Bishop Cullinan,
I sent you an e-mail about very serious allegations pertaining to Richard Purcell. I asked you for an acknowledgement. You have ignored same with alarming alacrity. Your grave lack of courtesy is simultaneously surprising and disrespectful. Obviously, in the person of the Bishop of Waterford and Lismore — it is axiomatic that the Catholic Church in Ireland has learned nothing from its failure to deal with recidivist priests that have blighted the church. Your insouciance is all the more shocking in light of your public moral crusading.
As you will have seen issues concerning Richard Purcell are becoming ever more complex, and they need to be urgently addressed by you as the Bishop of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore working contiguously with the former Abbot of Mount Melleray Abbey, Dom Eamon Fitzgerald, OCSO.
By the present, you are advised that a Rotal Advocate will be formally instructed towards the end of this week to begin canonical proceedings against Richard Purcell. We have been informally advised that the information in our possession would beget grounds for the laicisation of Purcell. This is a course of action that nobody wishes to follow, however, funds have been raised, and mandates are in the process of being signed..
To that extent, I respectfully suggest that you in the morning as a matter of urgency have a conversation with Dom Eamon Fitzgerald, in his capacity as Abbot General of the Order of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance. Therein, I further respectfully suggest you demand the immediate resignation of Richard Purcell as the Abbot of Mount Melleray Abbey. It might-be adventitious to discuss the matter also with the Apostolic Nuncio.
Sincerely,
Robert Hourigan
*****Phonsie has replied assuring that all the proper procedures will be followed.
PAT SAYS:
This whole crisis originated in Mount Melleray and with Abbot Richard Purcell.
Purcell’s involvement as a “visitor” to Silverstream, along with Brendan Coffey brought Glenstal into the crisis.
Basically Purcell and Coffey made a balls of the Silverstream visition – by siding with guilty Kirby and making a scape goat of the innocent monk whistle-blower.
They were of course weilding the knife on behalf of Tom “The Divil” Deenihan.
Now, instead of having one monastery in different we have three – Silverstream, Melleray and Glenstal.
And Purcell and Coffey are under investigation.
They also have this blog and the Kerry Resolver on their heels.
PHONSIE
Someone in Phonsie’s office has assured Robert Hourigan thT the proper procedures will take place.
What is that procedure?
Who will conduct it?
What will be its remit?
Will its findings be made known?
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 