The Catholic Church’s national seminary at Maynooth is “still trapped in an old vision”, according to the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin.
Along with the other three Catholic archbishops in Ireland, and 13 diocesan bishops, Dr Martin is a trustee of St Patrick’s College and its associated university.
He said St Patrick’s is “far too weak” and needs radical reform.
“Where does it stand? What role does it play in the overall intellectual ethos of the country?” he asked. “Whatever the solution, it must be very different to what we have today.
“The seminary and university are still trapped in an old vision. It’s going to be quite different, I hope,” he said.
Dr Martin also indicated that Archbishop’s House in Drumcondra, which is not currently on the market, will be sold in the future.
“I would doubt my successor would move in [there],” he said.
Last month it emerged that the archdiocese is to receive about € 95 million from the GAA for its 19.12 acres beside Archbishop’s House, on the site of the old Holy Cross seminary, Clonliffe, near Croke Park.
Monies from the sale are to fund vocations and formation of lay people and priests in the archdiocese.
Successor
Dr Martin, who is to retire next April on reaching the age of 75, does not know when the name of his successor will be announced. “The pope is the only one who makes that [decision],” he said. “It is unlikely that it would be done well in advance of my 75th. It’s usually done after.”
We need a new generation. We’ve got a great crowd of priests of a particular age
As to whether he might be persuaded to stay on, he said that was a decision for Pope Francis.
“We need a new generation. We’ve got a great crowd of priests [in Dublin] of a particular age. The changes I’ve been making in the diocesan administration give them a role to play. Nobody goes on forever. Some will be very happy to see me go.”
He hoped that when the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation report is published next spring, the words of Pope Francis in Ireland last year would be “flying high in the responses of the church”, he said.
In a homily at Mass in the Pro Cathedral on Sunday, he recalled how the pope had then spoken “about the difficulties experienced by single mothers trying to find their children, and children trying to find their mothers and who at times were told that such searching was a mortal sin”.
‘Fourth commandment’
“His response was simple but sharp and unequivocal: ‘that was not mortal sin, it was the fourth commandment.’ Honour your father and mother.”
There was also Francis’s warning to Ireland’s bishops to “not repeat the attitudes of aloofness and clericalism that at times in your history have given the real image of an authoritarian, harsh and autocratic church”.
Dr Martin added: “I don’t see it quoted enough.”
During the Mass he and Pro Cathedral administrator Fr Kieran McDermott unveiled a plaque commemorating the visit of Pope Francis at the St Joseph altar there on August 25th last year.
As the archbishop said in his homily, it was where Francis “prayed in silence before a candle that has been burning for some years now recalling the suffering of those who were abused within the Church.
“That candle is special to me in that it was not my idea or the idea of the Church establishment, but of survivors themselves.”
PAT SAYS
I have a certain respect and liking for Diarmuid Martin that I do not have for any other Irish bishop.
Diarmuid himself keeps a certain distance from the other bishops too – leading me to think that he does not really see himself as one of them.
He took a strong stand on Maynooth.
He took action in the Gorgeous case.
He treated the abuse victims and survivors better than any other Irish bishop.
He engages in dialogue with some people.
I know his relationship with the Dublin priests has not been great and that is regrelatable.
But no bishop is great in all areas.
I regard DM as the best of the current bishops.
I have no time for Amy, Phonsie, Deenihan and Lugs Monahan of Kilaloo. Little Hitler’s.
DM knows that Maynooth’s days are over.
He knows that the RCC is in big trouble in Ireland and internationally.
He deserves his retirement.
God knows who Dublin will get?
We might all be saying: “Come back Dermo. All is forgiven”.
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 
102 replies on “ARCHBISHOP DIARMUID ON MAYNOOTH AND CHURCH FUTURE.”
I wonder how long it will take Rome to appoint a new Archbishop of Dublin? It seems they are never in any rush to fill certain bishoprics. Just look at the Diocese of Derry, where it took three years before they announced the appointment of Donal McKeown as the lunatic to oversea Derry.
Archbishop Martin to me does seem to be a reasonably decent man with a lot of flaws and a bit of an ego – but compared to the rest of them, he is in a better league. There is a warmth and decency about him.
Dublin will be an interesting appointment for the Roman Catholic Church. Do they appoint another ultra-right nut bag who will see the diocese sail and then crash into an ice berg of scandals and sink? Or will they appoint a liberal, modern man, who can steer the diocese better in the wake of shrinking clergy numbers and plummeting mass attendances?
Or will they go with the usual middle-of-the-road moron, loyal to Pope Frank and will do the usual all talking and no action approach. Maybe Bishop McKeown will get a promotion from Derry and move to Dublin. Dubliners might enjoy his “wit” and sense of humour.
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Archbishop Martin attacks not only the seminary but “the university” — he cannot mean the secular University of Maynooth, which is doing very well. So he must mean the Pontifical University, which educates LAY people as well as seminarists. The bishops BLOCKED the acceptance of Theology as an academic subject in the secular University. If the Archbishop now believes that Theology is dead in the Pontifical University, he should fight to have Theology taught across the road in the secular University. In general his utterances about Maynooth are completely erratic.
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Can I just draw attention to the “sale of 19.12 acres of church land to GAA for €95 million”. The observant among you will recall my earlier comment on the wealth of the RCC, and it’s use/misuse. I wonder just how closely all of that €95 million will be audited by non ecclesial independent sources?
And the faithful are still expected to cough up their ‘widow’s mite’!
MMM
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Surely that sum for the sale of 19.12 acres of land is incorrect. That works out at approximately €5million per acre. That can’t be right; it’s sounds far too much.
Whatever the case may be, the very last thing the archdiocese needs are more priests, and lay ministers. I can think of more urgent needs, like those of the homeless, especially since colder temperatures are on the horizon. Suggesting that the money be spent on such abstract things as spiritual training is a cop-out from real responsibility, and an excuse to spend as little of the money as possible. Into whose pockets will the rest of it go? Rome’s?
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M.C. at 9:01am
The very last thing we need is more priests? I would say that’s the very first thing we need, but priest’s who have been formatted properly in The Catholic Faith not like the shower we’ve had for years who have brought nothing but disgrace to The Sacred Priesthood. The Church does plenty for the homeless it’s the Government who should be doing more, where is their money going? not where it should, you as usual blame everything on The Church because of your bitterness at being dispensed with as not worthy. Start asking T.D.’s what they are going to do for the homeless and the poor, and don’t hold your breath waiting for an answer, high time Leonie got her act in order instead of prancing about in marches which are a disgrace to the country.
Evviva Maria!
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You don’t sound like the type who parts with a tithe of your income and your words are those of Judas, as your concern for the poor is his.
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12.22: MMM, it’s my understsnding thst the sale was negotiated by an independent body on behalf of the Dublin Diocese. Also before documents were signed it was agreed that the lands would be developed in such a way as to respond to social, cultural and sports needs of the local and surrounding community. The money will also be used to build new Diocesan offices under one roof, to provide necessary resources and facilities to professionally train and educate lay leaders, to train prospective students for the priesthood in more modern facilities and to provide a more appropriate programme of formation. The proceeds of the sale will also be used to help some of the poorer parishes. So, let’s not just look at the figure of e95 million and think the Archbishop is fleeing to Italy to purchase a Tuscan Chateau for himself!! The money will be ringfenced constructively and approoriately. Incidentally, MMM, in the Dublin Diicese this weekend we have the Annual CROSSCARE collection, a caring agency founded by Archbishop McAuaid. Last year parishes in the Diocese contributed almost e400 thousand. The work of this great outreach agency is amazing. (Log on to the website for information). I have a friend who’s a Loreto Nun working with 2 other colleagues in the Sudan. She told me that they have received much financial support from Vatican charities, along with finances from her Order, to help them establish a day and boarding school and necessary medical facilities for the local and wider community. . Now in its 14th year the school (only for girls as they traditionally do not receive education) has grown from 20 to over 400…Sometimes we see evidence of great wealth but often it is spent on such projects without it ever being publicly announced. Likewise I understand that the proceeds from sale of Clonliffe lands has been allocated for very worthwhile Diocesan and local projects. I understand that a lay committee is overseeing the funding of these projects.
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Your comment sounds quite lofty t and reassuring about Church expenditure, but actually it is full of vague generalities.
Corporation-speak, which is just another means of concealment and secrecy.
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11.56
So homeless people’s dying on our winter streets through hypothermia must give way to the formation of men who have rightly been called ‘soul murderers’ . It’s just the attitude I’d expect from someone like you.
We need more priests as much as a dose of the clap.
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M.C. at 12:24pm
I’ve already said the Church does plenty for the homeless and the poor, it’s the Government who has to do more. It’s only people like you who would incorrectly use ‘ Soul Murderers. It’s the attitude I expect from people like you who have probably had more the one dose of the clap. You certainly talk a load of crap.
Evviva Maria!
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Who are considered serious contenders for the Dublin position?
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It is very clear from numerous recent incidents that the church is being systematically demolished.
No doubt it is being conducted by the church hierarchy itself.
The wrecking ball needs to keeps on swinging before a new system can be born. This new system needs to liberate the church from its chains that hinder the spirit of Jesus +
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Well, if by Church demolition you mean ‘the dismantling’ of the so-called hierarchy, and clerical prominence in general, then I see much to celebrate 🎉 and much to be grateful for. 😀
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Bishops, bishops, bishops…..by and large a dead loss, most of them. Constrained by fear of saying the wrong thing, tied in to a hierarchical clerical and episcopal system that stops them from thinking and talking openly and honestly, fearful of not pulling the party line and finding themselves disciplined. Tied in to a feudal, medieval system. No wonder all they do by and large is prop up the show and keep their finger in the dyke hoping that it will hold until they can find some other episcopal apparatchik to take over. All of this means that the real issues that confront our Church are not addressed, and all we get is some fuzzy feeling warm waffle from them.
I’ll give you an example. At the moment there are huge constitutional and political issues facing the UK, and indeed Ireland, on account of Brexit. The last few days have seem some momentous moments. I note that the Anglican Bishops have waded in and very clearly have a point of view and a strategy about this whole business; see https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/12006/bishops-warn-against-no-deal-brexit- Where, pray, is the voice of our Catholic bishops ? Nothing. Not a peep. Or if they do have something to say, it will be about the upcoming canonisation of Newman, or their recent pilgrimage to Lourdes, or the one or two weirdos they have recently ordained to try and replace the dozens who have fallen off the perch. And, we are supposed to believe that these bishops are our leaders and speak for the Catholic community ? Well, they do not evidently speak for me and the Church that I want to belong do. I expect them to be bold, courageous, challenging, thinking, flexible, imaginative – as well as being men of integrity, honesty and faith. You know, I don’t see that. I just see men who are scared of their own shadow. Not lions. Just donkeys. No disrespect to donkeys intended !
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Supposed to believe that these bishops are our leaders? Are you kidding?
I’m amazed that anyone today can still think in this clericalist way.
These men are not, and never were, leaders here… except in their own self-aggrandising and limited minds.
I shouldn’t turn to any of them even for advice on which sauce to put on my chips. 🍟
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Pat, what does the palace in Dublin look like inside? From the few photos I’ve seen it looks dark, heavy and institutional.
The Archbishop’s public question about Maynooth’s contribution to the intellectual ethos of the country is a real kick in the teeth to the staff and students there.
I’d say it’s safe to say that if Dublin has any new sems this year they won’t be going to Maynooth.
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What model of priestly formation does Ab Martin suggest to replace what he regards as an old and obsolete one? There is no mention of any such model in the blog.
I’m sure he has some proposals on the subject, so why not air them?
Pointing out problems without suggesting possible solutions is hardly helpful.
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Model of priesthood ? Well, pretty clear, I would have thought. Sane, sensible, mature, emotionally adjusted, sexually adjusted men – and women – who are grounded in the real world, trained in a system that helps to ground them, and are supported for the most part by spouses and families. And, holy, simple in lifestyle, trustworthy, and living good healthy lives, rather than some sort of duplicitous, hypocritical lives that so many of our present clergy live.
It’s not hard to think of a healthy clergy, if only we could get away from the idiotic notion that they have to be identified by gender, and with an obsession that enforced celibacy is somehow a sign of holiness. That model has not worked, and has damaged priests over generations as well as the Church and people they are called to serve.
Throw in moving away from a clerical, hierarchical culture that imbues priests with a sense of entitlement and specialness, and maybe we will be on the right track to providing our Church and people with the priests that they deserve.
It’s not rocket science !
Maybe I should be the next Archbishop of Dublin ?
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9.46
I’ll have a word with the nuncio about your self-nomination for that elevated position; we’re meeting up later for a curry chip and a can of Coke Zero. He’s a lad, that I-shud-Koko.
Er, what were you saying about moving away from a hierarchical culture of entitlement, specialness, and all that?😅
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MC you have a reaction to every comment. In Polish you would be said to be a lid for every pot.
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I know you have a soft spot for Dermo Pat and I know how he has held himself aloof from the other Irish bishops but he does so in the mode of the Pharisee who declared ‘I am not like the rest of (bishops) men, I pay tithes etc.’ He is known to pass snide and disparaging comments about the others bishops, including his own auxiliaries.
Examine his relationship with his clergy and you find the true measure of the man. For all his talk of a humble and listening church he is as clericalist and authoritarian as JC McQuaid. He is a great man to name the problems but is pathetically short on answers or solutions. He treats his clergy in strange ways favouring some and using others like doormats. He is a gossipy man whose loose tongue has caused hurt among his priests and has shared half-truths and apocryphal tales in a most inappropriate way.
He has rarely addressed vocations and has done nothing to build up the presbyterate in his care. In short Pat, he has been a disaster for Dublin. So while you Pat may head up the fan club, I don’t think the AGM will need the point depot. Hasten O Lord the day of his departure.
“By their fruits you shall know them”
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Dear LV, You are correct in saying that I have a soft spot for DM. I do not really know why – but it has nothing to do with sexual attraction 😊
I am very aware of the problems between him and the Dublin priests. That is very regrettable. A bishop should be a loving father and carer to his priests.
When he retires it will be an opportunity for Rome to appoint someone who will be close to the priests. But sadly things like that are not what Rome cares about.
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Pat, if you were sexually attracted by this man I would question your sanity, he’s an ugly coon.. You’d need a strong stomach!
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11.52
What a horribly personal remark!
Even I shouldn’t go so far.😕
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12.37: Magna, you have actually stated your objection to a horribly personal remark about Archbishop Martin. I’m sceptical of your supposed sincerity but may I ask that in future you should refrain from personalised commentary against your enemies. Name calling, describing traits of people in nasty and insulting tones and deliberate mockery of others is and should be unacceptable. We demean ourselves in the process and devalue efforts at meaningful debate. So, I hope you are sincere about your reaction and I plead with Pat to censor comments that transgress normal human boundaries.
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Quod scripsi, scripsi!
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Very very nasty.
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You have exceeded that comment more times than not. You are delusional.
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12.53
You finished?
I referred only to physical appearance, nothing else.
Everything other remains fair game for my withering fire. 🔫😬
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Martin caused the maynooth scandal.
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I dont think so. The Maynooth scandal was caused by seminarians and priests with willie activity.
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Martin is the type of bishop that would turn a seminarian gay, opposite of the aversion therapy that Wilson got.
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What makes you say that?
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Patsy at 10:55 am
Patsy, for once you are so right.
Evviva Maria!
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Maynooth rebuts Dermo.
“Sir, – In an article in The Irish Times, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin posed a question for St Patrick’s College, Maynooth: “What role does it play in the overall intellectual ethos of the country?” (Patsy McGarry, “Maynooth seminary ‘trapped in an old vision’, says Archbishop of Dublin”, News, August 27th).
We are happy to have this opportunity to respond.
Drawing on its Catholic tradition, Maynooth College is committed to the highest level in teaching and learning, research, and publication. Our aim is to educate graduates who are fluent in this theological tradition, who are open, integrated and socially engaged.
Because our graduates find employment in settings such as teaching; chaplaincy – in schools, hospitals and prisons; journalism; the publishing industry; non-governmental agencies; politics; media research and broadcasting, we know we are fulfilling our aims.
The theology faculty at Maynooth, one of the largest in these islands, comprises 16 full-time faculty members – men and women, lay and cleric. We teach 150 full-time undergraduate students, have 537 part-time students, and the largest Catholic international postgraduate research community in Ireland and the UK.
There are over 25 doctoral students researching in areas from ecology to the social theology of Pope Francis.
St Patrick’s College, in collaboration with Maynooth University, has a close working relationship with the aid agency Trócaire on projects relating to human rights issues such as gender and HIV and climate justice.
The faculty plays an important role in religious thought leadership, publishing the Irish Theological Quarterly, one of the leading international English-language journals of theology. Earlier this month, the proceedings of a conference of international experts, who gathered in Maynooth to explore how best to train the priests of the future, was published by one of America’s largest religious publishers, Liturgical Press.
Archbishop Martin is right in one sense. As a college, we have tended to hide our light under a bushel.
This October, we will launch a programme of activities to celebrate the 225th anniversary of our foundation.
These events will provide us with an opportunity to not only recall the legacy and heritage of St Patrick’s College, but also to promote our ongoing commitment to preparing the next generation of Christian leaders nationally and internationally. – Yours, etc,
Prof DECLANMARMION, SM
Dean of Theology,
St Patrick’s College,
Maynooth,
Co Kildare.”
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/maynooth-seminary-is-facing-the-future-1.4000269?mode=amp
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12:08
Thus spoke god!
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Anonymous at1:09pm
Thank you for once you’re right too!
Evviva Maria!
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I’d love to know if this is one man’s reaction or a “committee” response from the senior leadership…
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I can’t imagine Fr Marmion’s letter going out without the approval of President Mullaney.
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My thoughts exactly. Mullaney at a minimum.
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3:00
Bella, are you claiming to be god, or must we await another? 😊
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Bravo to Fr Marmion for calling out Dermo’s bs. My impression of the latter is that he is an armchair cynic — not wonder Pat Buckley and he get on so well.
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Open and intergrated? Very Catholic I thought it was all about offering it up and denying the self
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10.28
Prof. Marmion was doing so well, had me exclaiming ‘yes!’, ‘Yes!’, ‘YES!’…until I was driven to openmouthed incredulity by the breathtaking, presumptuous arrogance of his final, self-congratulatory, bombastic sentence:
‘These events (225th anniversary of the College’s founding) will provide us with an opportunity…to promote our ongoing committment to preparing the next generation of Christian leaders nationally and internationally.’
Right there and then I had my epiphany: Ab Martin is absolutely rightbabout this…centre of non-learning. It, sure enough, remains ‘trapped in an old vision’…of priesthood. Wow! There really is, outside telly fiction, such thing as a nutty professor.😅
Who the hell do these clerics think they are in promoting themselves as ‘leaders’?
Did their supposed followers elect them as leaders?
And what on earth makes them think that anyone in his right mind and conscience would follow ANY one of these misfits after the damage they have wreaked, and continue to wreak, on the Body of Christ?
These self-aggrandising fools can lead no one anywhere…except to bedlam, and then on to perdition.
Despite all the grand talk in his letter about Maynooth’s recently hosting an international conference of so-called ‘experts’ to debate a new way of training future priests, Marmion’s smug words make clear that the most fundamental lesson of all on priestly formation remains to be learned: priests are meant to be servants, and servants are NOT leaders.
Bulldoze this waste of granite space to the ground. Better still, rennovate it to provide homes for the homeless and the poorest in Irish society.
In this way (and at very long last), Maynooth will finally prove itself useful.
Hopefully, those forthcoming anniversary events will be this failed seminary’s swansong.😆
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11:47
This morning I spoke to a woman whose youngest daughter is starting ‘communion class’ year in school.
The woman said to me’ ….’ l’ll have to start going to mass again! I honestly tried going to mass a
few years ago but couldn’t hack it. I don’t want to be a hypocrite. It’s not that I have no faith,
I have no faith left in the clergy ‘.
The basic problem; too many bishops are corrupt!
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1.06: Another makey up story. The woman isn’t honest. She is justbtoo apathetic and indifferent but will blame everyone else except herself. She should look at her own attitude, faith and religious commitment..She’s using The first communion as a social moment only. Blaming the priest is a pasttime for many…..
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1.06
And she’s absolutely correct, and a wise and responsible mother, not to have faith in these social leeches: they are a faithless group themselves, and all they do is take, Take, TAKE from others. They take their wealth, their healthy self-reliance (whuch reliance they redirect not to Christ, but to themselves), their faith, their children’s innocence; ultimately and supremely (in a spiritual sense) they take the life of God from their souls.
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11.47: Miss Carta, all your promulgating and lecturing has no effect on any one. You obviously assume, dream or imagine that you are making a difference by your lengthy outbursts. Dream on dear girl. As for leaders, thank God I witnessed the wonderful leadership of priests and religious in my home parish. I remember their dedication, enthusiasm and constant giving of their time and energy. They made a huge difference to our parish community and inspired a number of vocations, including myself. Wish I had their energies and commitment now in my life!! Of course preparing and forming men for priesthood must change radically. Of course we must begin to seriously address the lack of lay leaders in our communities. There are very imaginative and visionary men and women in our parishes. They should be called forward for leadership. Very often too it’s been my experience that some priests are natural born leaders (of which there are many) and when invited and given the opportunity lay women and men have shone brightly as leaders in our parishes. Let he who has eyes see……..
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2:26
Hello buddy, at 2:26pm.
I can assure you, it’s not a makey up story. The women is working from 9.30am till 6.30pm, this evening. She has four children, three still living at home. She is separated. She won’t have the time or the luxury to ponder her attitude to faith, and religious commitment. At least, not this evening. You assume she’s blaming her priest. She doesn’t even know his name! She asked me is ‘Fr. So-so’ the name of the priest in the parish in her town. I said I didn’t know. ( I live in a different locality).
A bit of advice; Stop being so bloody defensive and so threatened! Richard Sipes article recently on this blog made it plain, the veneer of holiness is gone! Do you realize the ongoing ‘scandal’ or ‘crisis’ is at least 30 years old. The women I spoke to was 12yrs old, when the scandal began in Ireland! Living in denial is a past time for many clerics and bishops. The credibility of clerics, as a profession, is gone, due to the depth of corruption among so many bishops. When it comes to leadership, most of them couldn’t lead a p*** up in a brewery.
Come out from your bunkers of denial, with hands up!
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Spot on about Maggie Carta. For crying out loud it’s Buckley’s blog it’s opining on. It must think it’s making submissions to the UN. It was the same when it was in The Wing. Serious delusions of grandeur about itself.
😁
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1.19
Duckie, you flatter me. I’m not trying to make a differnce; I’m just fiddling while Rome burns.🔥
And… I’m… luuuuuvin’ it!🎉
Ooooooh, I’m having such fun, Fathers. 😀
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M.C. at 11:47am
Polly the downfall of Maynooth can be traced to the date you were allowed to enter and its been downhill all the way ever since. Even although thanks be to God they got rid of you, the evil freethinking lefty looney liberalism you and your likes planted remains. I recommend an exorcism reconsecrate and get back to basics, the formation of truly Catholic priests.
Evviva Maria!
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2:54 By gum…! Not only is bashfull Bella claiming to be god, he’s also a remote viewer! Omni-everywhere! 😂
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11.47: Magna, you are a legacy of the system that you failed to adhere to by way of suitability. Being thrown out of the system as an unstable miscreant, still affects you. Go get help. Grow up. Stop being a victim. 😀🎀😀😀😀😀😀🎀🍌🎀🎀😚😚😚
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4.39
😅
Were I a legacy of such a corrupt system, I’d be defending it to the hilt, cos I’d be as corrupt as it is.😅😆
A little (well, a lot, actually) forethought would beef up the logic of your posts. (Er, ‘forethought’ means thinking about something ahead of doing something else, like posting halfbaked, ill-thought-out comments.😆)
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Anonymous at 4:49pm
Thank you so much , recognition at last what kept you so long? or do I detect a bit of sarcasm. Anyway God Bless you.
Evviva Maria!
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Marmion was talking about LAY leadership, as his letter makes clear.
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9.12: You are correct but Magna, the supposed clever one always rewrites other people’s contributions. He’s a bore.
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9.12
Was he now? Odd that, since Marion’s self-rumpeting missive (a metaphorical damp squib) actually states that it was a response to Ab Martin’s comments…and HE was talking about priestly formation.😅
So either Marion didn’t know what the hell he was on about. Or you don’t.
Eeney, meeny-miney-mo… 😆
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Timo has Dublin in the bag. He’s being given a little bit of Parish experience to make his CV absolutely perfecto!
ADM of a busy city centre Parish, with three curates, to add to the lustre of all his other skills and talents.
So – having organised the WMOF, having managed to perfection Cardinal Sean Baptist Brady and his woes, his academic prowess – plus add to that now his toil in the coalfields of a frenetic modern city like downtown Belfast, struggling to cope and return to normality after the trauma of the Primark Fire, his personal management of three whole curates – and the clarity and sheer breadth – of his vision for the planning of Down and Connor’s future – will make him an ideal Archbishop of Dublin sent straight from the Heavens above.
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Timio will turn Dublin down flat. He knows he’s needed home in D&C. The future planning of the diocese depends on him. He wouldn’t walk away like that just to become Archbishop of Dublin.
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Correct. Timo would never put his own designs, desires and ambitions first. He’s just not like that.
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Someone posted on yesterday’s blog to write to the papal nuncios or Cardinal Sarah.
Can I say it’s a waste of time writing to them. I know from experience.
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Is cardinal sarah a girl?
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3.51: Are you still sucking your sooddddeeeer…..you utter gombeen! Grow out of your nappies….
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3:51
That would be the mother, Mrs Sarah.
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3.51
Erm, he have to be human first, rather than an ass.😆
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3.18: Firstly, I’m not a priest but have met many parents who are just indifferent to participating in any masses with children (on a monthly basis as in our parish) by way of giving witness to their children and helping them.have a SENSE of belonging to a Christian community. I’ve heard the attitude all too often. Secondly, the parents who don’t darken the church expect the day to be brilliant and memorable for their son or daughter and usually itbis, thanks to the commitment of teachers and priests. If this woman didn’t know the name of vertical priest, she could have ginevto her church and found his name on a notice board. Yes, sadly, some priests, a tiny minority, have been less than Christian when celebrating liturgies and can turn.people off but all too easily we blame the priest for everything. Sometimes we need to own the responsibility for our faith and that of our children. Being a parent myself, I am not therefore in denial about any harm done by the clerical abuse crises and I live in the real world not in a bunker! My faith has been very tested but I chose to live and carfy out the commitments I made at baptism.re: faith of my child.
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10:35
Hee-Haw Hee-Haw Hee-Haw 😝
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4:06
Tell me, why did you initially say my story was makey up?
Why do you think so many parents are indifferent to participating in masses?
Good for you re. carrying out the commitment you made at baptism. re: faith of your child.
With respect, you seem to be missing the point.
The woman is disenchanted with catholicism due to her perception of hypocrisy within the clergy re. cover up of child sexual abuse by so many bishops. She said to me re. her not wanting to be hypocrite,..’look how many of them (clergy) were supposed to be holy…’ Whether committed catholics like it or not, this is a widely held view by many people. I’m also living in the real world.
My Faith has been extremely tested, but despite clergy, I remain committed to Jesus Christ.
Clerics have literally turned their backs on me, for very very shameful reasons, on their part.
Many clerics are still in denial re. the ‘crisis’ or ‘scandal’. It’s a f****** culture!
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4.41: To answer your question honest re: “makeyup”… If you are a regular on this blog you’ll discover lots of contributors deliberately create fake stories simply out of malice towards the Catholic Church and often make broad sweeps of judgments about clerics which I find distasteful, dishonest and totally unacceptable. The story you told earlier had echoes of this but I apoligise for my misjudgment. I don’t doubt for a moment that the clerical abuse scandals have destroyed people’s credibility in clergy and that people’s faith has been shattered. I just rethought my faith because of the scandals but it was the everyday witness of committed ministry of my local clergy and two religious sisters which kept me connected to the local parish community. I just witnessed the basic good human and christian kindness of these priests and religious. They deserve support and affirmation. As a former teacher I know how some parents will just not co-operate with sacramental preparation programmes and yet want their son or daughter to have the lead roles on the day. Some are honest enough to say they are just following family tradition. The “faith” aspect is irrelevant.
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5:54
I accept your apology. It’s ok. Oh, it’s a true story.
I understand where you are coming from.
If you find time, have a look at a YouTube video, Prof. Janet Smith talks
about ‘Pope Francis, and the sexual abuse crisis’, on the John Henry Westen Show.
Janet Smith couldn’t be considered a ‘liberal’ catholic. Pax.
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I’d Love You To Want Me
Written by Roland Kent LaVoie.
Sung by Lobo.
(From the Album ‘Of a Simple Man’. 1972.)
When I saw you standing there
I’bout fell off my chair
And when you moved your mouth to speak
I felt the blood go to my feet
Now, it took time for me to know
What you tried so not to show
Something in my soul just cried
I see the want in your blue eyes
Baby, I’d love you to want me
The way that I want you
The way that it should be
Mmm, baby, you’d love me to want you
The way that I want to
If you’d only let it be
You told yourself years ago
You’d never let your feelings show
The obligation that you made
For the title that they gave
Baby, I’d love you to want me
The way that I want you
The way that it should be
Mmm, baby, you’d love me to want you
The way that I want to
If you’d only let it be
Now, it took time for me to know
What you tried so not to show
Something in my soul just cried
I see the want in your blue eyes
Baby, I’d love you to want me
The way that I want you
The way that it should be
Mmm, baby, you’d love me to want you
The way that I want to
If you’d only let it be
Oh baby, I’d love you to want me
The way that I want you
The way that it should be
Mmm, baby, you’d love me to want you
The way that I want to
If you’d only let it be
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I dunno what this crazy lot hope to achieve by their “lyric posting”. I just scroll past it always. What do others do?
Kieran
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@ 6:57pm
Killyleagh Kieran,
This crazy craggy crew are too crazy to provide a link to tunes from tubeyou.
I’m making a plea for a good Samaritan to assist. This would be an ecumenical matter.
Slainte.
Bishop Len.
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They’ve joined my other immediate scroll-bys ie MC, MMM and the “hi” man.
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Your opinions are very important Pat, really they are.
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10:22
Like to hear the acceptable….wouldn’t want your feathers ruffled.
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It was a stroke of pure genius, by Noelle, to appoint Timmy to a city centre parish still reeling from the horror of last year’s devastating Primark fire, which robbed downtown Belfast of one its finest iconic buildings.
Tim’s experiences with trauma victim, Sean Baptist Cardinal Brady, will stand him in good stead as he ministers to the various shellshocked shopkeepers and stunned shoppers, still coming to terms with the tragic events that unfolded almost exactly a year ago.
Cardinal Sean was on the ground, he had taken to the bed, due to the scurrilous and nasty media campaign trying to oust the Servant of God from office, for simply having carried out his duties faithfully, many years ago, as a young priest secretary.
Tim’s bright and cheery disposition succeeded in rousing the stricken Cardinal to rise from his cot and stride once more, with confidence renewed and buoyed, upon the national ecclesiastical stage and he hasn’t looked back. The Wounded Healer’s glorious resurrection was in no small part due to Timo’s careful and gentle coaxing.
Timothy will bring his exceptional pastoral skills and charisma to bear upon the crying need of Belfast City Center. He mingles easily with princes of church and state but he is also blessed with a common touch.
All the wee spides and smicks, along with their charming entourages of the female persuasion, roaming around Castle St of a Saturday, will find a friendly face, an attentive ear and a nice cold glass of cordial, as they pour their wee hearts out.
All of this of course being a mere preamble to the proper destiny of Tim to arise to fullness of the priesthood after a short but respectable stint in the role of Adm.
There are bottles of the very finest champers that money can buy, chilling at Chateau Noelle, in lieu of that blessed day for Ireland when the 11oclock embargo will be lifted and the joyous news announced.
All of his brother priests, in Armagh, Dublin and Down & Connor, to a man, cry “SUBITO! SUBITO!”
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😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣
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I hear that Scotland are about to issue an new Auxiliary for Glasgow. Monsignor Hugh Canon Bradley?
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Issue a Bishop? New one on me!
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Oh big Hugh! Gentleman, intellectual and good guy. Are you sure? This isn’t the usual criteria! Hope you are right though.
I thought Monsignor Murray or Fr John Bollan would have been in with a shout. John Bollan left suddenly which is a shame. Clever sod and handsome too!
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Left suddenly?
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6:10pm
Thanks for the information.
A fascinating insight into the unseen machinations preceding the rise of a super hero! 👼
Molto bene.
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6.34: Miss Cartwheel: You were thrown out, f****d out, deemed crazy, thus rendering you unsuitable for work of any kind with other human beings in ministry. God is good…..the system of formation worked well in detecting you as a liability. God has given many excellent men to the priesthood. Now, please don’t go c-r-a-z-yyyyyyyy!! TRUTH hurts but take your pills before penning your poisonous rant. Remember Mumsy’s advice: don’t be a bully: ever.
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5.25: Having fun Magna! Really – pity it takes empty bottles of gin and your twisted, psychologically dysfunctional psyche to create a confusion in you between dangerous madness and fun!! Oh that you had any class or sensibility about youself!! You’d be Pope! 🐂🐂🐂🐂🐂🐂🐂🐂😁😁😁😁😚
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8.36
I hate gin. I’m a real ale, and brandy man, actually.🍻
Make a mental note of that, will you?
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To big Jim’
I have also heard that Glasgow is to have a new auxiliary bishop but it is no Big Hugh although he is rumoured to have lost loads of weight. It’s being touted that it’s Fr Robert Hill from Bishopbriggs.
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Thanks Mungo’s mate. He is a proper gent too!
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Another well-fed, bloated Roman Catholic cleric.
What’s new under the sun?
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9.04: Magna, your upsetting your mumsy! I know I forgot to wipe your a**e today but there’s no need to throw your s**t at everyone. It’s against decency. You could have us all in prison. Imagine the loss of respectability? Now, come home from that shed of iniquity you hide in with all that vodka. I promise I’ll give you a nice, warm naked bath followed by a cup of hot chocolate. Promise.
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10.59
God love you for trying so hard.
But my real Mommie Dearest is so much more sophisticated and intellectual, like her darling precocious boy , Magna. ❤
She is the epitome of finesse!❤❤❤
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Bp Pat, fancy the Abp saying, I would doubt my successor would move into Archbishop’s House when he, allegedly, spent €50,000 on a new kitchen.
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Does Dermo’s lay (and ex-sem) Private Secretary live in Archbishop’s House?
I reckon Bishop Pat will get an invitation to Maynooth’s 225th anniversary celebrations. He certainly made sure that the college’s light was not kept under a bushel.
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Evenin all hi. Maynooth is weak is it hi. Sure how can one put a programme in place if one does not know what the programme is hi. Renew the church then infuse that into maynooth. Ya cant fix a punctured tire with elastoplast. Ya cant generate vocations with money.
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Good Night fly hi.
Begorra fly bullseye again.
And ya can’t give what ya haven’t got.
Bye bye fly hi.
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What’s the story with the Maynooth seminary webpage? It’s never updated. They are certainly not showcasing their wares.
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Dark hidden secrets. 🐇🐇🐇😍
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Rev Fr Micahel Collins is in charge of the Web page, however remember last time Collins attempted to update the Independent panel info on the Web page, it was full of spelling mistakes. Collins has dyslexia and has a deeply troubled past. Des Hillary had an awful time with Collins mad for the Women and drink.
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If Bob Hill or Hughie Bradley becomes Glasgow’s new auxiliary bishop it will be a good choice. I have heard that six different names were knocked back because of their private lives. As we say “ you couldn’t write it!”
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Breandán Leahy is s contender for Dublin – a priest of Dublin himself, well-educated, only Irish bishop to organise a diocesan synod, sendible snd likable, and a person of prayer.
Gareth Byrne is another.
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