh1961]

@@doloresaquines1529 I am not saying atrocities did not happen its just this documentary sees only negativity in the nuns and their teaching , not everything about them was bad , I was taught by Christian brothers and thankfully had no such experiences even though it was widespread

[@doloresaquines1529]

@@mickeyh1961 I am not talking atrocities here. I am talking about the common and prevalent unkindness and inability to show decency and plain charity. The day to day evil of demeaning, devaluing and hurting. Evidently, I know that this is how the personality disordered operate, the mental misfits I referred to earlier. The atrocities were dreadful, but the "noonday" evil was IMO even worse. They enjoyed the pathetic power it gave them. I try not to go back there at all.

[@maestroCanuck]

@@mickeyh1961 Many millions were taught by Nuns, Priests and brothers and had good treatment and good educations. The bad news is always louder than the good. The negative always seems to be more talked about.

[@joekerr1255]

NUNS!

[@yankeeskunkee8519]

Can nuns smoke?

[@effess8698]

no. nuns dislike bad habits

[@yankeeskunkee8519]

@@effess8698 lol

[@doloresaquines1529]

Yankee. Nuns can and do smoke. And drink vodka and whiskey too.

[@FlameFlickers]

They can but it takes quite a while to set them alight. I've found dousing their habit in petrol first helps..

[@ahdhudbbh]

Is it true that 90% of nuns are homosexual? I read a study that concluded this, but I feel this is far too low.

[@doloresaquines1529]

No AG. Not even that. Just dismal misfits who would never have cut it in society.

[@Success4u247]

He sounds like father Ted. I remember watching this as a child and my skin used to crawl. Maybe be children see through bull shit, or my because most nuns I came across was flawed and ought never been nun’s. Imagine a whole program about nuns. Would happy today. The society I grew up in was dominated by religious fanaticism, Hell and the sin of sex. To day….. It’s gone in the opposite direction. Same coin different side’s. Make no mistake, Same coin. Today the media is the new church. Everyone has to kneel at the alter of wokness, the high priestess of bad taste, While multi national companies make billions from womens health . And everyone knows what “womens health means “ “ Then we have climate change fanatics who shout from their media pulpits that we’re all going to hell because of rubbish. Different times same coin.

[@conormcauley2934]

Symbols of catholicism are as offensive as swastikas or images of racism. We would be doing well to begin seriously talking about the effect of the church on Irish 'society' in an effort to work towards decolonization.

[@tinaj1845]

Is there anything that your not offended by? Blue skies, green trees

[@boysofwexford]

@@tinaj1845 I'm offended by over 900 innocent babies being dumped into a septic tank in Tuam..... Who did that again can you remind me?? A curse on this nation is all those cnuts are.

[@max__pain]

How do you feel about the mosques popping up here as we are "colonised" by foreigners? Do you think Islam will make this country a more progressive place? Or are such questions... "racist"?

[@electricrussellette]

Surely the Protestants in Ireland are also responsible for perpetuating evil?

[@exulHibernicus]

Saint Patrick was a colonizer now?

[@mathanmor]

Q; What's black & white and invisible ? ...... A; Nun ....