Is sectarianism a factor in the McCann case?

[Angelo222]

For sure, there isn't a single thing about the McCanns that hasn't been ridiculed, from their hair to the house they live in, from their accents to their upbringing, it's all been picked over and mocked mercilessly for over 11 years by some pretty unpleasant people IMO.  But I guess if my kid disappeared and I kept them high profile by appearing in the media alot I would also be ripped to shreds for my appearance, my accent, my actions.  C'est la vie.

So why haven't the Needhams experienced the same phenomenon?

[Erngath]

Are you really playing semantics Erngath?

‘Susan Healy: 'Kate phoned me, errm… about an hour after Gerry and asked me to get in touch with, errm… Paul Seddon, who is the priest, Father Seddon, who married her, who baptised Madeleine, errm… and I didn't have his mobile phone so I rang a friend of Kate's and got… got him and he rang Kate right away and I think as soon as this happened, as soon as Kate realised what had happened, it was as if, errm.. she started to ask God right away to give her Madeleine. Errm… because Kate and Gerry were not the most devout family. We do have Catholic faith, errm… it's… it's the religion that we were brought up in, but I would never describe myself as a devout person. We're just ordinary people, errm… but Kate certainly has… has clung to her religion, errm.. since this happened. Possibly she feels that, you know, it has to be a greater thing that helps us to get Madeleine back. Errm… something with more power than… than we have.'

devout
dɪˈvaʊt/Submit
adjective
having or showing deep religious feeling or commitment.
"she was a devout Catholic"
synonyms:   pious, religious, devoted, dedicated, reverent, God-fearing, believing, spiritual, prayerful, holy, godly, saintly, faithful, dutiful, righteous, churchgoing, orthodox
"a devout Christian"

No I'm not playing at anything.
Saying someone is not particularly religious is quite different from saying someone is not devout.
Quite different.
Not particularly religious would indicate someone. who has no real nterest in their religion.
Possibly not marrying in the church, not babtizing their children in the church, never.gong to church or praying.
Being devout is a description that very few Catholics would attribute to themselves or their family.
It suggests someone who is possibly at Mass every day, spends a good deal of time in prayers etc.
Most Catholics whether devout or not would in time of crisis turn to prayer and the Church.

[jassi]

So why haven't the Needhams experienced the same phenomenon?

No begging bowl.

No 'playing the victim'

Little media exposure until recently

All IMO, of course

[Vertigo Swirl]

So why haven't the Needhams experienced the same phenomenon?

For one, Ben went missing pre-internet and so opportunities to publish hateful opinions were less prevalent.  For two, Ben's disappearance has not received nearly as much coverage so again Kerry is not nearly so well known as the McCanns and for three Kerry will I'm sure tell you that she has nevertheless received her fair share of abuse and online hate since.

[faithlilly]

No I'm not playing at anything.
Saying someone is not particularly religious is quite different from saying someone is not devout.
Quite different.
Not particularly religious would indicate someone. who has no real nterest in their religion.
Possibly not marrying in the church, not babtizing their children in the church, never.gong to church or praying.
Being devout is a description that very few Catholics would attribute to themselves or their family.
It suggests someone who is possibly at Mass every day, spends a good deal of time in prayers etc.
Most Catholics whether devout or not would in time of crisis turn to prayer and the Church.

In your opinion. The definition of the word does not support your opinion.

To be clear I couldn’t care less whether the McCanns became Scientologists. Religion imo has no part in this case.

[Alice Purjorick]

Sectarianism is associated with extreme language and a particular outlook, no matter which 'side' people belong to. There is hatred of the other 'side' and an inability or a refusal to see them as equals.

Labels are applied; in Scotland terms such as 'Hun' or 'Orange b*****d', 'Fenian' or 'Tim' are used. The language which has been used to describe 'trolls' is reminiscent of sectarian language in my opinion. They are 'vile' and they 'spew hatred' they are 'inadequate' and are seen as less human than others.

There are those on both sides who 'troll' but there are also those who don't. Grouping them all together and labelling them isn't acceptable. There are intelligent reasonable people on both sides who should be able to disagree without hurling insults at each other in my opinion.

History shows us that once that happy state is achieved absolutely nothing is that bad one will not do it to them. Mary Tudor is a good enough place to start and Pol Pot as good as any for a finish point.

[slartibartfast]

Don't apologise.  Prove me wrong.

“a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God.” The opposite of a believer.

[Eleanor]

“a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God.” The opposite of a believer.

In Your Opinion.  It actually isn't that simple.

[slartibartfast]

In Your Opinion.  It actually isn't that simple.

It is really that simple, it is the definition of agnostic. Any other meaning you want to put on it is your own.

[Erngath]

In your opinion. The definition of the word does not support your opinion.

To be clear I couldn’t care less whether the McCanns became Scientologists. Religion imo has no part in this case.

I don't believe it has a major part to play.
However in my opinion it has some influence and to deny that sectarianism is now of the past is  to do no favours in the continuing education and enlightenment of today's generation.
My grandchildren have all completed a book study of Divided City and the school has visits from "Nil by mouth".
And I believe this is part of most schools curriculum.

[Erngath]

For one, Ben went missing pre-internet and so opportunities to publish hateful opinions were less prevalent.  For two, Ben's disappearance has not received nearly as much coverage so again Kerry is not nearly so well known as the McCanns and for three Kerry will I'm sure tell you that she has nevertheless received her fair share of abuse and online hate since.

As has Sarah Payne.

[Eleanor]

“a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God.” The opposite of a believer.

Cannot be know with Certainty.

[G-Unit]

Sectarianism exists everywhere there are Catholics and Protestants living together.  In Great Britain it is endemic in places which have large Irish immigrant populations like Glasgow and Liverpool and the Western Isles.

I lived in the Western Isles for two years, on Benbecula, which marks the line between the southern Catholic population and the northern Protestants. Benbecula was 50/50. I don't know if there was immigration, but there were close ties historically with Ireland and to me the people were more similar to Irish people than to Scottish people on the mainland, whichever religion they subscribed to.

They weren't keen on the English or the Scottish as far as I could work out, although they were hospitable and friendly to individuals. Some people objected to them speaking gaelic to each other in the local shop, but I thought they had a right to speak their own language in their own country just as the Welsh did.

If there were sectarian tensions I never noticed it, I'm afraid.

[Angelo222]

For one, Ben went missing pre-internet and so opportunities to publish hateful opinions were less prevalent.  For two, Ben's disappearance has not received nearly as much coverage so again Kerry is not nearly so well known as the McCanns and for three Kerry will I'm sure tell you that she has nevertheless received her fair share of abuse and online hate since.

That to me is just skimming over the surface. I think a new thread is in order before this goes too far.

[faithlilly]

I don't believe it has a major part to play.
However in my opinion it has some influence and to deny that sectarianism is now of the past is  to do no favours in the continuing education and enlightenment of today's generation.
My grandchildren have all completed a book study of Divided City and the school has visits from "Nil by mouth".
And I believe this is part of most schools curriculum.

Please don’t put words into my mouth. I didn’t say sectarianism was in the past, just look at the tensions still brewing in NI. I said it had no part in this case and, imo, supporters are just grappling to find an excuse for the McCanns treatment.

There is something about the McCanns that a section of the population don’t like and/or don’t trust. What that is may be more complex than is being suggested.