
Dom Eamon Fitzgerald OCSO
Abbot General.
ROME
3rd October 2020
Blessed Columba Marmion. Abbot.
Dear Eamon,
A confidential Cistetcian contact has informed me that the Cistercians are happy that the Richard Purcell scandal had “blown over”.

What does blown over mean?
Does it mean that the Cistercian order is exhaling a huge, communal sigh of relief that the information has only featured on the blog of an illicit bishop and has not hit the media in general? (a temporary state of affairs)
And does that mean that no action will be taken and that the bessed former abbot of Roscrea, now blessed abbot of Mount Mellary can carry on as before?
It was you yourself who told me of Purcell’s activities in Roscrea – activities I had not known of before.
Does this mean that I should now put aside my 54 year belief that Cistercians while sinners like us all, were holy men and would not engage in the covering up of abuse and scandal for which the secular clergy are famous?
Does it mean that people like yourself are simply other McCarricks, Beccius, O’Briens and Bradys?
Does it mean that the Cistercian Vow of Conversatio Morum now has rubber bands attached to it that allows it to stretch from Capaquin in Waterford to the Boiler House gay sauna in Dublin?
Does it mean that a man visiting a monastery guest house looking spiritual direction is more likely to be the bent over recipient of a midnight abbatial ejaculation in the monastery kitchen?
Those who sin in Bath houses can appeal on the basis of the mitigating circumstances of the strength of the sexual urge.
But those in authority sin by premeditated lack of courage and moral feebleness without any mitigating circumstances and thus place themselves in the “Get behind me Satan” predicament.
In the Name of Jesus Christ and in memory of Saint Bernard and Columba Marmion can I prevail upon you to correct and regularise the Purcell situation and all such situations.
Sincerely,
+ Pat Buckley

Bishop Phonsie Cullinane
Bishop of Waterford and Lismore.
Dear Phonsie,
I wish to formally notify you of the most serious of irregularities at the Cistercian Monastery of Mount Mellary in your diocese.
For your information – and action – I am sending you copies of my communications with the Abbot General of the OCSO’s:
13.9.20
Dear Abbot General,
I wanted to pass on to you the information I have received from a priest of Killaloe diocese.
I wish to make a formal complaint against Fr Purcell and ask for a formal investigation to be undertaken and to be informed of the outcome.
I formally request Father Purcell step aside as Abbot pending the outcome of the investigation.
+ Pat Buckley
+
“Pat, the bishops of Killaloe know a thing or two about Dickie Purse. Remember Willy Walsh? His brother or cousin was a monk in Roscrea. And that shite xxxx xxxxx, now in xxxxx, has the dirt on the guy Dickie fucked in Roscrea, his fuck buddy monk who was a priest of Killaloe who tried his vocation at Roscrea for a while. O Reilly shafted the same Killaloe priest in a very nasty way, booted the poor guy out without any justice. Kunty had the dirt on the guy, used it and was merciless. I know all this because I’m a Killaloe priest but I have to be careful. Kunty advised the Galway priest who was caught by the police at Salthill. Imagine if Drennan knew that! working against +Galway. Told him not to shit on his own doorstep. Small world too cos the Salthill ex priest, xxxxx was a regular at the Boiler House and could never keep his big mouth shut. Thats why his classmates in Maynooth called him Galway Bay! He blabbed around about the Killaloe priest being in the Boiler House, same priest who suffered at Kunty Reillys hands and who was fuck buddy of Dickie at Roscrea. An ex seminarian friend of mine was fucked bareback by Dickie Purse in the Boiler House. The poor guy was lying on his back in a cubicle and Dickie landed in all horny, jumped on him and rode him without a word, yes, no, nothing. My old friend was stunned. He couldn’t put a name on Dickie at first but knew the face. He had been on retreat in Roscrea. He put two and two together later. Dickie is one cocky bollox. When he was a theology student in Oxford, there were lots of stories about him, doing the rounds of OSB and SJ bedrooms! By the way, Coffey at Glenstal was a Killaloe priest. He’s salt of the earth, a really kind genuine guy. No double life for him. He must have heard about Dickie. Don’t know how he puts up with him when they meet.
Pat, your friend xxxxx xxxxx could tell you about the Killaloe priest fuck buddy of Dickie. They are friends and I hear xxxxx is loyal to him. I had a lot of contact with Bishops House in Ennis before Lugs Monahan came here. That’s how I know about the former PP of xxxxxxx and his travails at Roscrea. Someone mentioned xxxxx xxxxx on here a few days ago, who is not dead. Xxxxx is a big friend of Dickie and Dickie moves in those Dublin musical circles. Xxxxxx was a big friend of Ledwith too. He might be happily married but you know what I mean? There’s a clique there. Xxxxxxx had a close shave with a male student in Maynooth, bur got away without an official complaint. Be careful with him. He’ll bring out the big guns to defend Dickie if you dig too much.
I had to go quiet. Was warned the big guns gunning for you over Dickie Purse. I didn’t think I’d be identified as source of info to you, but was naive. The bastards seem to have to their spies in Killaloe. I warned you about xxxxxxx and the musical crowd. The Knights of Columbanus are very powerful. Friends in the police who won’t obey the law. They’ll monitor the blog and breach gdpr snooping on people posting. Be careful. They don’t want Dickie going down. Go easy on the Killaloe priest who was in Roscrea. He’s fragile enough and now in lay life in Dublin. He had the honesty to acknowledge his double life, not our Dickie though. There was a shagfest near Melleray a few months ago organised by Dickie and some young Dominicans. I see someone else on your blog is on to them. You need to check the Irish youngish guy, in Rome, teaching. He’s the boyfriend of the xxxxx there, but that doesn’t stop him screwing any cute hole within 1000 miles. Total slut. I hear too that Dickie has been known to service two of the Glenstal guys and the odd C of I, very ecumenical our Dickie with his dick”
3.10.20
Dom Eamon Fitzgerald OCS
Abbot General.
ROME
3rd October 2020
Blessed Columba Marmion. Abnot.
Dear Eamon,
A confidential Cistetcian contact has informed me that the Cistercians are happy that the Richard Purcell scandal had “blown over”.
What does blown over mean?
Does it mean that the Cistercian order is exhaling a huge, communal sigh of relief that the information has only featured on the blog of an illicit bishop and has not hit the media in general?
And does that mean that no action will be taken and that the bessed former abbot of Roscrea, now blessed abbot of Mount Mellary can carry on as before?
It was you yourself who told me of Purcell’s activities in Roscrea – activities I had not known of before.
Does this mean that I should now put aside my 54 year belief that Cistercians while sinners like us all, were holy men and would not engage in the covering up of abuse and scandal for which the secular clergy are famous?
Does it mean that people like yourself are simply other McCarricks, Beccius, O’Briens and Bradys?
Does it mean that the Cistercian Vow of Conversatio Morum now has rubber bands attached to it that allows it to stretch from Capaquin in Waterford to the Boiler House gay sauna in Dublin?
Does it mean that a man visiting a monastery guest house looking spiritual direction is more likely to be the bent over recipient of a midnight abbatial ejaculation in the monastery kitchen?
Those who sin in Bath houses can appeal on the basis of the mitigating circumstances of the strength of the sexual urge.
But those in authority sin by premeditated lack of courage and moral feebleness without any mitigating circumstances and thus place themselves in the “Get behind me Satan” predicament.
In the Name of Jesus Christ and in memory of Saint Bernard and Columba Marmion can I prevail upon you to correct and regularise the Purcell situation and all such situations.
Sincerely,
+ Pat Buckley
Phonsie,
I know that you are not the immediate superior in this matter.
But the matter involves very serious allegations about activities within your diocese.
Furthermore, you are responsible for the care of souls in the places involved.
I’m told that you have a good relationship with the person involved but I would not expect that to interfere in you doing your duty.
Sincerely,
+Pat Buckley
—
—
Sent from Outlook Email App for Android
104 replies on “OPEN LETTERS TO THE CISTERCIAN ABBOT GENERAL AND BISHOP OF WATERFORD AND LISMORE.”
Pat, if the Cistercians think it has blown over because it was ‘only’ featured on your blog is it time to dial your colleagues in the mainstream media? Or is it time to contact the trustees of the school in Roscrea Cistercian College and ask them to exert pressure on the superior there to issue some sort of statement? When this sort of thing happens in the UK parents Are informed
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Vulgarity as expected here!
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Bishop, you have written to Bishop Of Waterford and Lismore but why haven’t you written to Bishop of Meath , after all wasn’t it all because the Bishop of Meath invited the Abbot to investigate Silverstream that we learned of the revelations of Mount Mellary and Roscrea?
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Bishop have you contacted the religious correspondents (a) concerning the revelation by the Abbot General to you and (b) concerning all the Boiler house stuff
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Surely the main story here is that if your a Cistercian you can get your hole and remain in Holy Orders? Yes the Pope said Gays can be priests but they weren’t to be active. So somethings not right here. Or can all those who were asked to leave because they got their hole or attempted to get their hole now reapply to the various dioceses/seminaries/monasteries in Ireland who got rid of them and (a) seek to be reinstalled or (b) seek compensation? And yes, I get the whole think about sinning and forgiveness but what about the hundreds asked to leave because they acted out on their impulses? Is it different for Abbots? Please explain
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12:41
I was going to respond but was put off by your filthy, probably drink-fuelled, language.
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12:41
A vulgar contribution from the early hours.
Would you describe the increasing number of married Roman Catholic priests as ‘getting their hole’?
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12:41,
Vile !
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I thought the post at 12.41 excellent, not least since it asked a reasonable question about the double standards exhibited in the treatment of abbots and seminarians.
I’m surprised (well, actually I’m not. Just being rhetorical) that the objectors in this thread, presumably being priests (or sexually active abbots), didn’t pounce, so to speak, on the hypocrisy mentioned in that post; it’s what you’d expect of a good priest, isn’t it? But you might as well look for gold at the end of a rainbow. Come to think of it, you’d probably have more chance of finding said gold than said good priest.
I also loved the pun on ‘hole’ and ‘holy’. I thought it quite fitting. Oh! There’s a second double entendre. 😕 They come thick and fast (oops!) when speaking of RC clergy, don’t they?
A veritable surge of such things. 😲
As for me, I have the highest respect for these men. I really do.
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What’s this Columba Mannion got to do with anything? Who is he?
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Heard of Google?
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Blessed Columba Marmion
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Hey sweety Pat, now there’s a blast from the past, Monsignor Ledwith. Was he in Roscrea too? Perhaps he got tonsured there.
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+ Pat: The OCSOs feel that they are on safe ground and can ignore you. They know that what is said on this blog has a limited audience. It will only be if this gets out in to the mainstream that they will take action. It really means that the Irish media need to take an interest in it. Will they ? I suspect not. Naughty priest and vicar stories are old hat these days unless they involve safeguarding issues, particularly around children. I have no doubt that there is truth in theses allegations. If there were not, the OCSOs and Purcell would have hit you with lawsuits, but they know that they cannot because once the legal system is involved the full truth would come out. I would send an account of what has been said on this blog about Purcell to every OCSO in Ireland, by post, recorded delivery, so that they can all read what he has been up to. Then at least they will know that the man who presides at their daily eucharist is someone who sneaks off to have bareback sex whenever he can. Then they can make up their own mind about him.
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Don’t forget to send a copy to Fr John Walsh OP, Prior, St Saviour’s Dominican Priory, 9-11 Upper Dorset Street, Rotunda, Dublin 1. 353 1 889 7610.
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Is this behaviour a common enough feature of monastic and religious life?
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My own understanding is that this behaviour is very, very common in religious orders and secular priesthood but that most Cistercian monks are not “at it”.
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a seminarian was and is at it. Male escort.
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You are probably right about the OCSOs. Mostly aged, and their routine and lifestyle doesn’t give much room for trips to the fleshpots of Dublin or London or wherever. But, young clergy of other eligious orders and dioceses are “at it” quite considerably, I sense. Some are just too fuck ugly and autistic to know what to do, simpletons who have taken refuge in religion as an alternative to the real world. But those who have something about them by and large know exactly what they want, and they see the clerical life as a very nice route to it. These are the ones who are playing all side, have double and parallel lives, and generally are having a wonderful time of it. They don’t give a toss about their promises and vows. There are elements of cognitive dissonance about many of them, where they have got so used to cheating and being dishonest that they simply don’t know that they are doing it anymore and just don’t see the great gulf between what they profess and what they are doing. It is just part of the landscape of their lives. I think I’ve described that pretty well, don’t you, Fathers ?! the tore reality is that, by and large, the laity know it as well. We are not taken in any more by what the priest is saying about himself and his life. We knows that what we are being told is not the full story, and that there is much more that is being hidden.
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Excellent summary. Its all become a very sad facade 😪
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@8:46
But you have to understand how everyone hates me. I can’t help having had the occasional slip – in fact the way my novices have flirted with me it’s surprising I haven’t slipped more!
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10.31
Your use of the word ‘autistic’ in this context is reprehensible. It’s shocking that Pat printed it.
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10:09, is this the lad on Grindr with a topless pic? D.D?
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Excellent comment 10 31
The people of God need to be informed of this reality,
Scandals like killdorrery help achieve this.
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Send this to Pope Oily and see if you can get an audience with him like the man in yesterday’s blog. Did he go through the golden door or did he kick in the back door?
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Waste of time. Frank is worse than useless.
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10.28: Worse than useless. That’s very unkind, a total lie and an ignirant reference to Pipe Francis. I often wonder Pat, apart from loving and admiring yourself, is there anyone else you like? Your constant downing of all clerics, whom you obviously consider inferior to you and for whom you have a hateful contempt, is appallingly insensitive, crass and unjustified. I wonder what Christ would say to YOU about YOUR behaviour?
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12.32
Probably, well done, good and faithful servant.
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Blown Over A strange comment indeed. Where’s the wee Gardai & PSNI in all of this?
Feks Sake Pat. Referring to yourself as an illicit bishop. Is this Mr Freud speaking? Follow the road Pat and may God be your compass
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I was referring to his view of me.
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Any sightings recently of Father Littlemaniple on Tooting Bec Rd or Balham High St ? He seems to have gone quiet, conspicuously absent from the streaming services. Maybe he’s taken advice, and adopted a low profile. About time. All he needs now is some retraining in how to present Catholic teaching, have a few corners knocked off his arrogant clerical certitude, and dump the maniple and the rest of the traditionalist frippery that he’s so interested in. Some voice training to lower the pitch of his screech would help as well. Always happy to offer advice.
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Father Peter Littleton has been volunteering at the local hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Doing what ? I love the way these clergy think they are indispensable. He has no skills for working in a hospital and is probably more of a hindrance than a help. The arrogance of clergy who think they can waltz in and ‘be of help’. I would suggest he stays at home and keeps to Government guidelines rather than going out and looking for things to do in order to be needed. Ministry / priesthood for the likes of Littleton is all about him. So, do spare us the LittleNightingale angel of mercy narrative.
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For 2 years recently I volunteered in my local cancer hospice. I had no medical skills of course. But I manned reception to welcome patients and staff, made cups of tea, listened and comforted sad relatives. I wasn’t in the way and played a minor useful role.
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Yes. + Pat, but that’s your and you would not have expected to be anything more. The likes of LittleNightingale will be using it to show how wonderful and indispensable he is, because he’s a priest. It’s all about him. Look at me….!
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11:37am
What skills do you have? apart from being an arrogant ejit. There are many people in hospital who would be glad to be visited by a priest and I don’t mean the mad mod type call me Fr. Tom Dick or Harry. Keep your unwanted advice to yourself you’d probably slag off Patsy by calling him Florence for doing works of charity in a hospice instead of being thankful that someone cares.
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He does exactly that. He wears scrubs, not clerical as per the hospital guidelines and he provides much needed company to the patients and staff.
I heard he was extremely kind to an very lonely elderly Muslim man in his last days.
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I wonder what relatives thought when they were greeted by a bishop at reception. You weren’t… Were you?! Dressed in your customary clerical attire? Pectoral Cross ‘n’ all?
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I was dressed in black trousers and a Macmillan green t-shirt
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I dont suppose he was volunteering at St. George’s Hospital Tooting? Probably looking for a bit of screen time. Will he feature in the Channel 4 programme 24 Hours in A&E as that is currently being recorded. Probably thinks with COVID he has a greater chance of being featured in the programme. The Hospital have chaplains they did not need him going in. Were all relevant DBS checks carried out? Imagine he can swan in and around the hospital when patients cannot have family visit them. Emergency department has a queue outside and family can only talk in through the window while the patient sits in the main waiting area after being to triage.
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When I was volunteering I underwent a police check.
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I am now visualising the Vilatte Hospital for Episcopi Vagantes where everyone from the porter to the surgeons has been consecrated multiple times and will talk to anyone who will listen about what lines of succession they are in.
What a wonderful picture. Except the episcopi vagantes of the twentieth century tended to work in bicycle shops and get arrested for sexual irregularities.
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11.37: What a mouthful if hate speech! Goid luck to any priest who hundreds to help others in whatever capacity. God bless them. I have no doubt that you, Good Samaritan, are out in the winds and rain giving out food parcels to the homeless or visiting the elderly needy!! People like you give humanity a bad name. God bless Fr. Littleton. God bless his good work.
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Bp Pat, I thought you were going to give Dom Ella a month to try and get to the bottom of things. But the sex lives of gay guys like Dickie Pursie will be extraordinarily complex and difficult to follow; they can have it off in a matter of minutes should an opportunity arise.
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Changing the abbot would probably just be replacing like with like, Bp Pat, even with one up in years. Gay saunas are also popular with… well, let’s just say, the older gent.
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Well, I know he’s not the first actively gay Cistercian abbot.
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I was until a senior Cistercian told me they were letting ot blow over.
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11.37: You are a pitiable specimen. The jealousy, rage and hatred you have for Fr. Littleton is a psychological illness. Get help for your foul, evil behaviour. What a moral vacuum there is in your pathetic life!
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Pat, why do you allow these vicious stalkers? You can’t use the defence that you don’t like censorship, because you do censor and refuse to publish comments, as is your right. It is your blog after all, but if you don’t publish everything, it suggests that you tolerate the comments you do publish.
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this bog is committing the sin that the BIBLE says is rising to heaven for REVENGE the HOLY MONKS Purcell and Kirby will be joined by HOLY PRIESTS at the THRONE OF GOD on the day and when those who said bad things about the HOLY MONKS and the HOLY PRIESTS on this log will be pointed at in accusing and their SINS spoken out loud and the HOLY GOD will say is this true and you will all quack before PUNISHMENT you wait
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,,, quack, quack !
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“As a city [Liverpool] we are facing up to the grim injustices of our past and by setting them in their context, we are a better place. In a year that has exposed the divides that continue to exist between communities across the globe based on race and colour, it is hoped that we can continue to learn and grow from our shared history and truly make Liverpool…”
He said: “We cannot hide from our past, and there is no institution from this era of our history which is free from the taint of this horrific trade.
Laurence, who is currently studying for a PhD at University of Liverpool, is well known as one of Liverpool’s leading experts in its history of slavery.
He continues… “We cannot give justice to Abell and other enslaved Africans, but we can give them the dignity of naming them when we can, and we can give them status within the history of our city.”
Source: Liverpool Echo October 3rd 2020
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/black-history-month-2020-liverpools-19039337
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12 45: Do you not realise how imbecilic you are in your remarks re: Fr. Littleton? You are a total screwball. I don’t notice this good priest shouting from the rooftops declaring his good deeds, unlike some on this blog! You do the publicity well enough for which I’m sure Fr. Littleton thanks you. Get a life, you miserable begrudger and sick man. Go out to do some good yourself. Really, some twins never grow a pair of b***s.
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Fr Little Nightingale does screech him deeds and views from the housetops – or rather YouTube. Have you seen the nonsense he guffs on about ? So, I think I have a perfect right to take a view on him and his activities. Remember he is a public figure. He makes himself well known. He is out there. So, he can expect people like me to take a view. And the view I take is that he is a self serving plonker.
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The only plonker is you. Give credit where credit is due. I do not know this priest. But the comment above about comforting a lonely muslim man and others is worthy of respect. Very similar to Pat Buckley volunteering for 2 years at an hospital. I do not agree with a lot of what PB writes but both he and the Clapham priest deserve the same credit in this instance.
Stop the stalking and stop the bad mouthing. Be more charitable in your comments.
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3.15: And you, hater, are engaging in harrassment, viciousness, bad mouthing, degrading this priest – all because you can’t find it in your heart to be practice tolerance, kindness and respect. You, sir, are a hater. Not very laudable virtues. Can I recommend to you the reading from St. Paul to the Philppians for today’s Mass, 27th Sunday, Year A. You might try to luve the challenge of his words. Go find that Reading but also try to let GOD into your sordid, mischief making life. Stop intimdating, stalking and inciting hatred of this priest. Your behaviour is sinful and a scandal. Criticism is acceptable but not nastily hounding this man. Shame.
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there is a school on the Abbey grounds in Roscrea. Did the parents know about what the Abbot shares with you Pat?
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5.13: The only people who have no interest in the Word of God or the Gospel of Christ are the few who repetitively comment here. They have absolutely no care for such but would rather their own creed of vengeance, nastiness and vindictiveness have priority.
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You know when other bishops lay their hands on new bishops at installation ceremonies? Well, did Abbot Purcell lay his hands on any of the new bishops whose installation he was invited to? Did he lay his hands on Phonsie? And did he wash them before he laid them on him?
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Now, now, boys and girls, I detect there is a little bit of histrionics and outrage going on here. So, everybody calm down. The blog is perfectly entitled to take a view of people who are public figures. do public jobs, and present themselves publicly. That is the downside of that kind of role. People see and hear you and take a view. It’s what we do in democracies. So, in the case of Fr Purcell OCSO aka the Bareback Abbot, I could not give a fig what he gets up to or what his preference is in sexual activity. He could bareback a donkey for all I care. Except…..this man belongs to a Church that has a definite and distinct view on sex, sexuality, sexual orientation, the use of sex etc. Father Purcell has implicitly accepted the teaching of the Church on these matters, in fact he has gone even further and taken freely upon himself the promise and obligation of chastity and celibacy. He lives a life that screams out that he is celibate and chaste and does not have genital sexual relationships. He’s even the Abbot, the one who is to encourage his brothers to a good and pure life. So, the fact that it appears that he goes away for away days to engage in unsafe sexual activities is a matter….well, for thought and for comment. As long as he and his Church profess one thing, and he does another thing, then he is setting himself up as fair game. So, expect me and others including + Pat to take a view, and in these democratic lands, to express that view. You don’t have to agree with us. If the Church decides that it wants to change its teaching and readily accept barebacking Abbots, and it is all acceptable to the Church, then that would be a different matter and Fr Abbot can get his end away endlessly, and I would not say a thing. See, it’s simple.
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Very true @3:27 and you sum it up perfectly.
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And I’m not impressed either. I’d have had him sitting in the naughty corner in the refectory.
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Chastity, celibacy, or whatever you want to call it is a shibboleth, a custom, especially a long-standing one regarded as outmoded or no longer necessary in this day and age.
Preventing Dickie Pursie, for example, getting some batter would be like trying to stem the tide.
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So all this filth about the Boilerhouse, all based on the word of some dirty old priest that Pat knows? You all need to have a conversation with yourselves.
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I am sure the Abbot General, Dom Eamon Fitzgerald, and Bishop Phonsie Cullinane, together will have the means to put Bp Pat’s mind at rest.
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5:15
Ah, yeah. There’s always the Opus cold shower a Dei schedule to resort to or a relocation assignment in Australia or New Zealand or the aul reliable further studies ruse. No sweat.
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What about the alfresco experiences?
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6:30.
What about the alfresco experiences?
Do you know something we don’t know?
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As for Fr Littleton, again, he is a public figure. He stands at Mass, he stands in the pulpit, he strides along Balham High Street, he posts videos on YouTube. He is therefore liable for other people to take a view about what he – publicly – presents of himself. Two aspects are worrying. One is the black and white, rigourist, literal and unfiltered language of Church documents that I suspect he does not fully understand, and which require the subtly, nuance and pastoral sensitivity of a true pastor to teach, again which I am not sure Fr. Littleton has. Secondly, his churchmanship is incredibly contrived and belies a very self-centred and narcissistic personality that seeks to gain attention. And again, he does not fully understand the fulness of liturgical appropriateness or correctness. Given that he is presented to us as a formal representative of the Church, and insists of presenting himself so publicly, then I think that we are entitled to take a view. Even to take the piss……
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I was in the seminary with him. He was not recommended to be ordained. The late Peter Smith couldn’t give a shit towards the end of his life, just ordained the poor bugger.
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Hi Frederick. How are you?
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You need to get a grip man
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Pat will you attend the Ordination of Stephen Wilson. Please be honest.
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Dig deep, the Vatican’s down to its last apartment block in Chelsea and there’s a £20 million sized hole in Frank’s private account.
https://twitter.com/VaticanNews/status/1312326794083794944?s=19
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Bishop Patrick, will you call their bluff? Will you keep the story lit? Will you contact some of your journalistic colleagues who might receive an answer? Or Pat, seeing as you are a journalist at the end of the day please contact the Catholic Press Office and ask them for a comment on the Abbot of Mount Mellary and former Abbot of Roscrea and ask them for a comment on (at the very least) what the Abbot General confirmed. Tell them you’d like a comment from the Bishops conference on the matter, after all, the Roscrea element of the story took place in the diocese of Killaloe
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Pat, you keep referring to Cistercian’s as if this is an ordinary monk. This is a prize scull. This is the highest ranking member in the Roman Catholic Church that you have spilt the beans on. He’s not only a monk, not only a priest but an Abbot who dresses up with crozier, pectoral cross and mitre. This isn’t one of those stories on Cardinals or bishops which you regurgitate from papers around the world. This is your exclusive. This is the most important story you’ve broken insofar as it is the highest ranking cleric and you have had part of your story confirmed by the Abbot General (indeed, a part you didn’t know about). So Pat, do not back down and do not be scared by lack of reply from the Cistercians. I sincerely hope you follow through on this story because it stinks of rank hypocrisy. Your story on Silverstream involves a mere Prior, this is an Abbot Pat with the regalia of a bishop. Do not be afraid to expose the filthy hypocrisy
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I’m not scared and will pursue.
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Actually Pat has also broken the exclusive on the abbot of Farnborough that the secular media are for some reason not interested in. Presumably because it is legal sex and so not seen to be an issue.
What it would take to break that monastic fantasy open would be if the abbot had happened to so much as touch someone under age. I feel it will be the same here.
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@ 5:02 Roscrea has a school in the grounds. Farnborough does not. Would parents of students in the school where the fees are expensive like to think that the Abbot is carry on in the Abbey which is on the same grounds? The hypocrisy in Roscrea was v different from Farnborough and with respect Catholics in UK would not be as shocked as Catholics in Ireland. Everyone thought what went on in Maynooth was funny until it appeared on the main evening news. That wouldn’t have happened in UK.
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4.55: As you pursue, make sure you bring your slash hook with you slay the Abbot. You should park yourself with your bouncer and lynch mob outside Mt. Mellary and charge as soon as you see the Abbot. Just as JESUS would do. Stay hating. God really wants you to crucify, smash and then run for the hills….you are some follower of CHRIST..
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Pat you know you’re on the right track when you get comments like this.
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If +Pat does have a ‘bouncer’ which we don’t know he does it says more about the Cathbots who would try to cause harm to +Pat or otherwise cause a threat to the bishop. Not very Christian now is it? Do you think that someone of very moderate means would employ someone for personal protection if it wasnt necessary. You’ve scored a goal in your own net.
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@5:01 Jesus had no time for hypocrites. What would the same Jesus say to deans in Maynooth or abbots or superiors who chucked out seminarians cus they erred once and wanted cock? Why should it be different for an Abbot?
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The Maynooth story was featured in UK Ch4 news and my first reaction was to roar with laughter….laughter which soon turned to sadness, led to me seeking an ex seminarian / religious support group on facebook and through that getting back in touch with fellow ex novices and eventually deciding to blow the whistle on Brogan, which +Pat helped with initially and at various times since with advice and publicity. Although Brogan is still in situ it is a great comfort that our efforts will have spared some from also becoming his victims and allowed others to come to realization quicker and leave. As for those who stay????
~Tom Wood~
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The Abbot of Farnborough is Abbot of a telephone kiosk the Abbot of Mount Mellary and Roscrea is v prestigious in Ireland. There’s no comparison. Pat is on the greatest mission of his life. Exposing hypocrisy at a very high level. Good man Pat
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5.58: Get a grip on your imagination. It’s OTT…Crazy, bizarre logic.
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6.34
I thought he made a good point.
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BREAKING NEWS: instead of a reading from the letter to St Paul to the Ephesians during Night Prayer in Mount Mellary, it’ll be a reading from the letter of Bishop Pat Buckley to the Abbot General. That’ll make them sit up.
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Pat. Watch your back because of the Cistercians
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Are Cistercians now assassins?
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Pat, don’t post about international matters tomorrow and make sure to keep this story in the news every day until they act. Open a different window on it every day like an advent calendar. They’re a shower of hypocrites. How fucking dare the Abbot General divulge information to you about this matter and not expect mayhem at his door. Regardless of boilerhouse sex and the predisposition of the person in question which is not suitable to monastic life, the Abbot confirmed another matter. They’re hypocrites until they apologise to the faithful who attend mass in Roscrea and send their sons to the school beside the Abbey. What about people who were kicked out of seminary for less? Did he think he was above everyone cus he was Abbot and could ride what he wanted once he preached about forgiveness and judgemental people? It was the same in Maynooth until the bishop appeared on Six One. Pat Buckley DO NOT BE AFRAID this is the biggest HYPOCRITICAL story you have broken.
Ps: I feel sorry for Abbot General because he actually confirmed another issue with this person. All eyes are now on the Cistercians.
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You’d swear that Pat Buckley was to blame for all the attention the Cistercians are getting! It’s really the Abbot’s fault cus he could not keep his Mickey in his trousers
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6.56: Pat, be reasonable and honest. Like me, I’m sure you’ve visited and stayed in Cistercian Abbeys for retreats. In all my visits over 40 years I have experienced nothing but kindness, charity, wise spiritual guidance and have been inspired by the prayerful routines of the Monks – a routine I found very difficult. It is only natural and human to feel “fleshly” temptations- you and I’ve been there – and probably failed in our vows too, perhaps in ways we’d rather not speak about. I feel a huge injustice is being done to the greater community of Cistercians (mostly very elderly men) by the constant barrage of innuendo, judgment and speculation. While none of us is perfect and we repeatedly fail, morally and spiritually, we must of course always, as clerics, seek what is best and right and moral. This does not mean that we act as the hugh priest moral arbiters of those who fail. Express our concerns and criticisms, absolutely but the onslaught is unnecessary. Let the Monks sort out what they must accept as their challenge and responsibility. Threatening to set the gutter journos on them is a moral disgrace. I trust that those who seem very clean and squeaky on this blog are – emhhhh…clean all over, interiorally and externally! !
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‘ …we must of course always, as clerics, seek what is best and right and moral.’
Seeking what is best and right and moral didn’t matter in relation to survivors of clerical abuse and covering it up, did it. From the top down the ranks!
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8.26: Precisely my point at 7.46 and I am deeply ashamed of the hurt, damage and destruction caused to many by criminal clerical abuse. Absolutely. That is why each day I pray for the grace to do what is best, right and moral…I am only too well aware of my own failings and sinfulness.
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@6:56 tell that to the countless seminarians kicked out for doing a fraction of what the Abbot is alleged to have done with his Mickey. It’s hypocrisy.
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7.46
Are you a fool?
There’s an enormous difference between occasional moral lapses and habitually unrepented and serious sin. Purcell falls into the latter category and deserves no sympathy whatever; he ought to be laicised as soon as possible.
Your rationalising and covering for habitually unrepented sin makes me want to throw up, priest.
Over your forty-year period of prayer crawling, how many of your kiddie-fiddling colleagues did you make the same whining excuse for? I’d bet more than a few.
You really don’t get it, do you priest? It is precisely men of your rotted moral fibre that have broken the back of the RCC.
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Was Fr. Purcell appointed Abbot or elected by the various communities?
If elected, were the communities aware of background issues?
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Background? Don’t you mean back passage?
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Your headline is a little misleading. The Cistercian Abbot General is Dom Mauro Leporino OCist (http://www.ocist.org/ocist/en/abate-generale-5.html) while Dom Eamon Fitzgerald OCSO is the Trappist Abbot General.
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I am surprised to read about O’Reilly, especially as she’s now just a kick and a hint off seventy. It just goes to shows, don’t underestimate the chronologically gifted; dried up old prunes they may be, but still like oiling the pogo stick from time to time.
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8:48
Don’t worry, Rene. We’ ll keep an eye on them as well.
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I’m not worried, I just don’t think the headline is fair. In justice and charity, it should be corrected.
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#MattHepForTheHat.2020.
Ponsie for pope
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