Companions in Hope

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Why Did She Do It?

"There were children who were being sexually abused by priests in Ireland or who had been sexually abused by priests in Ireland and the Vatican knew of it but the Vatican were doing nothing to help the families or the survivors of - and in fact were silencing the families. So, I began to discover the lies, you know, and having grown up such a pious child and loved God and loved religion, I was raging that these people were actually turning people away from God."

Watch it Now!

Sinead Knew: To Stand Against It!

NBC's Censorship and Dishonesty in Re-broadcasting Sinead O'Connor's Protest

The Sinead O'Connor Site

Sinead O'Connor discuses bi-polar disorder with Oprah (short segment only)

A Summary of Oprah's interview with Sinead

Sinead O'Connor Demands Pope Step Down (2009; Reuters)

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Sinead's 2009 Letter to an Independent British Newspaper

Dear Sir,

On behalf of all Irish artists - though most have kept their mouth shut - I demand the Irish government expel the papal nuncio and recall the Irish ambassador from the Vatican City in order to respect the people of Ireland, who are outraged by the contempt displayed by the Vatican for the suffering endured by survivors of clerical abuse and for the people of Ireland in general.

I demand also the Pope himself stand down for his contemptible silence on the matter and his acts of non cooperation with the (Murphy) enquiry.

Popes have had no problem voicing their opinions when we wanted contraception or divorce. No problem criticising the Da Vinci code. No problem declaring Harry Potter books as evil. No problem criticising Naomi Campbell for wearing a bejeweled cross. Yet when it comes to the evils done by paedophiles dressed as priests they are silent. It is grotesque... unbelievable... bizarre and unprecedented. They stand for nothing now but evil. And our ancestors gave up anything that would have given them a moments joy. Because they believed these liars.

They have brought Catholicism and the idea of God into disrepute. We need to take back the church. Which is OURS. Not theirs. They are not fit to call themselves representatives of Christ. They represent nothing but evil any more.

They never believed that God was watching. And they still act as thought they don't think God is watching. But every one of them will have to meet their maker in the end. Even the Pope himself. And if I were them, I would be very afraid.

I also demand that Brian Cowan step down for his having no testicles in the matter. He has no clue what Irish people want. He should stand down and admit he has behaved in this matter as a coward.

Sincerely,

Sinead O'Connor

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Another good quote from Sinead:

"God and religion are two different things, and God is much bigger than religion, in a way. Some religions have this wall around God and that they are the ones that say when God can come out to love someone and they dictate who God can be and to me that's blasphemy, really, because God loves unconditionally and doesn't care if you're gay, for instance."

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What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They are different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through from time to time. Bipolar disorder symptoms can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance and even suicide. But bipolar can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives.

Bipolar disorder often develops in a person's late teens or early adult years. At least half of all cases start before age 25. Some people have their first symptoms during childhood, while others may develop symptoms late in life.

Bipolar disorder is not easy to spot when it starts. The symptoms may seem like separate problems, not recognized as parts of a larger problem. Some people suffer for years before they are properly diagnosed and treated. Like diabetes or heart disease, bipolar disorder is a long-term illness that must be carefully managed throughout a person's life.

What are the Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder?

People with bipolar disorder experience unusually intense emotional states that occur in distinct periods called "mood episodes". An overly joyful or overexcited state is called a manic episode, and an extremely sad or hopeless state is called a depressive episode. Sometimes, a mood episode includes symptoms of both mania and depression. This is called a mixed state. People with bipolar disorder also may be explosive and irritable during a mood episode.

Extreme changes in energy, activity, sleep, and behavior go along with these changes in mood. It is possible for someone with bipolar disorder to experience a long-lasting period of unstable moods rather than discrete episodes of depression or mania.

A person may be having an episode of bipolar disorder if he or she has a number of manic or depressive symptoms for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least one or two weeks. Sometimes symptoms are so severe that the person cannot function normally at work, school, or home.

What Illnesses Often Co-Exist with Bipolar Disorder?

Substance abuse is very common among people with bipolar disorder, but the reasons for this are unclear. Some people with bipolar disorder may try to treat their symptoms with alcohol or drugs. However, substance abuse may trigger or prolong bipolar symptoms, and the behavioral control problems associated with mania can result in a person drinking too much.

Anxiety disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social phobia, also co-occur often among people with bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder also co-occurs with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which has some symptoms that overlap with bipolar disorder, such as restlessness and being easily distracted.

People with bipolar disorder are also at risk for thyroid disease, migraine headaches, heart disease, obesity, and other physical illnesses. These illnesses may cause symptoms of mania or depression. They may also result from treatment for bipolar disorder.

Other illnesses can make it hard to diagnose and treat bipolar disorder. People with bipolar disorder should monitor their physical and mental health. If a symptom does not get better with treatment, they should tell their doctor.

How is Bipolar Disorder Treated?

To date, there is not cure for bipolar disorder. But proper treatment helps most people with bipolar disorder gain better control of their mood swings and related symptoms. This is also true for people with the most severe forms of the illness.

Because bipolar disorder is a lifelong and recurrent illness, people with the disorder need long-term treatment to maintain control of bipolar symptoms. An effective maintenance treatment plan includes medication and psychotherapy for preventing relapse and reducing symptom severity.

(The information above is taken from the National Institute of Mental Health. Find out more information on bi-polar disorder by clicking on the their link.)

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More music from Sinead:

Famine

Nothing Compares 2 U

Silent Night

Thank You for Hearing Me

Don't Give Up

Sacrifice

This is a Rebel Song

 

Chiquitita

"If there ever is going to be healing,
there has to be remembering,
and then grieving,
so that then there can be forgiving.
There has to be knowledge,
and understanding."
(from Famine)

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mail@companionsinhope.com
or
Companions in Hope
P.O. Box 638
Geneva, Illinois 60134

Thank you for your input and helping us to make this a better web site for you and others.

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This home page feature is dedicated to Sinead O'Connor and all other advocates of children and those who have been abused, assaulted, and/or tortured - physically, sexually, emotionally, or spiritually - as children.

It is a rare individual who is willing to be a voice for truth and good despite being personally attacked and unfairly treated in the process. Thank you to all who have taken a stand for children and survivors.

Please forward the link to this page to your friends, family, favorite network, television or radio personality and, most importantly, your elected representatives. For those who have suffered, Break the Silence now!!!

Printable Version of this Home Page

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Disclaimer: Companions in Hope posts written and videotaped material relating to abuse, assault and corruption for the purposes of education and awareness so that the truth may be exposed, justice may be done, and the vulnerable of our society may be protected from harm.

We do not necessarily agree with or accept as fact the contents of everything we reprint from other sources. Our visitors can make their own judgments, draw their own conclusions, and form their own opinions. No responsibility or liability, therefore, shall attach itself to us, our web site, or our twitter page.

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Companions in Hope
P.O. Box 638
Geneva, Illinois

mail@companionsinhope.com

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