When one thinks of Irish, two things come to mind: Catholicism and St. Patrick’s Day. Well these two things may conflict this year, as St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th) is during the holy week before Easter. This is the first time this conflict has arisen since the 1940’s and the Catholic Diocese is taking a strong stance.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has decided that no mass can be held on the 17th to celebrate the holiday. This decision has had multiple reactions; to some it is a tragedy, to others an insult. A few Catholic churches are asking for even more from their congregations, requesting no parades or other celebrations honoring Saint Patrick during the holy week. This is causing unrest in many Irish communities, where the debate on what comes first, God or country, is heated.