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IRELAND’S GAY ABBOTS AND ABBEYS.

Tabernacle Dom

We can thank Mark Tabernacle Kirby of Silverstream for the current exposure if Ireland’s gay abbots and abbeys.

Kirby”s sexual overtures towards one of his monks, over a ten year period, was absolutely inappropriate and makes no sense of his ridiculous claims that Jesus speaks to him from the Tabernacle.

If Jesus was speaking to Kirby from the Tabernacle he would say to him:

“Stoping coming on to your monks and stop showing them your John Thomas”.

Ater ten years of enduring Kirby’s antics the monks finally had enough and made a formal complaint to the monasteries ecclesiastical superior, the Bishop of Meath.

The Bishop, Denihan, appointed three visitors – Coffey the abbot of Glenstal, Purcell the abbot of Mount Mellary and a Cork monsignor.

The complaining monks made sworn statements and an affidavit.

We are not at the stage whereby the monks was sent from the monastery and Kirby was taken back as an ordinary monk.

Objective observers are now persuaded that the visitors and Deenihan have decided to save Kirby’s skin and offload the complaining monks – in other words do the normal RC cover up job.

BUT NOW THERE ARE COMPLICATIOBS ARISING:

COMPLICATION ONE – PURCELL

Purcell has been accused of being homosexually active with other men – religious and lay-AND of having visited the gay Boiler House Sauna in Dublin.

His abbot General has told that he had a homosexual problem in his previous monastery – Roscrea.

People are now calling for his resignation or deposition.

We are awaiting the outcome.

Purcell is now collateral damage of the Kirby scandal.

COMPLICATION TWO – GLENSTAL

The homoerotic spotlight is now on Glenstall.

ENTER ABBOT GREGORY COLLINS

Collins

A Glenstall monks was appointed the abbot of the Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem.

But Collins didn’t keep his whistle clean.

Below is an affidavit sworn as part of Collins’ resignation as abbot in Jerusalem which is with the Congregation for Religious

‘I, the undersigned xxxxx xxxxx, born 13th May 1977 in Cadca (Slovak Republic residing in Rome Piazza San Pancras 13 hereby declare

In his last year of teaching at the Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselms (2007/2008).

Father Gregory Collins, in one our talks informed me of his intimate relationship with Brother Ephraim Huser OSB. By the end of the academic year Brother Huser had left religious life and Father Gregory went back to his monastery Glenstal.

I met with Patrick Huser, ( the civil name of Brother Ephraim) in November 2015. He referred to Father Gregory Collins as his “ex boyfriend”. Patrick Huser declared his homosexuality many times in the past in front of other Sant Anselmo residents.

Father Gregory Collins also told me about the gay community at the Glenstal Abbey. According to Father Gregory, when he asked to join the monastery, Father Henry O’Shea, who was then the novice master was “delighted when he learned about Father Gregory’s sexual orientation.

I later relayed this information to Father xxxx xxxxxxx OSB whom I have known personally for 16 years, in as much as I worked at Sant Anselmo as his assistant.

This is a true and correct statement of the facts and events related herein.

Xxxxx xxxxx

However it does appear that other matters featured in the resignation of Gregory Collins that involved the Israeli police.

COLLINS’ OWN STTEMENT

COLLINS

Collins is now left Glenstal and indeed the RCC and is now an Anglican vicar in the very gay friendly diocese of Chichester.

HOMOEROTIC PAINTINGS IN GLENSTAL LIBRARY

Nude Biblical images by Glenstal monk are banned by Facebook

‘We don’t allow ads with content that features sexually suggestive posturing ’

The Good Thief, by artist turned monk Br Emmaus, features in Glenstal Abbey – Through the Seasons

Patsy McGarry

Tue, Oct 8, 2019, 14:23

Facebook has banned a post advertising a new book from the monks at Glenstal Abbey in Co Limerick because of nudity in illustrations of the Good Thief crucified with Christ, and of the Archangel Michael.

A spokeswoman for Columba Books, which is publishing Glenstal Abbey – Through the Seasons, said the images had been “deemed ‘too sexual’ by Facebook and against their policies”.

However nude images of the Good Thief from the book have been posted by the Irish Catholic newspaper on its Facebook page. A caption accompanying the images reads: “Nude paintings in a monastery library? The IC (Irish Catholic) can exclusively reveal that a new book on #GlenstalAbbey from Columba Books features nude paintings called ‘The Good Thief’. Is it appropriate to hang on the walls of a library within an Abbey? You decide!”

Columba Books and the Irish Catholic are both owned by Grace Communications.

Giving its reason to Columba Books for rejecting the advertisement, Facebook said: “The ad isn’t running because it doesn’t follow our Advertising Policies which apply to an ad’s content, its audience, and the destination it links to. We don’t allow ads that feature people with excessive skin visible.”

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It recommended “using content that focuses on your product or service rather than the model.”

Columba Books responded: “The ‘nudity’ in question is art pieces from a Benedictine monk at Glenstal Abbey. It’s art! Not a photo, does not feature a real person, and has been shared with permission.”

In a further response, headlined, “Here’s what’s preventing your ad from running,” Facebook said, under the heading “Image” that: “We don’t allow ads with content that features sexually suggestive posturing or that shows a lot of skin (even if it’s for an artistic or education reason) because of their highly sensitive nature. I suggest you have a look at our Advertising Policies for more details, including some do’s and don’t s.”

This it repeated under two further headings “Leading Page” and “The reason behind our policies.”

The images are by artist turned monk Br Emmaus, whose larger than life nude paintings adorn Glenstal’s library wall. Br Emmaus says he renders the human figure naked “to follow the naked Christ.”

In the book, Br Emmaus says: “Prior to my solemn profession at Glenstal Abbey in 2014, I worked as a graphic designer in Los Angeles, USA, for ten years after receiving my BDes from the National College of Art and Design in Dublin.

“Currently a student of the University of St Michael’s College in the University of Toronto, Canada, I am about to enter my third year of doctrinal studies. My area of research concerns questions involving the need for contemporary liturgical art to adapt Christian iconography in terms of postmodern recontextualisation.”

He says: “In rendering the human figure naked ‘to follow the naked Christ’, these paintings, like the Benedictine commitment to a life of daily conversion, echo the challenge to emulate the paupertas, nuditas, et humilitas Christi (the poverty, vulnerability, and humility of Christ) and become, in ourselves, transparent images of the God who made us.”

ONE OF THE PAINTINGS – SAINT DISMAS –

POINTS ARISING

1. If Collins resigned as abbot over sexual misbehaviour Purcell should follow the precedent?

2. What is this about the “GAY COMMUNITY AT GLENSTAL that Collins is speaking.

3. Is it all a gay community?

4. Or is there a gay community within the general community?

5. Why the need for homoerotic paintings in Glenstal?

6. Glenstal happier to receive homosexual novices than heterosexual novices?

AND

Should Brendan Coffey of Glenstal resign too?

FINALLY A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO KIRBY – THE TABERNACLE DOM

181 replies on “IRELAND’S GAY ABBOTS AND ABBEYS.”

Hasn’t made the national news yet, they’ll wait, if it doesn’t they’ll get rid of the complaining monk, if it does they’ll get rid of Purcell and Kirby, maybe to the Irish Centre in London? That could share a flat with Roaree.

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Are you sure it is “monks”, plural, who have filed complaints against Dom Kirby? All previous reporting on both this site and others have said it was one monk, singular. Can you substantiate this new claim?

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The NCR article said, “Long told NCR that at present there are 15 members of the Silverstream community, 13 of whom are currently in residence.” This means that there was one alleged victim and one alleged perpetrator, both absent at the time of reporting. It is a new and serious change of story to claim that “the MONKS had enough of his antics” and “the complaining MONKS made statements.”
Please 1. clarify the evidence for the new version or; 2. edit the post for accuracy.
If this comment is not published, it will be clear that the purpose of this blog is sensationalism and hits, not credibility and ascertaining facts.

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The allegations concerning the behaviour of Dom Gregory Collins were brought to the personal attention of the then Abbot of Glenstal Abbey, Dom Mark Patrick Hederman, who tried to explain them away as experiential conduct; if this is denied by Hederman, a copy of his e-mailed reply can be provided.

In light of the “known” duplicitous behaviour of Dom Gregory Collins, who recommended him to the Anglican Diocese of Chichester? Did Collins have a letter from the then Abbot of Glenstal, attesting that he was a monk and priest in good standing; if so, from which abbot, Hederman or Coffey and/or both? Did Collins have a letter attesting he was a priest in good standing with priestly faculties to minister within the Archdiocese of Cashel & Emly?

Did the Anglican Bishop of Chichester seek clarification from the Abbot President of the Annunciation Congregation about the reasons Gregory Collins resigned as Abbot in Jerusalem?

Did the Abbot of the Glenstal and his council, petition the Holy See for Dom Gregory Collins to be released his monastic vows and the obligations of the clerical state? Is Dom Gregory canonically, still a monk and priest of Glenstal Abbey?

Could Dom Gregory be one of the people that had a relationship with Dom Richard Purcell, the current Abbot and Ordinary of Mount Melleray Abbey?

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Oh if this breaks then the credibility of Glenstal will be zilch and all those monks with episcopal notions will be crying. Pat isn’t Glenstal in the Archbishop of Cashel and Emly’s region? He’s their bishop. Hasn’t he some role with Mellary too? Drop him a line just for the record in case he’s unaware. Surely it would have been the Archbishop of Cashel and Emly who ordains priests in Glenstal and the bishop of Killaloe who ordains monks in Roscrea. Who ordained Richard Purcell? Was it “call me Willie)” Walsh?

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Pat you must contact the Nuncio, they won’t deal with this themselves. He will make sure the relevant congregation in Rome is aware and while you’re at it inform him about Mellary

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No, Dom Gregory is no longer a Romanist pup. He doesn’t answer to the thugs in Rome. And if you do want to go on he would be answerable to the Dormition Abbey, not Glenstal. When he moved to Jerusalem his canonical relationship with Glenstal ended. I’m sure the bishop of Chitchester couldn’t give a toss about what anyone in Ireland thinks of Earl Collins. By the way, he went to Chichester via Ely diocese. The C of E had it’s own internal references and didn’t neef any from bedgrudgers in Eire.

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@ 12:47 – I think you will probably find that the C of E has dropped the ball on this one, and there is a lot that they do not know about Collins, and they will now be scurrying around asking themselves, and him, some serious questions. Remember, in the last few weeks they have received excoriating criticism of their safeguarding policies, practice and coverup, both from IICSA and from the Bishop Victor Whitsey Inquiry, and in neither did they come out well at all. I think they will be very sensitive to the fact that they may have taken in a man without due diligence, discovery and information, and have him ministering in some senior position. Watch that space !

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Have a look at the Douai Abbey connection. One of their monks is the very camp Abbot of St Paul Without the Walls and he lectures at Sant Anselmo. Fr Benedict Thompson, also of Douai Abbey is an ex opera chorus singer with a vicious tongue.

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@10:36. Sorry we’re not talking about camp men. We’re talking about hypocrites who act on their impulses. Thanks

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Some of these monks have a predisposition unsuited to monastic life. I don’t mean monks with gay tendencies but rather the ones who act on those tendencies

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Gregory/Earl Collins became involved in a physical relationship, while Abbot in Jerusalem, with a younger Palestinian man. I am saying man not boy. He had to leave in a hurry. Glenstal voted not to readmitted him to their community. His ‘stability’ had changed when he became Abbot in Jerusalem. When he visited Glenstal as an Abbot he had insisted on being seated next to the Abbot of Glenstal, insisted on wearing the ‘pontificals’ etc. One does not normally do that in a monastery one is a guest in. An Abbot is only an Abbot of their designated abbey. Added to this is was well known that earl/Gregory was no stranger to the gay sauna scene in Dublin either. So all in all the Glenstal community were not obliged to take him back and did not want to take him back. The Jerusalem monastery was a German foundation: due to the issues that arose there they did not wish to keep Earl/ Gregory. He could not survive in the big bad secular world, so hey presto a conversion to Anglicanism. Zero integrity, zero faith, and zero vocation.
Abbot Brendan: I have met him, I have heard others speak of him. He is quite, gentle, witty and a believer.

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@11:18 you don’t know what you’re talking about you make it sound as if Glenstal didn’t want to take him back because he was on gay scene when it has enough of its own community gay as it is. You met Abbot Brendan did you? Lucky you. You’re obviously not a member of the community or you’d have more to say.

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It sounds as if Canon Fire really does know what he is saying. Strong ring of truth in what he says. He understands monastic stability and the consequences of moving it to Jerusalem.

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@11:18 do you get out often? You’ve slated Gregory at the expense of Brendan. You really are extremely gullible.

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11.18
You appear in the know.
Why, then, was Collins involved with the Israeli police if his alleged paramour was an adult?

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I will only comment on something if I know the facts and know that it is true. I do not know the reason why the Israeli police got involved. Until I do I cannot give an answer.

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Maybe the guy he was involved with in Jerusalem was not a boy, but even as a young man it could have been contrary to Israeli law ? It is telling that he had to hot tail it from Jerusalem, and it looks as though the Israeli police saw it as serious enough to look in to. This thing screams out that there was something wrong with what was happening in the behaviour of Collins when in Jerusalem.

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No, he was not voted out; he was already out by virtue of being Abbot in Jerusalem.
They voted not to accept him back.

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What is it with him and people who are in the same situation as himself. When he was a monk he had obsession or relationship with another monk if what is written in the letter is true. Is fr James still the farmer in Glenstal?

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Pat it doesn’t matter how gay some gay monks are surely. It’s when they act on their impulses. By the way you make it sound like the Abbot of Mellary was in Boiler House once in today’s blog. Are you for real? Once? Jaysus Pat sure you’d almost let it go if it was once! Once? A regular by all accounts.

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I am not happy about my experiences in a monastery .Pat could you let me have the address of the Congregation for Religious please .

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1 11: As a religious (???) you should know the contacts for making a complaint. You cannot be “real”. Think you are being disingenuous and/or lying.

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Oh yeah @9:38am Like they give it out in your monastic introduction pack! What to do if some horny brother sexually harrasses or abuses you! It’s the last thing you expect, which is why it is so devastating! I’m very sorry 1:11am for your experiences but don’t hold out a lot of hope for you getting justice or even a response. Worth a try though. I suspect action over Collins had more to do with the Police involvement than the complaint in St Anselmo. The Abbot President of Subiaco – Cassinese OSB is a member of the Congregation For Religious so make of that what you will. https://www.osb.org/2019/07/09/abbot-president-of-subiaco-cassinese-congregation-appointed-to-vatican-congregation-for-consecrated-life/ You might find this page helpful for contact details http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccscrlife/documents/rc_con_ccscrlife_profile_en.html Praying that your heart will be healed….justice in the sense that your abuser is reprimanded, removed or prosecuted helps, but telling your story anyway sometimes helps some people too. It did me and it might help save someone else from a similar fate or help them realise what is going on quicker and get out sooner.

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Lugs Monaghan failed to pass on the sexual abuse allegations experienced by his two former seminarians. Lugs and yes Iggy both colluded in Maynooth Institutionsl abuse cover up. Iggy a Secondary School Principle received the complaint from the Parent of a raped seminarian. Iggy failed to immediately contact the Gardai, Dep of Education as the complaint was made while he was on School grounds. Lugs and Iggy must stand down. Iggy cannot maintain his position as a School Principle. What else did Iggy fail to declare???.

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My recollections of Earl Collins from the mid 70s and having followed his “career” – he is an extremely dysfunctional and vicious individual. He has been a rampant homosexual for years. I don’t think this man believes in anything and your earlier commentator is correct that he wouldn’t be able to hack it in civvy street. So he has jumped ship to the Church of England where he will still have “status” to cover his utter poverty of basic decency and receive his fixes of adulation from the poor “fools” he regards with absolute, studied and total contempt. Earl Collins is cynicism and crassness personified. I do not hesitate to call him a wicked man.

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2.44
Dashed, sir! You sound on the point of slapping Collins’ face with a glove and challenging him to a duel at dawn.
A wicked man? Earl Collins? He must have metamorphosed considerably since I last knew him.

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What we see through all this is the hypocrisy of the church. Yesterday I was condemned by a person who did not even give me the courtesy of saying who he was and called to submit to the teachings of the church. Yet Bishops, Priests, Abbots, of the Catholic Church do not practice the very teachings they preach about, and call people to follow. So many people remain totally blind to this contradiction or choose not to see it for the sake of convenience.

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7:16am
You still don’t seem to see that you are a contradiction by espousing your own teachings, which are not the teachings of The Church. Never mind all the others who don’t they will be dealt with in God’s good time as will you if you do not submit to the magesterium.

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7:31pm
Decided to google that Frederic Martel first, advise you to do the same. I don’t think I’d believe anything that faggot says, he has his own agenda, read what it says for yourself it will give you an insight as to where he’s coming from.

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I have some sympathy for the monk who was pooved on for ten years, Bp Pat, but is it not just an ‘occupational hazard’ once you enter one of these places? You get the impression that is how they deal with these sort of complaints.

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It wouldn’t be so bad if Kitty was a hunk, but she’s seen better days, Bp Pat. Coffey to by the looks of it.

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Ex-Abbot Collins, erstwhile of Glenstal and Jerusalem, appears to have a very colourful background history. Much of it would be amusing if it was not the behaviour of a vowed monk and abbot. Some of it, particularly the involvement with a Palestinian youth in Israel very problematic, even politically between Israel and Vatican. My view of Collins is that he has exhibited all the usual clerical traits that we see paraded on this blog in clerical behaviour – hypocrisy, lack of integrity, duplicity, living a parallel life, callously breaking his vows and rule of life, and evident psycho-sexual dysfunction. We have become quite used to this sort of clerical behaviour.
What disturbs me more is the attitude and actions of those around him. From what I can glean, in the various places that he was at various times, Collins exhibited behaviour that was in contradiction to the rule of life and his vows. What, pray tell, did those who had the responsibility of overseeing him do ? How did they discharge their responsibilities ? Or did they just cover up and make excuses for their clerical brother ? I think I know the answer to that one !
Next, and perhaps more seriously for those involved in his “new life” in the C of E, what due diligence did the C of E and the various C of E bishops that he works for now do in regard to his past behaviour, and most importantly the issues that led him to leave Jerusalem. If reporting is to be believed, the Palestinian youth / boy involvement would raise very serious questions about safeguarding and this man’s suitability for ministry. I wonder what discussions took place around that issue and history ? I think that + Pat should send what information he has to the C of E bishop that Collins is currently working under, and ask that question. Now that we know that there is a possible issue about safeguarding, that appears to me to be the right way forward.
Sorry to be so serious about this, but it is a serious issue and needs looking at. I know, and so many other priests know, that in these days if even a whiff of this had been said about us, there would be movement and action. What is good for the goose is good for the gander, especially someone so high profile in the OSB’s past and the C of E’s present.

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8.58 You are the first to raise the issue of safeguarding without proof. That kind of careless talk is how reputations are damaged. Examine yourvonscience.

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Inappropriate relationships while a monk and priest, physical relationships with other monks, visits to gay saunas, involvement with a young (how young?) Palestinian man, involvement with the Israeli Police – what’s not to ask about safeguarding and suitability. Would you let this man minister to your family ? I’d want the right questions asked first, knowing what I know now.

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Why would the “Church of England” care about a breach of Catholic Church celibacy rules? It’s “anything goes” with that ecclesial community.

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FFS, there doesn’t seem to be a Benedictine or OCSO monastery in Ireland or the UK that hasn’t got a murky history, pretty much all involving monks and their sexual antics, and a culture of homosexualisation and behaviour that is at variance with their public profession.

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I recall from some years ago a youngish monk at Ampleforth who was heading off to London for sexual tricks, and eventually killed himself in the woods at the back of the monastery after he was threatened with exposure. How sad. But, he was only one of many at that place, and other monasteries, who lived double lives. All very nice for them if they could carry it off, but very hypocritical and essentially living a lie. That’s not good for anybody.

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To whatever dickhead responded to me ! No I am not a religious !
I have given up making my complaint at local level as it is ignored , and
letters not responded to .So I wish to go straight to the congregation for
Religious .I think in future you should put your brain in to gear , and establish
facts before attacking me !

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10:14, you can log onto the blog, you type a lengthy response, but you can’t google for an address. You’re some fool

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10 37: A beautiful Mass and reverently celebrated. Lovely monastic Church. God bless all the Monks.

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1:15 pm
If there’s enough interest expressed on the blog over the next few weeks, from former postulants or novices of religious orders, or from former diocesan seminarians who experienced abuse, either in Ireland or Britain, we’ll take it further.

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Dear Bishop / Diocesan Safeguarding Officer:
In your Diocese there is currently ministering a priest by the name of Earl Collins.
Reverend Collins has a past history as a Roman Catholic priest and monk, specifically as a Benedictine monk of various monasteries, including Glenstal in Ireland and Dormitiion Monastery in Jerusalem, as well as time spent at Sant’Anselmo Monastery in Rome.
In recent years Reverend Collins left the Roman Catholic Church and his Benedictine Congregation to become a priest of the Church of England.
It has become clear over the last few days to me and to many others, and will have been clear to others for a long time, that Reverend Collins has had a serious of difficulties concerning his personal, emotional, affective and sexual life throughout his time as a Roman Catholic monk and priest. In particular, it is reported that his departure from Dormition Monastery in Jerusalem was occasioned, in part, by his involvement with the israeli Police and also some inappropriate relationships for a Roman Catholic priest and monk.
Reverend Collins now comes under your oversight, and I would like to be reassured that Reverend Collins’ history and behaviour prior to his applying to join the Church of England as a priest was adequately investigated from a safeguarding point of view, as well as his general suitability to be a priest of the Church of England. I suggest that you contact Bishop Patrick Buckley in Larne (address ?) in order to be brought up to date with information that is coming forward about Reverend Collins, so that you can take an up to date view in regard to safeguarding and Reverend Collins.

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Once again you raise the safeguarding issue without any wvidence. The involvement of police in a city as fraught and divided as Jerusalem could be accounted for by any number of reasons.

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The issue is being discussed openly and publicly on this blog, and probably elsewhere. There are issues about suitability, behaviour, and safeguarding involved. Should we just ignore that ? Isn’t that what was happening decades ago, and look where that has got us. Oh yes, we heard something, but we just thought we would discount it, and did nothing. Do we want to be back there ? If there is nothing in this then the right questions asked by the right people to the right persons will sort it out. If there is nothing, fine. But, it sounds to me as though ti should at least be looked at by the right people.

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Wasn’t there some speculation a few months back, that a certain anonymous contributor on this blog who made use of the term “Romanist clergy” might have been Dr Collins?
Is Dr Collins a daily reader of this blog?

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Ah, it’s all becoming very clear. The frequent anonymous blogger used to talk about being in the Wing, claimed to have a doctorate, said he was British (as Earl Collins did in Jerusalem) and has a vicious turn of speech.

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11.55
No. It couldn’t be so. The pseudonymous vitriolic blogger claimed to have two doctorates. Anyway, wasn’t that blogger exposed here about two months ago!

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I wonder whether Earl Collins jumped ecclesial ship to avoid a canonical investigation. Why else did a long-standing Benedictine monk and abbot ‘convert’ to Anglicanism?

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It’s not really “conversion” as it’s the same Catholic faith just under a different jurisdiction.
Bishop Pat didn’t “convert” to independent Catholicism, he was just freed from Roman jurisdiction.

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Why did you avoid the point of my post?

It does indeed require a conversion, of sorts, to move from Roman Catholicism to Anglicanism, otherwise there is no difference between the two. And we both know there is.

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Both churches are Christian and Catholic. Its not conversion. Its a change of denomination.

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At 11.36, to be converted means ‘to be brought over from one belief or view to another’.

The beliefs of Roman Catholics and Anglicans, while the same or similar in many respects, are distinctly dissimilar in others, especially with regard to such fundamental teaching as the Eucharist.Therefore (and logically) switching from Roman Catholicism to Anglicanism, if it is sincere, involves conversion of sorts, that is, it involves a change of, or in, belief.

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Nonsense. The Anglicans don’t, for example, have seven sacraments, nor do they have valid orders. They have no magisterium.

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@11:47 Official Anglican Teaching on the Eucharist is Real Presence, in line with the ancient Orthodox understanding of the Eucharist.
Transubstantiation is a Thomist innovation and which even the Roman Catholic Church accepts is extremely problematic, it certainly doesn’t sit well with Eastern Catholics who are in full communion with Rome.
The Anglican Church, along with the Eastern Churches and any serious modern Catholic theologian is more likely to opt to use language which conveys much more the mystery aspect of the Sacraments, perhaps a Rahnerian understanding of the sacraments as ‘symbol’.
The Anglican Church officially avoids Thomist systematic understandings of the Sacrament because they are very simplistic.
“It is hard to see how a philosophical theory such as Transubstation confessedly is, can ever be “proved by Holy Writ.” Romanists point to the words of institution, Τοῦτο ἐστι τό σῶμά μου. But though they can certainly be claimed in the favour of the real Presence, yet to bring into them a theory of “accidents” remaining while the “substance” is changed, is to read into the text that which is certainly not contained in it, and what we deny can reasonably be referred from it.” – Edward Gibson, Bishop of Gloucester 1848-1924

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11.47 The stated position of the RCC is that if someone is moving from another Christian denomination into the RCC, the word ‘conversion’ is not appropriate. The oreferred expression is ‘to be received into full communion with the RCC.’ Logically, a similar expression is preferred for someone moving in the other direction.

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Anglicans have perfectly valid orders, with Old Catholic lineages, just like Bishop Pat!
Nobody can seriously suggest that Anglicans don’t have valid orders in this day in age.

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At 12.27, Anglicanism teaches eucharistic consubstantiation rather than transubstantiation. Though similar, they are not the same.
If one believes in Transubstantiation, he implicitly does not, cannot, believe in Consubstantiation.
Switching from one such belief to its correspondent is therefore, (and logically) a conversion; this applies also to any other change of religious belief.
The fact that the RCC chooses not to call such change a conversion is neither here nor there: this is a matter of semantics, not of ecumenical and arbitrary Church politics.

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@2:20 Anglicans don’t teach nor have ever taught consubstantiation. You’ve got confused with the Lutherans.
Anglicans teach Real Presence in the eastern sense. It’s far more orthodox than the lutheran position.

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Former Abbot General of the OCSOs Dom Bernardo Oliveria claims the Cistercian
Order is losing its mystical tradition. I wonder, why!
“In his book, “The Sun at Midnight”, (2012 ), Olivera offers a splendid, easily accessible summary of mystical theology in the Cistercian school. Bernardo Olivera, a master of both the theology and the practice of the spiritual life, analyzes this tradition first in its
rich human, biblical, and doctrinal connotations, and then according to its most typical expressions as they are lived among Cistercian mystics, with reference also to other Christian men and women. Olivera’s fundamental thesis: Personal mystical experience is not only the key to an adequate renewal of monastic life today but also-and above all-the foundation, the originating point, of any and all religion or religious tradition. Mystical experience is, in particular, the origin of Christianity and its rich spiritual tradition”.
See: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0096VYYVU/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0

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I knew that, for decades, seminaries mostly contain gay men. All priests I’ve met who were ordained in the last 15 years are gay, without exception.

For some reason I thought the monasteries were different. It is clear that they are not.

Now that Francis has cleared the way for gay Catholics to have civil unions, which will lead in a few years to marriage, let us stop the pretence and say openly, proudly, that our seminaries and monasteries welcome and rejoice in their gay members, while always having an open door for straight men too. That would stop the lies, the gossip and the risk of appearing on Pat’s blog.

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It would be good to hear from monks of Glenstall, Dormitiion and Sant’Anselmo about their experience of Abbot Collins ? Was there speculation at the time he was in those places ? How was his behaviour ? Why was he not welcomed back in to an OSB community ? Why did he move over to the C of E ? What’s the timeframe for all this ? I’m sure we could benefit from your experience, and I’m sure some of you are reading this blog. Come forward. Let us know. It might even be to Collins’ advantage, because at the moment his reputation is rapidly being called in to question.

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Abbot Gregory is a walking saint, a true mystic. This is all Satan’s work trying to slander him. Have you not read his holy books? Glenstall Book of Icons, Christ in his Mysteries….

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Gregory was doted upon by the ‘artistic’ clique in Glenstall. Cause of much division in the brotherhood. Given free rein by abbot Celestine when a novice. That banshee, Noirin o Rian is a huge fan of his. He got Celestine to baptise one of his ex boyfriends in front of entire community, Andrew was his name. He kept the novice master in line by providing sexual favours. But his real boyfriend was a fellow novice and years later he moved on to James with a bit of Boiler House on the side. It was all such a spiritual struggle for him, the pain of trying to reconcile his ass/dick with his mystical bent. Never fear, Mark Patrick was there to smooth that out. Was always telling his exs and hot young men that the holy spirit told him they had vocations to religious life. He saw himself as a mouthpiece of the holy spirit or so he pretended. He’d have a few enemies in Glenstall like, he didn’t go easy on others, to put it mildly, when he was junior master. That steel cutting tongue lashed a few gentler types, ouch. But he was always protected. Bit like a cult or sect really. What Celestine and Mark Patrick saw in him, I don’t know. The other abbot, Dillon, was no friend like. He saw right through him but was too soft to cope with the steel rimmed tongue. Gregory ffed off to Nigeria for a few years to do damage there and came back to be headmaster, another disaster. Then Rome and some nice Swiss Benedictine cock. The rest is history.

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It’d be a first for Dillon to see through anything. Where would one find silk briefs nowadays?

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Don’t forget all those who did “live ins” in those places. I did one at Glenstal. You get to see all the dirty laundry as well as the clean stuff. Some of them are very bitchy and let their guard down quickly. I was stunned at some of the stuff I was told as a visitor. Don’t know how they kept it all under wraps til now. Maybe the good ones work hard to cover for the snakes. Br Colman is great and Br Padraig too, also Fr Cuthbert and Fr Christopher and Abbot Brendan and Fr Fintan and Fr William and Fr Martin in the school.

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Fr Cuthbert? Why did he leave Maynooth remind me again? Fr Paddy Lyons you mean surely? Was Fr Martin the one who did hotel catering or hotel management and then thought he was someone when made principal? Fr Joe Coffey salt of the earth until crossed

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@4.57 you’re all mixed up with the names. Be careful. Cuthbert was not in Maynooth and Martin was not in hotel catering. Careless, careless with people’s reputations.

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Fr Michael Commane op has made some very serious allegations regarding the behaviour of Irish clergy in his latest post on his blog ‘occasional scribbles ‘. Worth a read.

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2.23: I agree with Fr. Commane’s comments re: “some” clerics and their behaviour during the pandemic. All of us must think of the common or greater good first and foremost. As difficult as it is not to have our Eucharistic cebratiins and the usual parish gatherings, meetings, programmes etc…..we must adhere to guidelines given. I believe the vast majority of clerics are behaving responsibly. It is very selfish of any individual or groups of people to flagrantly disregard the protocols. I have witnessed bad behaviour while out shopping, at petrol stations and on the streets. We need to support one another.

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Interesting re Collins as I never heard of him but Glenstal Abbey yes from Dom Mark Patrick book which I skimmed it in a bookshop. Collins behaviour raised lot of questions about other abbot’s in other monasteries around the works. Are other abbot’s doing the same thing as Collins or Purcell or Kirby? Why were they promoted to a rank of abbot? Is it because they are gay or some spiritual knowledge or power? Have good menories of Mt Melleray cos strong spiritual powerhouse as I was healed by a monk (deceased) there. Hidden spiritual power there.
Now its Purcell who made a mockery of Mt Melleray by his sexual activities which takes precedence all the more than spiritual activities there.
It led me to think if all other monasteries are doing this regularly at the expense of genuine Catholic priests and brothers out there such as Purcell, Collins and Kirby. It might led to demise of the monasteries in future as its getting more and more exposed more ugly etc.
In order to preserve Mt Melleray, Purcell will have to go, no buts or ifs etc. However have no say in all of this except for father house or a Bishop in same diocese.

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4.43pm. Anon

Yes I met him few times. A very genuine assuming monk as I missed him cos had received healing from him. It was an experience that I hadn’t forgotten it.

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5:05 pm

Deaf guy, I thought so. Literally half the country knew Fr. Athanasius.
He was a saintly man, a genuine mystic, and is greatly missed by many of the faithful throughout Ireland.

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Anon at 5.49pm
Agree with you re saintly man.
Interesting when you mention him as a mystic. It sounds more like it re my experience with him which was out of this world. Only explanation I could give is supernatural element.
First time I met him was way way back in early 80’s. I didn’t know who he was, just his name rep. That day I rem well was he pointed out jokingly to an older deaf man that he hadn’t been to confession for 20 years. We thought it was a harmless joke but older deaf guy was shocked as he confirmed it, saying its true as he asked us how did that priest know? Not only that, two other incidents some 20 yrs later, led me to suspect he’s a mystic. A genuine one that I missed him.

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6:06 pm
Athanasius had a great reputation amongst the clergy. He’s an uncanonized saint.
Keep the Faith, DG.

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8.22
And you believe that the production of an atlas or a map or a globe is an ideologically-neutral activity?
Some sophistication is called for.

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+Pat
Who is Magna? Can you do an exposé on him? He took joy in the slander of others from an anonymous position for many years. I think it is time.

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Bishop, are you of the opinion that Kirby and Purcell should be removed from office? Who else?

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What is very clear whenever anyone raises a legitimate concern
or complaint on this blog the defenders of the indefensible always attack the person, suggest there is something wrong with them, and refuse to consider the wrong the Catholic
Church has done. This speaks for itself and why it is pointless for people making any complaint directly to the Catholic Church.

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4:11 pm
You are right.
It is pointless going near the Institutional church with a complaint.
Best to go to the police and a solicitor. All the Institutional church does is protect its members no matter what.

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The thing I have always liked about the monks at Glenstal is the willingness to give a second chance to people. It’s a community with its fair share of fragile individuals who are supported. It’s nice to see that former monk of Douai Abbey in England taken in by Glenstal. He left Douai after he fathered a child but is now so happy as gardener in Glenstal. And there’s John Hurt’s brother who had some mishap at Downside and is now happy at Glenstal. The phrase “conversatio morum” was mentioned here weeks ago and my poor convent school Latin tells me it’s a conversion of manners. Forgiveness and a second chance really. I remember sitting in the chapel in Glenstal during my retreat a few years ago and the Rule was being read at Compline. There was a line in the introduction I think, about the monastic life being a second chance. This is wonderful because we all need second chances. The problem for monasteries is those who take third, fourth, fifth and unending chances thus destroying the reputations of all the good monks.

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Brian Murphy the historian ex Douai currently Glenstal.
There was a Terence Hartley in Glenstal and the school but Abbot Brendan would be able to tell you anything else you’d need to know

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Just like Mount Mellary he’s on he’s 100th chance or perhaps 1000th. I wonder how many tricks he’s had outdoors alone

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Why do clergymen use their doctoral titles in parishes? I can understand if they use in a job if they lecturers, but not if they are just in a parish.

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Because it has always been done.
Dr Luther of Wittenberg was known as Doctor Luther. Not Father.
In fact, the term Father for secular clergy is an Jansenist invention and has no place in Catholicism.

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I don’t call any man Father, not even me own da. So I certsinly won’t call a collared parasite-cum-pervert that either.

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Bishop is there a photo of the person from another continent who was Abbots Secretary. And when are you revealing which monk it was who went to Mount Mellary for spiritual direction?

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Well whatever about Glenstal there were none fathered in Mellary. The Abbot there usees the old fashioned contraception method and it’s called men having sex with men or in the Abbots case many men

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6.10
Queers, as you say, do indeed father babies. What an uninformed and ignorant opinion you peddle!

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No. That was around 30 years ago. That’s old news from the dayd before Glenstal was a gay sanctuary. You mean Br C.?

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Also can we have confirmation whether the Nuncio was associated with glenstal’s daughter house in Africa

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Will we be reading this in The Irish Catholic since they love featuring Glenstal and Mellary. Was Michael Kelly in Maynooth?

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The Irish Catholic would make the editor of the old Pravda blush. The sales of the Irish Catholic must have taken a hammering with the lockdown and church closures. I cannot imagine that many of its holy water hen readers know how to subscribe to the digital edition.

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They can say what they like Pat. You were good to the poor and the ordinary Christians and look what was done to you. But these bum chums need to be kicked out. They’re hypocrites and dare I say it Pat, more was thought of them than ordinary diocesan clergy. If Rory and Gorgeous and Kildorrorey and the fellow on Grindr from Killaloe and all the others had to go, these should go too only they should be kicked out and the ones that allowed them to stay should be kicked out behind them. Hypocrites. We’ll hear lots about forgiveness now all of a sudden and we should forgive and the Holy Spirit etc. where was the Holy Spirit when these Abbots clicked the whip at others and had them removed. Drain the swomp Pat. If Glenstal has been acting like this it doesn’t say much for its ability to ensure other procedures are observed. Look what it did to poor Joseph. It should be ashamed of itself. Drain the swomp.

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6.06: You are a poisonous bigot. I hope you are not a parent and that you’ll never be one. The misfortunate children would require professional protection. You are crap.

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What a weird and troubling painting. It goes beyond billy loves willy . The whole phenomenon makes a mockery of religion. It’s as I’ve often said middle age mentality alive and well ad not just the good stuff

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Anon 7.41pm
Just wondering, you heard but never met him or you have already met him there? There was one monk in Melifont Abbey when I asked long ago re o brien as he gave me a sceptical reply as if he doesn’t believe it. There was one incident which confirmed it for me later re him after little chat with him re problem issue. There was no doubt afterwards re him and mystical event when it happened to me personally.

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Will the the Glenstal Book of Prayer be replaced by a best selling Sex guide for hypocritical closet cases? Did Abbot Brendan have anything to say about gays getting married during the referendum seeing has he has so many in the Abbey

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Terence Hartley lately a monk/priest of Glenstal Abbery Co. Limerick Ireland
Does the blog readership have any information as to the circumstances surrounding this individuals exit from Glenstal. Is he operating as a cleric and what support does Glenstal provide to Hartley.
Any news on this character would be greatly appreciated
Many Thanks

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A quick Google search would indicate that he was laicised. Thus, he is no longer a monk and priest of Glenstal Abbey, so he is not in receipt of any financial support from the monastery. Nobody has any idea where he is living, but he is for all intents and purposes a lay man.

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