FATHER PAUL PRIOR UPDATE

THE BLOG HAS BEEN TOLD THAT A FOURTH MAN HAS LODGED A COMPLAINT WITH THE JESUITS WITH REGARD TO FATHER PRIOR.

The first complaint is historic and comes a Maynooth ex seminarian. This seminarian has also made a formal complaint to the congregation for religious in Rome – through the Irish papal nuncio Archbishop Okolo.

Two other Dublin men have lodged complaints with the Jesuit provincial Father Leonard Maloney.

Fr. Maloney with the pope

Those complaints have been handed over to the Jesuit safeguarding person in Birmingham where the Jesuit novitiate is based.

The complaints have also been referred to the Archbishop of Birmingham Bunny Longley and his safeguarding people.

The alleged fourth complaint reputedly comes from a Jesuit novice who recently left the Jesuits.

The Jesuit safeguarding officer has gold some of the alleged victims that a panel is being convened this month to examine all complaints.

My recent email to Father Maloney:

Very Rev L. Maloney SJ
PROVINCIAL. IRELAND.

Dear Father Maloney,

Can I first of all commend you for the very dignified and moving funeral eremony you presided over for Gay Byrne RIP.

For several years now young seminarians and others have spoken to me about their very disturbing encounters with Father Paul Prior and their very intrusive sexual context.

I am informed now that one of your own former novices has come forward with a fourth complaint!

No one is seeking to harm Paul Prior – and he may need help in this area.

But he cannot be allowed by the Jesuits or any diocese to target any more young men in this highly dangerous and inappropriate way. It’s only a matter of time until this situation leads to a human tragedy.

Of course Father Prior is entitled to truth, justice and due process but we all have a massive duty of care to those he might hurt.

I hope and pray that you and your colleagues will take this grave matter with the serious attention it requires.

Sincerely yours,

+ Pat Buckley

cc Archbishop Diarmuid Martin_______________________

MARIAN FINUCANE

I was sorry to hear of the sudden death of RTE broadcaster Marian Finucane. She was only 69.

My detractors on this blog say that Marian did not like me? I never met her but occasionally listened to her programmes when travelling on the car.

Her cousin, who celebrated her funeral Mass, Monsignor Ciaran O’Carroll of the Irish College in Rome, said that she was very charitable and played a role in building a hospice in South Africa in memory of her daughter Dinead.

She will be rewarded for all her goodness.

O’Carroll’s homily was ok – but not memorable.

It was also good to see that no Country and Western priest muscled in on the funeral.

I always got the impression that Marian was upper middle class and held the values of that class?

In any event her passing is very sad – especially for her family.

May she rest on peace.