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GLENSTAL – ABBEY AND ABBOT – SO MANY QUESTIONS 

I have learned more about Glenstal through the Silverstream scandal and Brendan’s Coffey’s involvement that I ever knew before. 

I have watched Brendan Coffey’s handling of Silverstream and have been shocked by his character and his actions! 

Smith

In hindsight Bishop Michael Smith of Meath, should have never allowed Kirby into his diocese. 

Kirby is a dangerous narcissist who has never come to terms with his homosexuality and has handled the donations given to Silverstream with a shocking recklessness. 

Kirby has also portrayed himself as a mystic who daily hears Jesus talking to him from the Tabernacle. Jesus does not talk daily with people who abuse their position and their power over others. 

The “whistleblowing” monk gave Kirby and Silverstream ten years of his young life. There are no allegations of any kind of misbehavior on the part of this monk. After the fact they are trying to accuse him of having mental health issues. That is only black propaganda on the part of those forces trying to hide Kirby and his sexual and financial wrongdoing. 

It was right to send Kirby away. It was seriously crazy to bring him back under the pretense that he will only be an ordinary monk. The unwell and now exposed Kirby will continue to undermine Silverstream to the point where it will have to be suppressed. 

When Kirby was away Tom Deenihan of Meath brought two abbots and a monsignor in, to investigate, and appointed Brendan Coffey of Glenstal as the interim superior. 

Brendan Coffey, it became clear, turned out not to be very wise or very competent. He is a very weak man – unable to take any pressure and indeed paranoid. 

When the pressure piled on and Glenstal started to be investigated Coffey panicked, withdrew from Silverstream and appointed a young, non-ordained, inexperienced and bullying type as the new prior – a certain Elijah. 

Elijah

The same Elijah had been the one overseeing the money in Kirby’s time.  

Now the Irish Charities Regulator is conducting at least two investigations into those finances. 

Meanwhile – let us turn to Glenstal: 

Glenstal houses an elderly monk who had an earlier history of problems with children. 

There is the former presence of Dom Gregory Collins who caused massive homosexuality problems in Jerusalem. 

Collins

Incidentally, Collins described Glenstal as “a gay community”. 

In 2014 ten abuse allegations were made against six Glenstal monks. 

I imagine that Coffey has plenty of problems in Glenstal without getting involved with Kirby. 

And of course, Richard Purcell of Mount Melleray was the other abbot investigating Kirby. Kettle. Pot etc.   

It is clear to me that Irish monasteries and religious orders are in a bad state – an even worse state that the diocesan priesthood. 

Sent from Outlook

154 replies on “GLENSTAL – ABBEY AND ABBOT – SO MANY QUESTIONS ”

IF the ‘whislteblower’ monk is being scapegoated through gaslighting it
is utterly disgusting, contemptible and the antithesis of Christianity.

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For 1,000,000 Euros-
The next Commission of Investigation in the Irish Catholic Church will take place in ? :
A) A Diocese
B) A Religious Order, i.e. Dominicans, Franciscans, Redemptorists, Augustinians, etc
C) A Monastic Order
D) All of the above
You can: ask the audience, do a 50/50, phone a friend, ask the quiz-master.

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I am presuming crisis point was reached at poof-central when they ran out of money and donors aka faghags.

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Did you also notice, Bp Pat, they were forced to use an “oil painting” of the old chin-strap, instead of a photograph?

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He was like Joe Duffy of Clogher. Both were made bishop far too young, squatted on their thrones for decades and have nothing to show for it.

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That’s quite a litany of indictment, + Pat, about the Irish monasteries and significant characters in them. You are being purposely disregarded by these monasteries and individuals in the hope that this will all blow over and that you will go away and bother yourself about something else. It is powerful stuff when you lay it out as you have today, and link it all together. There is definitely wrong with this whole business. So, do keep up the pressure until the dam breaks. Hopefully, somebody some day will decide that they have to take this seriously and attend to it. The lack of communication, decision and action from the OCSOs, the OSBs, he various monasteries and bishops is pretty staggering in the light of so much allegation. However, I am confident that they will trip themselves up eventually. They have already lost our trust and respect.

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+ Pat it is surprising to read that Bishop Smith did no proper due diligence on Kirby. How can this be the case? Are you sure about this? But, you were correct about Collins now in Chichester Anglican Diocese. Was the new prior home schooled like many American traditionalists? If he was he will have no experience of the real world. He will be an inflexible zealot. Do you have any idea why Silverstream has been given a second chance and not suppressed?

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Morning all from St John Vianney’s Blackpool. Check out Fr Etienne’s Mass at 9am on Facebook “Catholics in South Blackpool”. It can be viewed later if you miss it. He’s all dressed in black, saying Mass from a side altar with his back to us wearing usual 1950s vestments. This one has shoulder pads! He’s also made it clear to us Parishioners that he’ll be moving the main altar in our Church so that he can permanently say Mass with his back to us. Probably be okay because if he pisses any more of us off, he’ll be saying Mass on his own anyway. Nothing has changed since my friend previously posted about the strange behaviour of this young man, although the Bishop did at least acknowledge the last letter. He also puts on this strange Oxford accent and still enjoys talking down to people. I hear that he told an elderly man who questioned the way he does things “they’d better get used to me then. I will be only Priest in Blackpool in 10 years and in 20 years I’ll be Bishop”. Oh dear!

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What must his mother think? He’s clearly brainwashed. This man needs to resign immediately and join an enclosed order.

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Being the priest in Blackpool must be a punishment the sooner that church is demolished and sold off the better. Blackpool is one of the biggest dumps in this country, high levels of abuse, drug abuse, homelessness and unemployment by the native population while all the empty, seedy hotels are staffed by foreigners. The Catholic Church has no future in that place and the moaners in that parish prove the point, the priest should talk down to them they are thick. Instead of complaining about Blackpool I would be too ashamed to admit I lived there, can you imagine trying to bring up a family there?

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09.47am What a horrible, petty, disgusting and negative person you are. Talking about a place and its people in those nasty terms you are just a racist bigot with no ounce of charity, humanity or christianity.

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9.47
The point of Christianity is tobring Christ’s redemption to broken people. The purpose of the liturgy is to glorify God and sanctify humanity.
What you have just written is the antithesis of faith, harity, mission, evangelization and truth.

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All the horrible old Blackpool B&Bs closed at the start of the first lockdown and never reopened. That dump is finished. Even the Labour party stopped have its conferences there years ago.

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The churches of Blackpool will make fine mosques and carpet showrooms in a couple of years time.

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You watched the Mass online as a performance so you could criticise the priest get a grip

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10.34: Cecelia: you’re a Bitch: You should immediately seek confession. What a nasty old queenie Bitch… or perhaps you should never again attend Holy Mass. You horrible person.

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You know, their bishops should step in and stop them poncing about in vestments that really are no longer part of the Roman Catholic liturgical wardrobe. It really is a self- indulgence what they are up to and one does wonder if the priesthood is a stage for them to satisfy their own inadequacies. It’s sad. Their bishops do need to take a grip.

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Just looked at Etienne on line. How gorgeous. Wouldn’t mind a dabble. Is he a sister?

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Can we have chapter and verse, 11:46, on where there is an instruction about any vestments not being part of the “Roman Catholic” (sic) liturgical wardrobe? Without citations you’ll be judged guilty of making things up.

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I love the Channel 4 show ‘Four in a Bed’. When I first saw it listed in my TV Quick I thought it was going to be a documentary about Allen Hall. In fact, the conceit is that four B&B owners take turns to stay in their competitor’s establishments and then do bitchy reviews.
Blackpool B&Bs feature often. They invariably come last in the competition and the other B&B owners are very snooty about the town, even ones from Glasgow and Liverpool.

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Did they do the extended repeat by rote seminary course together, with the option fiddleback liturgy seminary…..?

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Percival @12:31 – get a life, Etienne is a puffball little fatso, with some continental blood in him, probably Roma. Not pretty or inviting at all. Personal hygiene ? Well, maybe as a liturgical ponce he probably does clean himself up a bit. But, no, you don’t really want to go there, honestly ! Oh, Percy, where did your name come from? Very, well shall we say Carry on Up the…..

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1:07, there were never more than three in a bed at Alice Hall….. Any more than that would have been the sin of gluttony…..

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Father Etienne is dreaming about being a Bishop in 20 years as there will be No Lancaster Dioceses in 20 Years as England will be down to 12 Dioceses and Wales will be down to 2 soon.

Blackpool has too many parishes however he will NOT be left in charge of that Deanery, also
Surprised at the Blackpool Laity as the Bishop is very approachable and so is Canon Dewhurst.

Come to the Sacred Heart on Talbot Road

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Good advice. Been there many times. No frills, no Latin or lace and just a lovely place to be.

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You’re probably the only layman in it, Liam, with the rest being aul dolls. Am I right?

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Is that the Sacred Heart church where communion was constantly given out at side altars during the back to back Low Masses on a Sunday morning while the tourists knelt on the pavement outside because it was standing room inside? Blackpool now is not just a shadow of its former glory it’s a very dangerous place to live and the Catholic’s there have not passed on the faith in their own families let alone ‘ healed the brokenness ‘ of the rest. How many vocations to the priesthood or religious life have those parishes produced? Zero, but they have the energy to keep posting like a broken record criticisms of one priest on this blog because he wears Roman vestments zzzzz

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Harry Cuthbertson are you just a returner to Holy Mass !!! (changes have been happening for FOUR years)
St. John Vianney’s is the appointed Church for the Traditional Holy Mass in the Fylde Coast.
Fr Etienne has three parishes to look after so rather than be critical offer to help in YOUR parish.

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Nonsense. He is the administrator of 2 Parishes – St JV and St Cuthbert’s. Bishop Campbell shut St Monica’s down with one day’s notice and sent the Dean to do it as he was shit scared to face anyone. It is up for sale now. SJV is not appointed to hold Latin Mass. Etienne is a control freak and does what the hell he likes. Bishop Swarbrick doesn’t want to upset him and keeps well away, as he doesn’t like confrontation, but he is well aware that Daniel is the most complained about Priest in the Diocese ever! Who would offer support there? For a young man, he is very anti social, he openly says that there is no place for women in the Church apart from cleaning and he and his “friend” Robert Billing (living with Daniel yet on sabbatical and being paid for by Parishioners) are both making more and more enemies as the months go on. No happy ending there.

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None more clericalist than a permanent deacon, the NCOs of the Catholic church. Why did you feel the need to be upgraded from the lay ranks, Mr Permanent deacon, and what can you do sacramentally or pastorally that a lay person could and should be doing?

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What utter nonsense. I have viewed this parish web site and I am very impressed. It is a very impressive and professional web site compared to the Larne Oratory. You are like the Hooligan full of hearsay and innuendo.
It is all very well for you to hide behind a pseudonym sniping at a young priest who is doing his best for his parishioners in a very difficult pandemic. All credit to young Father Daniel.
Too many young priests have been singled out on this blog and humiliated. None of them have any criminal convictions. Have you? Have you boulders on your shoulders?
Man up and reveal youself or be outed.

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Anonymous @ 4.48pm
I am not Father Daniel. I am just a lad from the Garngad in Glasgow. But thanks for saying “well put” Somebody needs to give credit where credit is due.
How depressing it is that there are so many people obsessed with negativity. Such Hooligans.

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@9:01 am

In fairness, when the behaviour of Gregory Collins was brought to the attention of the then abbot, Patrick Hederman, he did reply, but he attempted to whitewash the allegations as something that was “experiential” akin to an expression of the love of God. With that kind of response – one can understand what is negatively systemic within the leadership of Glenstal Abbey. However, it would be unfair to completely characterise/suggest that the whole of Glenstal Abbey would be tolerant of Collins’ behaviour.

Thus far, nobody has accused any abbot of Glenstal of having consensual anal sex with a priest who was contemplating joining that community with the act being known to at least two bishops. Of course, the longer the scandal about Silverstream continues and the involvement of Abbot Brendan — the more scrutiny is going to come on Glenstal and its school. In the same way, the Cistercian College in due course may-be subject to some very awkward questions about what did they know about Purcell. We know that Purcell’s behaviour was known to Fr. Aelred Magee OCSO and another ex-employee. Has this behaviour been reported to the competent civil authorities? It was referred to by a commentator last evening; it is all in hand.

The silence from the abbot general of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance, Dom Eamon Fitzgerald continues to be stupefying about Purcell. The Bishop of Waterford by his silence and inaction is becoming increasingly complicit by the day in Purcell’s behaviour. In the future, Bishop Alphonsus will have no moral authority to make any pronouncement on any aspect of Catholic doctrine; because he is now so morally compromised by tacit acquiescence to an on-going cover-up. And, given the asinine nature unintelligent commentary — this may-be a blessing in disguise. Perhaps, every dark cloud does have a silver lining.

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Phonsie’s morality is monodimensional – people enjoying the thrill of the chaste and keeping their clothes on. Café theology!!
JB’s The Chastitute comes to mind.

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Another day, astonishing allegations, more vitriolic commentary, a sneering condescension to all monks…I just wonder, apart from the absolute necessity to challenge any wrongdoing and criminal behaviour, why such nastiness? Surely, the Lord’s Day should urge all of us to search honestly our own hearts and conscience and to genuinely pray for all the monks, particularly the elderly men. Their lives are seriously disturbed by all this focus by Pat and bloggers. My heart goes out to these elderly men. God bless them.

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Poor Brian Darcy in the Sunday World. Telling his story of having Covid. Mild symptoms caused him to fall out of bed and forget peoples names. He felt lonely and vulnerable. Double page spread – an attention seekers special. Read all about it.

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If enough men said they had a womb Brian D’Arcy would announce that he had a womb and fallopian tubes 😀

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Aaahhh, bless, poor Brian. So good of him to share his pain with us. He’s be better of just shutting up and keeping it to himself. I’m sure much of it is contrived. Cover is the new must have in order to feel relevant.

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Darcy should have been shut up in Mt. Argus years ago, what on earth was his superiors thinking about allowing him to swan about for years seeking publicity and drawing attention to himself when as a religious he should have been preaching the Passionist. message of Christ crucified period.

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Just read the article. Fr Brian said he wanted to share his story. He has also lost a dear friend, Brian Coll who died yesterday. I imagine despite his covid that Brian will still muscle his way into celebrating that funeral.

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Let’s hope there is a priest or Bishop that stands in his way – like the way he was kept out iof Gay Byrne’s funeral.

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By Post Author

@10:08 am

It is those “elderly men” that you refer to that drives yours truly. These are the men who have lead lives of dedicated and faithful service informed by their monastic vows to God. They are NOT frequenting gay saunas in Dublin. They are not on gay dating apps. They are not having gay sex in monastic guesthouses with people who are interested in pursuing a vocation to the monastic life.

It is also the case these elderly men are the kind of people that will show deference by the nature of their vow of obedience to people like Purcell and Kirby. In writing these words, I have in mind the wonderful Fr. Placid in Glenstal and Br. Edmund at Mount Melleray. These are men who have led exemplary lives. In fact, I find both of them inspirational.

You refer to conscience. It is unconscionable not to hold the likes of Purcell, Kirby, and Abbot Brendan to account. Nobody wants to be airing the dirty laundry of Irish monasticism in public, but the on-going failure of its leadership means there is no alternative to Pat Buckley and his blog and in due course the involvement of the civil authorities. All this can and could have been avoided if the Bishop of Meath, Abbot Brendan, Dom Eamon Fitzgerald, Fr. Richard Purcell, and Bishop Alphonsus did the right thing. And, doing the right thing in the Irish church seems to be extremely difficult by those who have been appointed to positions of leadership. Why is that?

Dom Eamon Fitzgerald has known about Purcell for a considerable amount of time. His inaction is inexcusable and indefensible. He will receive further correspondence in the early part of the week, and then, the matter will be taken out of his hands.

It took time to have Collins removed, but, Purcell will go. And, if he does not go voluntarily; he may find himself dismissed from the clerical state by a decree of laicisation. I will write no more, but, the removal of Gregory Collins is a positive portent for those who are concerned about Mount Melleray and by extension Mount St. Joseph Abbey.

Despite all the vitriol that has been directed, a lot of useful information has been forthcoming via means of this blog, and all of it is useful both civilly and canonically.

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Brilliant post, Robert
Hello, Br. Edmund! Belated Happy 90th Birthday wishes.
Say one for me. The LORD Knows who I am!

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Robert you need to get a bit of speed as really to involve Abbot Brendan is shocking.
Abbot Brendan is very highly thought of and if any mitres going apart from Dublin then he is a front runner.
Did you see how many Bishops were at Abbot Brendan’s ordination and that speaks volumes.
Glenstal is World Class.

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@11:38

Abbot Brendan may-be highly thought of by some members of the Irish hierarchy. But, he does not emerge well from the situation at Silverstream.

I presume you are referring to the abbatial blessing of Abbot Brendan rather than his priestly ordination? And, that does not mean he is destined for an episcopal see. However, as with all these things — time will tell.

Yes, Glenstal is an amazing place; I would not describe it as “world-class.

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11.38: Robert Hooligan doesn’t care who he hurts, defames and calumniates. His behaviour is rotten.

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Lol the only ones hoping Abbot Brendan (Joe Coffey) gets a diocese is the community of Glenstal. The Nuncio isn’t that stupid. He was Ordained then sent to Rome for further study and was just home before joining Glenstal. How long was he in a parish it was months rather than years. Francis wants bishops to have the smell of sheep not desks.

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@ 1.23 pm

In many ways, if Dom Richard became an Anglican vicar — it would be much more honourable and decent. We have Rev’d Collins in the Anglican Diocese of Chichester formally a Benedictine monk and abbot. And, Canon Jeffrey John the current Dean of St. Albans Cathedral, who according to the fount of all knowledge, Wikipedia, in August 2006, after being in a relationship for 30 years — Rev’d Jeffrey John and Grant Holmes entered into a civil partnership. Seemingly, clergy in the Church of England are permitted to enter into same-sex civil partnerships, provided they remain celibate. If Richard Purcell wishes to remain in some form of “ministry” — then he has options.

As I have written previously, Purcell, is free to spend as much time in the Boilerhouse in Dublin as he likes; but not as a monk, priest, and Cistercian abbot. I have no difficulty with Purcell’s orientation, but I do have real difficulty with his hypocrisy.

The Church of Ireland is probably to “low church” for his sensibility, but today anything is possible, and nothing surprises me anymore. Richard Purcell, I am told is charming and good company one-to-one, with other considerable talents. And, that makes his behaviour over the years all the more disappointing.

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10:32 am
Mr. Hourigan, I have highly sensitive information connected to this situation.
I will pass it on to you via Bishop Buckley during the coming week if that is okay?

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Please share with Pat. It will be most welcome and indeed appreciated. As ever, it will be treated with the upmost confidentiality.

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It tells us something about your obsessive compulsive personality @ Navan, when, despite being mocked and ridiculed, you continue to make the same statement over and over.
Apparently one definition of insanity is repeating the same action over and over while expecting a different outcome.
Do tell us please what you seek to achieve by constantly repeating this phrase.
Just so we know.
Thank you.

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http://www.behindthepinecurtain.com/wordpress/about/
This web site is dedicated to the 260+ known victims of sexual and other misconduct by over 100 members [ View ] of Saint John’s community in Collegeville, Minnesota (USA). The community includes Saint John’s Abbey, Saint John’s University, Saint John’s Prep School, the Liturgical Press, the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library and the School of Theology.

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It is a legal requirement that charities provide benefit to the public in general and not to give rise to personal benefit.
Apart from their queer policy on guests under 35 years only, it seems the only beneficiaries of the Silverstream charity has been Kitty herself and her nine or ten benders.

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2.13: Betty, why aren’t you at the kitchen sink? … surely you’ve enough knickers to wash and clean!!!😆😆😆😆😆🎀🎀🎀😂😂😈😈…go on Betsy…are you a good scrubber…I need someone in the pigsty…😁😁😁😁😁😁😁..

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@ 2:13pm

Betty, the lad known as Magnys Mumsy is a misogynist with a fetish for women’s underwear who considers women to be scrubbers or ” women of the night”. A right charmer!

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@4:03
Jock, you will need lots and lots of mighty jam jars.
Get back to us in the years ahead to report progress.

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2.05: People like you, Hoiolgan, who say they have no problem with people being gay (?) very 8ften hude their homophobia by alleging that It’s their (clergy) hypicrisy that bothers them most…Your evident disapproval of gay people is well presented by now. You are a nasty troll.

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“A nasty troll”. Now, surely you can do better than that – I feel that I am back in primary school; you disappoint me. Please try something more original. But, for the avoidance of doubt, one of my oldest friends is gay. I did ask him, had he being to the Boilerhouse; he has; but, he has not seen Purcell in said place.
Let us deal with the real issues, the pharisaism of Richard Purcell; the failure of Abbot Brendan to deal with Silverstream.
I have had a tip-off about his involvement in attempting to cover-up/protect Purcell from a serving priest in Meath. I will e-mail the Abbot Brendan in the morning. I will copy the e-mail to Pat Buckley. I am sure it will show-up on this blog next week sometime.
PS: Have you been to the Boilerhouse? If you had a good time; then bully for you; if you are a priest; then shame on you.

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2.47: There are many types of PHARISAISM, Mr. Hourigan, your type being ugly, vicious and poisonous. You certainly would not have escaped the swipe of Jesus’s judgment – hypocrite! Take the splinter out of your own eye first!! On the frequency of your presence on this blog the word “HYPOCRITE” is apt. You are, sir, morphing into a monstrous, ugly hypocrite. I suspect too that the woman caught in adultery, forgiven by Jesus, would be delighted that you weren’t there. You’d have chased her to the cliff edge with your hounding, morally superior attitude. I also suspect that You’d not have been chosen as one of the 12!!! Get behind me Satan….

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I see Planned Parenthood is rejoicing in the election of so-called Catholic Joe Biden. They are also surprisingly pleased with the success of Kemala Harris, though surely their eugenicist founder wouldn’t have approved.

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Remember the Fallen. God be with the days when St Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast, was Divisminster, regally presided over by the Dean of Divisminster, the Rt Rev Dr Dean Shooey Kennedy, with Lady Nigella McClipclop playing that true blue British classic Nimrod, by Elgar, on Great Organ on Remembrance Sunday. Right there amongst the Falls Rd Fenians and insulting their Provo dead. It was a soul thrilling performance. A Remembrance Day Service, in rebel territory, that would have been the equal of anywhere on the Mainland. The Dean’s fine baritone reverberating. Made one proud to be British. They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old …. at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.

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The Mellarary Comunity has just announced that they are beginning their annual retreat this evening. Perhaps the good Dom can use this as a time of discernment and do the right thing. I doubt it.

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I was not aware that development. However, I think it is most unlikely that Dom Richard Purcell will use this time to discern his future given his sustained pattern of behaviour over the years. Of course, I truly, truly wish all of this was untrue; and I wish even more that Richard Purcell would do the right thing, and resign, immediately.

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6.31: Your “doubts” and what you perceive to be the Abbot’s “intentions” would be inadmissible in court and are not criteria for making an honest verdict. We all bring our own ingrained bias and prejudice to situations when we are making judgments. How, as the great Judge Judy would ask, do you know for certain what’s predominant on the Abbot’s mind? You simply do not know. Fact. Your definitive speculations are most unfair. St. Augustine made many mistakes morally and spiritually and his memorable ” …..late have I loved Thee Lord.. ” contrition and a newfound renewal in his life offers hope to all of us who find ourselves in an abyss of shame and remorse. You, Mr. Hourigan CANNOT read the Abbott’s mind and to conclude from his judged past behaviour that conversion is impossible is very discouraging and fatalistic. A profound awareness of our flawed, sinful nature can be a catalyst to refind our way back to integrity and true Christ like living.

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Pat, when Mr. H arrived on your bl8g he was very definite abiut his main issue if cincern: his miral outrage at the moral and spiritual misdeeds of the Abbot of Mt. Mellary. His concerns expressed in carefully thought out legalese language impressed. And I suspect some, not all of us, agreed with the assessment of unacceptable hypocrisy. His penchant for clarity, aided undoubtedly by a solicitor, was unequivocal in condemnation and with intent to leave no stone unturned in achieving his objective: the removal of the Abbot. The Abbot must have walked to the river edge upon reading the narrative of threats of complete exposure worldwide and with the prospect of an ignominious humiliation. Effectively, an end to his monastic journey. As the days unfolded a rather more sinister tone was discerned in his (Hourigan’s) lectures. A tone through which, again with the undoubted cleverness of his solicitor friend, swiped much judgment and admonition against an army of people, from Silverstream, Roscrea College, Glenstal, Diocese of Meath, suspect Dominicans and both present and former priests and seminarians. Miss Marple would be proud to have had such a fascinating catalogue of characters. However, I am concerned that, irrespective of relevant moral issues for all at the centre of this drama, many people are hurting deeply and may perhaps feel overwhelmed with regret, the public scouring, moral shame and guilt that they are on a precipice. I believe the vendetta on this blog may now be crossing boundaries of human decency. To say this is not in any way to condone wrongdoing. It is merely to question the ethics of this journalism.

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5:35 pm

I have the greatest of sympathy for all those caught up in this situation.
I am praying for all involved. However Bishop Buckley and Mr. Robert Hourigan
are going to learn this week of a matter Holy Mother Church has known of for years.
In all honesty it is truly SHOCKING. Some people have been shunned by Holy Mother
Church. I will say no more for the time-being.

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That is a fair observation; one to which I will respond to at length later. Of course, I have no doubt you will dislike my reply, but I do think it is a legitimate question.

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6.32: Really, do we have to endure your long, repeat rhetoric and promulgations ad nauseam….? Please, Pat…. spare us this mouthpiece.

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6.24pm. You are from Garngad Glasgow? The home of a certain Glasgow Priest who is up Court for having it off with a school girl?

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Jackson…. There is NO court case as the Procurator Fiscal said there was No case to answer in Law as the Girl was 16.but a Very sad state of affairs
However Archbishop Tartaglia has him suspended and replaced him as Parish priest.
Sadly Father X will not resign so he needs to be kept until Rome makes a decision.
He is just one of the many Glasgow Clergy Suspended and costing a fortune.
Don’t be surprised if he get another parish as Archbishop Tartaglia gave the priest with the sexual “toys” on the Altar a Good parish after his Counselling

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Jackson. Why would you equate me or Father Daniel with a certain priest from the Garngad in Glasgow? Are you thick or mischievous?
The reply at 8.17pm (not mine) wipes the floor with you regarding a court trial. Although i do agree that it is a sad state of affairs. I have never met the Garngad priest.

Garngad Lad

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Pat, the comment at 6.52 is vile. Are you stopping to gutter style commentary? Printing such porno demeans your integrity. It is sad that you allow this and other filth on your blog. Your printing of filthy images and porno slang is probably a reflection of your depravity behind that wee holy face.

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I agree, I hate the pornographic images, all apparently produced by one person, that first started to appear on the blog about a month ago. I now never open links in comments because of it.

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@5:35 pm
When I first got in contact with Pat Buckley, it was to challenge what I considered his outrageous and unjustifiable claims made against Richard Purcell. At that time, I felt they were without substance or foundation. However, in fairness to Pat Buckley, he set out the antecedents of how the information had come into his presence. And, unfortunately, in recent days, this has been independently confirmed to me by independent means by other sources that would have absolutely no time for Buckley. In fact, they are really unhappy that I am in contact with him, and they are encouraging me to abjure from Buckley.
Yes, it is true that I have access to some excellent legal advice. My musings on this blog have been careful, deliberate, and written in such a way that they could be defended before a High Court judge should any “injured party” decide to seek rehabilitation of their name by issuing proceedings.
As I have written previously Richard Purcell broke the eleventh commandment; he got caught. He has harmed a great number of people on the way. All I have respectfully suggested repeatedly on this blog that he resign, and that he resign immediately. It is my understanding that when certain people are compromised they resign on the grounds of ill-health. It is a euphemism that covers a multitude of sins in the Church.
Moreover, I have been repeatedly told that Richard Purcell is well-known on the gay scene. Again, I offer no moral condemnation of any person that is homosexual, but I will condemn without hesitation or reservation anybody who is a priest who is actively homosexual because it contradicts the vows they publicly and freely made. It is the worst form of moral hypocrisy.
Speaking about moral hypocrisy, I have been told by a serving priest of the diocese of Meath that Abbot Brendan of Glenstal repeatedly put pressure on the whistle-blower at Silverstream to make a statement that was exculpatory of Richard Purcell. Thus, we have a legitimate question — why is an abbot of a Benedictine Congregation seeking to assist Cistercian Abbot whose behaviour is known in the diocese of Killaloe? Methinks, this is part of an orchestrated cover-up. I will, of course, be putting that very question to Abbot Brendan and the Bishop of Meath along with other information in communication that will be copied to the Charities Regulator, tomorrow morning.
I will also be asking the Charity Regulator to put pressure on Abbot Brendan to ensure that the whistle-blower at Silverstream is released from any canonical undertaking that he may have been given, so the regulator can do its work unimpeded.
Nobody forced Richard Purcell to become a monk. Nobody forced them to accept the priesthood, and nobody forced him to accept his election as abbot of Mount St. Joseph Abbey and, subsequently, Mount Melleray Abbey. Nobody is forcing him to remain as abbot; in the same way nobody forced him to go to The Boilerhouse. Richard Purcell and others need to accept the consequences of their own actions.
In exactly the same way nobody forced Mark Kirby to become a monk. Nobody forced him to set up a foundation in Ireland dedicated to the traditional liturgy and his synchronistic understanding of the monastic vocation. Nobody forced him to write a book, about his experiences before the tabernacle. The list is endless. However, Kirby and Purcell are required by law to act as faithful trustees both biblically and legally.
I am not lecturing anybody; I am just highlighting objective facts, but I accept many people will find my musings unacceptable, and this has been evidenced by the nature of the hostility that has been directed towards yours truly.
We should all be concerned about anybody who is “hurting deeply”. But, that does not excuse institutional hypocrisy over a long-period of time. Again, if any individual is feeling overwhelmed with regret and/or moral shame. They should go to confession, seek spiritual direction, and take positive steps to remove themselves from the situation which they may/may not have created. In the case of Richard Purcell, he should consider his position, before God (if he believes) and/or have the integrity to resign for the good of Mount Melleray Abbey.
Again, if Mark Kirby had any integrity, he would acknowledge the whole thing at Silverstream is a complete sham and support its suppression by the Holy See. As much as I would disapprove of the behaviour of Gregory Collins in Jerusalem, he at least did the honourable thing when he was found out; he left the church, and after a period of time, he reinvented himself as an Anglican minister in the Diocese of Chichester. I have much more respect for Gregory Collins than I do for Purcell or Kirby.
There is no vendetta against Richard Purcell. He occupies a position of significant authority. He abused that authority wilfully and deliberately in the guesthouse at Mount St. Joseph Abbey. He brings the abbeys of Mount Melleray and Mount St. Joseph into disrepute; he brings the priesthood into disrepute; he brings monasticism into disrepute, and he exposes these Cistercian College to significant reputational harm. His lack of decency and arrogance is breathtaking. The connivance of the Bishop of Waterford and the Abbot General in his behaviour is even more extraordinary; but it all evidences what is systemically negative in the Irish church, and that should not come as a surprise to anybody.
Feel free to disagree. You are entitled to your opinion. I am not expecting to change hearts and minds on Pat Buckley’s blog.

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Hopefully, the charity regulator will suppress Silverstream, or at least its charity status, as it obviously isn’t benefiting anyone except Kitty and her young woofs.

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God be with the days when Uncle Gaybo had to answer to the Bishop over the nightie on the Late Late Show.

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