Categories
Uncategorized

THE DIOCESE OF OSSORY AND DERMOT FARRELL.

Sun Room Farrell

Our Ossory sources have been in touch.

During Farrell’s short time in Ossory the diocese was left Euro 700,000 for Masses in one will alone.

Apparently Dermot Farrell did not inform the priests of the amont left but asked them to celebrate the Masses.

The priests only found out the amount when Farrell accidentally let it slip one night.

According to the priests, Farrell wanted to spend the 700,000 on his house and cathedral?

Before that he had already had speny € 100,000 on the house to knock a garage, build a sun room on to the house and a new driveway to accomodate ten cars.

Apparently he started these projects before he was consecrated!

“Farrell made a mess of Ossory, did nothing but moan about money, paying back loans and squandering money left, right and centre.

“Some if the priest trouble makers are moanjng about money but the priests are paid € 32,000 a year”.

Farrell never properly consulted his finance committee.

“Farrell is a cute hoor”.

“He has left us ” shook” 😟 He made a haems of Ossory. Our morale is on the floor. Farrell stuck in a mock altar in the cathedral that looks like a cattle grid. We all call it his throne”.

The cattle grid altar?

PAT SAYS:

Apparently, Farrell has left the Ossory clergy “shook” and with low morale.

We see that money and finances were his Number 1 priority.

He looked after himself – spending € 100,000 on his house and wanting to spend € 700,000 more on the house and cathedral – including the installation of a “cattle grid altar”!

He installed himself a new “sun room”.

He had clerical favourites who he promoted and who are now as disaffected with him as the ones he did not promote.

The current living wage in Ireland is € 25,800. The priestly wage in Ossory is € 32,000.

So, if some families are living on € 25,800 and unmarried priests are living on € 32,000 the priests are not doing too badly.

They probably have a few “extras” on top.

I do not begrudge a good wage at all to a man doing good work and being of good service to his people.

It seems that Farrell is:

1. A man who does not really believe in sharing information and decisions with others?

2. Likes his comforts and luxuries and is not afraid to spend church money on them?

3. Practices favouritism?

4. Creates low morale among the clergy?

I wonder if he will act like that in Dublin?

€ 700,000 FOR A YEAR’S MASSES?

People still to be leaving bishops and priests vast sums for Masses to be said for their souls.

700,000 for a year’s Masses amounts to 1919 Masses or 5.2 Masses a day for 365 days.

If I wanted to buy my way into Heaven, and I don’t, I would be asking myself: “How can I impress God best?

Would it be by giving the likes of Sun Room Farrell € 700,000 to spend on sun rooms, cattle grid altars and 10 car driveways?

Or would be by spending that € 700,000 on the sick, the dying, the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, prisoners and strangers?

I would be putting my money on Option 2.

But then I’m not a poor brainwashed old lady who believes that Sun Room Farrell is the God of Kilkenny or Dublin.

114 replies on “THE DIOCESE OF OSSORY AND DERMOT FARRELL.”

“‘The love of money is the root of all evils’ and there are some who, pursuing it, have wandered away from the faith and so given their souls any number of fatal wounds.”
1 Timothy, 6:10.

Like

Hello Pat, I thank you for your posts, This one is a bit difficult. I am in a parish struggling with fewer people in church and these cods calling themselves bishops just seem to have not a single clue shure about anything. Anyhow, I went on a bit of a bender recently. Lockdown see doesn’t help. I have the time. The bottle shure opens and then the rest you might imagine. Anyhow I’m still around and checking in on the Blog tonight. God bless.

Like

Did Ossory follow the tradition of appointing the bishop as PP of two parishes and allow him claim two priest salaries?

Disaffected priests. Please note he left many a well intentioned seminarian disaffected in Maynooth. And it was he who revised the formation programme that ‘Huge’ Connolly inherited.

Like

Bishops and senior diocesan clergy and lay personnel lick their lips and boast of legacies and money left in wills – they love to go after a widows purse inveigling and manipulating and holding them in utter contempt once the money is in the bank – Gubay is a case in point – they got his cash but bitch about him as mean and as tight as a ducks arse – if the generous dead knew what the clergy really think of them they would think twice before giving their money to ‘Fadder!!’

Like

Pat there is more to this than meets the eye. Seamus Freeman who was Dermot Farrell’s predecessor began most of that work. The very reason the Priests of Ossory launched a heave against Freeman was his spending. The Cattle Pen was installed by Richard Scriven the Adm in the Cathedral as he is a showman who loves to be front and centre. The presider’s chair was previously located there but Freeman moved it so the two chairs would be opposite each other (same as Killarney). Scriven got the hump and moved it back first opportunity possible. Freeman also ordered work on the Cathedral House and the CBS House next door where he and subsequently Farrell lived. They were in a bad state of disrepair and needed work. However the amount you reveal is utterly excessive and unwarranted. With regards to Farrell, I’m wondering where he is. He hasn’t celebrated a Sunday mass in his new cathedral in the months he has been in situ. Even Fintan Monahan always celebrates the Saturday 6.30pm vigil in Ennis Cathedral and actually always did pre-covid as well. What makes Farrell different….

Like

Killaloe Person.
Where is Archbishop Farrell on Sundays well sorry to disappoint you you is not in his Cathedral as he was with his people.
So where has he been well every Sunday so far he has been in Parishes with tragic circumstances livestreaming to all those affected they were so touching.(have a look on the twitter feed) it is great to constant gripe.
Money he certainly does not spend it on clothes as all you do it look at his cardigans on you tube.
To everyone why complain now if Archbishop Farrell was so bad and a spendthrift as he would not have got transferred to Dublin if that was the case.
The clergy are not going to complain at those salaries try the UK and see the salaries there, nothing like Ireland they have to reply on the generosity of their parishioners.
Fintan Monhan should resign over the way he handled Carey and still making excuses for Carey and totally against standing orders on Safeguarding.
Archbishop Farrell is the finance Chairman for the Bishops Conference.

Like

Killaloe Person
Archbishop Farrell is in parishes not standing with the few in the Cathedral after all he is Archbishop of Dublin which he became on 31st January.
First Sunday he went to the young people of Ballymun who were in grief at the tragedy then he said Holy Mass a following Sunday for the stardust tragedy anniversary Mass.
Maybe Fintan Monahan could learn a lesson and get out his Cathedral and first stop Carey’s parish and the school and apologise to all and then to his clergy for the attempted cover up of a perverted priest.
Dublin will take no examples of Fintan Monahan the cover up of all cover ups.

Like

€700,000 is an extraordinary sum of money to be left to any Irish diocese in this day. Upon receipt of such generous gift it was incumbent upon Farrell to ensure that the intentions of the donor were honoured. Hmm,…
I know for a fact that morale in Ossory has been very poor for a long period of time. It was poor when Bishop Forristal (who was always a gentleman in my dealings with him) was coming to the end of his tenure. But it was made worse by the extremely poor leadership of Bishop Séamus Freeman whose appalling lack of leadership exacerbated by reckless profligacy made a bad situation worse. In my view, the Diocese of Ossory should be canonically suppressed and amalgamated with another diocese.

Like

I despair. And I have despaired for a long time already ! Where is the Church in our countries going ? I think that we have already agreed that, by and large, those who lead us leave a lot to be desired – be it Amy of Armagh, Elsie of Westminster, Lugs of Killaloe. Further down the food chain we know that we have a clerical caste that leaves a great deal to be desired. They have shown themselves at worst to be criminally abusive, and at best to be simply odd and dysfunctional – although, poor things, they have been dealt a shit hand in the clerical life of enforced celibacy, rotten training, lack of professionalism and everything else we know about.
I wish the Church well. I don’t enjoy seeing it become something of a minority sport and going down the tubes. As it most certainly is. There is no doubt about that. It’s not just the fall in numbers of people who attend Mass these days, it’s even those who do attend, who now take what the Church says with a pinch of salt. For the most part, we have decided that we will listen respectfully, but when it comes to making a decision about things in our lives, we will do so based on our own judgements and consciences. In many ways that is a good thing. Also, so many of us have left behind that automatic respect and deference for things of the Church, and especially for the clergy and bishops, who have so often shown themselves to be very fallible, and even worse, criminally neglectful if not downright criminal.
So, what to do ? Well, I have a real sense that most bishops and clergy simply don’t have a clue what to do ! For some, it is just too much of a bother and they really do want a quiet and comfortable life. They probably think that this will really hit the buffers sometime after they have gone, so why bother about trying to change things ? I suspect that for the most part, they don’t have a clue what to do. It is beyond their reasoning and imagination. They can’t think outside the box. They are so imbued with the ecclesiology, theology, morality that they came to have knocked in to them in seminary. They are stuck. At higher levels, even though some bishops , a minority no doubt, might be bright and capable, they are afraid of saying anything that might rock the boat, and get them in to trouble and disturb their comfortable lives. Remember, the Vatican is populated by people who have a vested interest in things not changing. And they have to the power to make trouble for any bishop who decides to ask awkward questions or to goes off message.
This is a terrible recipe for a careless disaster to happen. Not because anybody wants it to happen, but simply because these people are ossified and incapable of doing anything, even if they could think of what to do. By default things will get worse and worse, and the Church will diminish irreducibly to a small rump that has its back to the wall. Some think that would be a good thing – a purified remnant that could retreat in to its own certainty and up its own arse. That might be nice and self-justifying for them, but I think the Church is supposed to be bigger than that. Most of that remnant will no doubt be the odd, swivel eyed, loony lot, like the traditionalists, the Latin Mass crowd and the extreme religious orders and those who want to live in another age and time.
So, back to the question of what to do. I’m a left wing liberal in all matters of Church. I hate the solemn certainty of religious deliberation, and much prefer a speculative frame of mind that opens up all sorts of possibilities, and does not fear them, but embraces them. I just wish the Church and its leaders would do a bit of that, and stop taking refuge in so called certainties that, in point of fact can be ludicrous and unsustainable. The Church has always changed – slowly – over the centuries as it realises that former hard held beliefs and practices are doing it and its core mission damage. Or, if I’m being cynical, are doing their hold on power and authority harm; they they certainly do change pronto ! Whichever way, change is part of life, and part of the life of the Church. So, I would expect the Vatican and bishops in their dioceses to be asking themselves the question as to what is it that is hobbling the Church in this day and age, and what can we do about it ? I won’t trot out the inevitable list of things which are holding the Church back and making it an irrelevance in the lives of so many people. These things are well rehearsed on this blog. I just make an appeal to anybody who is able to influence the tiller on the barque to think carefully and openly about what they are going to do to make sure that the Church continues with its core mission of the Gospel and those values that are so noble and eternal, rather than getting stuck on what they think are certainties that in fact continue to harm the Church and the People of God – such as ingrained clericalism, authoritarianism and power, an obsession with sexual behaviour / morality / relationships, a well outdated and harmful misogyny and failure to use the gifts of women in the Church….the list could go on.

Like

An excellent and thoughtful comment. I totally agree with you about the changes needed.

But Rome and the hierarchy have no interest in those changes.

The one joy is that we do not need them to be either Catholic or Christian.

I have now been a free and happy independent Catholic for 36 years.

Like

Well, to all intents and purposes I have already become an independent Catholic / Christian. I keep in touch with my roots, but I listen, think, pray and act independently, and I am not afraid to say what I think and to call out what I think is wrong. I can appreciate clergy who are shackled by the system and don’t really have any freedom of action. I think that you, + Pat, were uncommonly brave and courageous in moving away from being tied to the apron strings on the RC Church, although I guess you were given little option. Lots of priests would not be as brave as you. I have to say that I have little respect these days for bishops and their pronouncements, and ignore them as much as I can, and try to protect my people from them. There a many times I’ve decided not to read a pastoral letter to my people, or to implement idiotic changes etc. The bishop and his crew are so thick and self absorbed with their own issues that they don’t seem to notice. The next battle will be the new lectionary that is proposed. I’ll delay on that as long as I can, just not buy the books, and see what happens. Why should we have foisted on us some back to the dark ages translation ? Nobody ever asked us about it. So, I carry on my little war of independence where I am, and am generally left alone. If they do try and force issues all that will happen is that they will be one priest down. And they don’t have many sane and sensible ones. Young traditionalist conservative Latin Mass types, a few, yes; but that isn’t going to staff the parishes. Nodding Donkey has it about right. But, I don’t have any confidence that anything is going to happen. The Titanic is sinking, but the bishops aren’t even bothering to rearrange the deck chairs. Useless lot.

Like

Well done on your independent spirit. There are a few priests like you around.

In fact one of them allowed me to celebrate a wedding before Covid in their parish church in an English diocese and concelebrated the wedding with me 😊

Not only are the bishops like the Titanic – they still go around looking for icebergs to crash into everyday.

Like

By Post Author

@11:16 Yes the ESV translation is hideous. It would actually make more sense to read out the Douay bible which is nonsensical enough.

Like

Interesting re Farrell as Bishop whose spending habits had brought up to the fore. He’s previously known for money management that the Vatican big wigs take heed to cos part of that money goes back to Rome. It seems to be a bad mistake on Vatican part. We as people with varying disabilities take no notice of any news coming out of any diocese even name of new Bishop. Its fast becoming irrelevant in our lives. Pandemic made it worse-far more irrelevant cos bishops said no need for it. So in post pandemic, we could say to them, no need to go back. No win situation. Thus they have lost their track of themselves. When they started to bark or moan for some particular reason, its usually about money.

Like

@ 11:16am
Good post! Fair play!
Albert Einstein is widely credited with saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.”

Like

11:39 am – Einstein had a great sense of humour, he also had dyslexia which I have no doubt assisted him in difficult equations!
Going “round” in circles… he probably felt this way while attempting to work out his complex formulae at the chalkboard — I can not fully relate to this because I don’t own a chalkboard…

Like

Even without disabilities, nobody is interested. The ones going on about appointments on here are clergy and/or sacristy mice, and since they keep having the same conversation there’s very few of them! Sad, really.

Like

€700,000 for a rake of Masses? Wow!
Someone had a seriously troubled conscience and was hoping God would be so dazzled by the expenditure that he would forget the sins. King Henry VIII thought the same when he left £600 (a colossal sum in those days) for Masses for his soul.
Ack! But sure didn’t the Church do well out of it. And a bishop’s word in Heaven has even God jumping to complaisant attention.
What a f****d up lot are Roman Catholics and their infantile attempts to buy God’s favour!
Martin Luther was right about this church.

Like

Yes it does read exactly like the sort of thing the reformers were up against.
Mind you, I don’t know why, if they are so hard up as they say, bishops don’t go back to selling Jesus’s prepuce. I see that in the middle ages he was supposed to have had up to fourteen.
That is even without the three or four bodies claiming to be St Valentine, and even more heads.
They’re missing a trick!

Like

12.23

The bishops will do whatever the laity stupidly allow them to do, should it be selling Jesus’ multiple prepuce, or raping their kids and allowing the rapists, and their protectors/enablers, not only to get away with it, but to be promoted, too.

Roman Catholics get the kind of clergy they deserve, because if they refused to accept them, these vile Christ-betrayers would not have been appointed.

Well are these complaisant assholes named ‘sheep’.

Like

12:02pm
People have the right to do what they want with their money and who are you to talk about their conscience , look to your own. The fact that you say the arch heretic and apostate luther was right tells us all about you.

Like

12:50 pm

Bella, some people have more money than sense while living in blissful ignorance.

Like

People of God, there is one Mass, and ONLY one Mass: the Last Supper. This was offered for each and every one of you (including your deceased loved ones) FREE by our Lord Jesus Christ. There are NO additional Masses. Therefore commit to Christ your deceased relatives, friends, and others through this Mass, and stop allowing Roman Catholic priests to exploit you by continuing to have you pay (euphemistically known as ‘offerings’) for Mass.

Like

There was indeed only one Mass – the Last Supper – which Christ offered in anticipation of His Sacrifice on the Cross once and for all. But you forget, “MC” that He said “DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME”. The Mass is that offered every day, from furthest east to farthest west, is exactly the same Mass as the Last Supper. It is Calvary made present in the here and now which the Lord asked His priests to offer until He comes again.

Like

12.52

Your post is, actually, a circumlocutory endorsement of my own; if only you had the intelligence to realise it.

But I suppose your rapacious interests, priest, eclipse your capacity for rational discernment here.

That Mass, by Christ himself 2000 years ago in Palestine, is said now IN COMMEMORATION of Jesus (which is what we both agree he instructed), but it does not actually ‘make Calvary present in the here and now’; this is acceptable only as a metaphor. We are not transported back in time during Mass, nor is the Last Supper (never mind Calvary) brought forward in time. To suggest otherwise is preposterous. Rather we are reminded of the universal transcendence and efficacy of Christ’s salvific grace during Mass (and of course during any form of prayer) which we can avail of by choice.

Why no comment from you on the charge for Mass that is made by Romanist priests? (Did I really have to ask?)

Like

12:18pm
Wrong, The Holy Sacrifice of The Mass is not The Last Supper, it is The Sacrifice of Mount Calvary renewed on our altars. Your understanding is heretical, what denomination are you?
Certainly not Catholic.

Like

1:13pm
No your living in ignorance but I wouldn’t call it blissful. People have the right to spend their money as they wish, and if they wish to make an offering for The Holy Mass it’s none of your business. We are not all tightfisted gombeens like you.

Like

2:44 pm
A 700,000 euro offering to twist Gods arm?
As if God can be razzled dazzled with dosh.
Silly.

Like

11 25: That’s not true Pat. There are many independent minded priests around.m, priests who, day in day out carry in their ministry, oblivious to much if the nonsense that emanates from on high. Many of us have discerned a ling time ago what our pastoral ministry is truly about: serving the parishioners and parishes as best we can, recognising needs and responding, creating opportunities for building up our community together, being inclusive. My approach is somewhere I totally focus now in the vineyard given to me to care for and while present for a given number if years, it is my task to ensure we wirk effectively together for the good of the parish. I know of many priests who act with similar vision. Life’s experiences teaches us how to prioritise our work, needs and collaborative ministry. It’s not an easy task to accomplish but like the priest at 11.16, many of us generally put the welfare of the parish before all else. Dialogue, good working relationships, delegating to others, prayerful celebrations, being inclusive and welcoming to all, compassionate outreach to the elderly and lonely – these are the essentials before anything else. And I am in admiration of parishes where this imaginative vision works and the togetherness of priests and people ensuring they are focused on the essentials. Let us not always blame the Bishops….they don’t prevent us from being creative, visionary or imaginative in our parishes.

Like

I don’t even think about canon law for most of the time. I encourage anybody who wants to come to communion to come, on the basis that if they come they are expressing a need and a desire and are prompted by something beyond me and them, namely the Holy Spirit. I don’t enquire in to who they are or what they are doing or with whom they live, or sleep, or what kind of sex they have. That is none of my business. I leave that to them and to God. I baptise children who are brought to me in good faith irrespective of their parents’ failings and sins. I welcome in to the life of the community any who desire to be part of us. I don’t worry or enquire about their lifestyle, sexuality, relationships. None of my business. I guess the only thing about canon law that I have to keep an eye on is marriage law. But, even there, I give blessings to people who fall foul of the Church’s law on marriage on the basis that they need the encouragement and blessing of God on them no matter where they find themselves. I may not be able to marry them, okay, but I can do other things for them. If the bishop wants to get arsey with me, then that’s his problem. Actually, he doesn’t. I think he knows better !

Like

Father@12:40 you do realize when you are moved on to another parish the community you have created will just fall apart when faced with a priest who does pay attention to the things you ignore?

Like

I have at least one mole in every Irish diocese but two. I am not as well blessed in the UK but still have my contacts.

Like

By Post Author

@1256 – who says I will be moved to another parish, or that I would go ? I’ve declined moves in the past and will do in the future – until I die or retire ! What is the bishop going to do ? Throw me out, and find nobody else to take my place ? He hasn’t that luxury or wiggle room. He needs me more than I need him. It’s a great position to be in. Probably a new one for him, but he better get used to it. Actually, I think he understands the ‘realpolitk’ of the situation ! And please don’t preach at me about obedience….

Like

When you retire then, same difference. The reality remains that you are going you own way in an institution which will not support your approach when you as crucial element are taken out.
But then the way you run ‘your’ parish is all about you.

Like

1.22

And are you going to use YOUR ‘wiggle room’, ‘Father’, to protest the abuses of your bishop and others? Or will it (perish the thought!) be used solely for your convenience?

Like

No.
The key phrase in your self praise is ‘oblivious to much if the nonsense that emanates from on high.’
You are happily carrying on in your own little world and letting the nonsense carry on. Meanwhile being supported by the institution.
If you are not doing anything to change the nonsense you are part of it and if you are being supported from on high you are also a hypocrite and spongers, playing in your playpen.
You are not of CHRIST.

Like

12.40: Here we go again with Magna. Dancing on the head of a needle. Everyone except Pat and Mags herself are “wrong”. If such lies keep you cheerful Mags, good luck. You and I live in different worlds: I’m in the real world of meaningful relationships with many through ministry in parish work. You, on the other hand live in a nether world of misery, hatred and isolation. The darkness of your mind is evident in your prose. You deliberately misinterpret and misread all commenters observations. You know what is meant by my comnents at 12.25 but your lies are your problem. One can only conclude that the virus of rejection has produced many other poisons in your blood: hatred: vindictiveness: ugliness: jealousy. It’s very sad. You make your contributions irrelevant, the sort that a school yard bully could write. I thank God for priesthood every day and pray for his blessing on all priests. Perhaps you might join in this noble work!!

Like

I do not share MC’s total hatred of priests. But I am very critical of the RC institution and those who uphold it either openly or by default.

Like

By Post Author

3.12
It is all about ME ME ME.
You are in for a shock unless you are in your 60’s.
It is going to be pastoral units in every dioceses and dioceses WILL be amalgamated.
You “Father” should be ashamed as to ME ME ME.
Sadly YOUR parish will be one for closure when you go.
And be thankful I do not know you or the incompetent Bishop as both would be reported to Rome.
The saddest part of your ME story is the losers in the end your parishioner who sadly follow you and not be part of the Diocesan family.
but the end of the day it will be about your salary that you claim and all the other benefits of being a PP you really make me sick.
I thought magna was bad however at least Magna is not clinging on like you.

Like

Most people leaving any donations usually say what the donation is for as the charity regulators need to be informed.
I know of a donation of 110K Euros for a new sound system.
Most families state what they want the donation for.

Like

How many candles will 700,000 euros buy for burning in the Bishops annual day of atonement praying for victims and survivors of Church abuse and covering up?
From which Diocese will the next scandal(s), either recent, or historic, pop-up from?
Maybe a scandal involving the collusion of a number of Dioceses? Or worse.
God only knows.
Pleading ignorance is no longer a defense for Bishops carrying cans for the sins of predecessors or more recent incompetence.
Candle lighting does not cut the mustard,Bishops.

Like

The days of penny candles are well gone it is 20, 30 or 50 Euros and some parishes even have signs to inform you.
In Glasgow at the funeral mass of the Archbishop all you seen was about 10 candle stands at every statue saying 50 Pence.
Most parishes are now standing orders for donations.

Like

That altar arrangement, which looks as if somebody has draped a cloth over an old fridge, is almost the worst I have ever seen. And with that pompous – though equally ugly – “throne” in pride of place behind it … what is the liturgical message meant to be here?
€32k is a very generous salary on top of free housing and utilities, car, and all the other undeclared perks and nice little earners.
Occasionally on my wanderings I come across an intentional church community, such as, I imagine Pat’s Oratory to be, but otherwise there is absolutely nothing to draw me to a parish. Sad.
Lest some sniper accuses me of picking and choosing, I might say I am pretty relaxed about liturgy, and have happily fitted in at traditional celebrations, including the Old Rite, as well as liberal progressive parishes in both the RCC and dear old C of E. Most parishes, however, are moribund and in seemingly terminal decline.

Like

All hail ye. You wrote ‘ … dear old C of E’. That was to use a caricature of a caricature. Set aside any praise of the C of E and analyse it rationally, please, or desist. It is certainly not a doddery old creature. Rather, it is plagued by liberal evangelical, jumping around with little appeal to the national population or with great devotion to the sacraments. In brief, you have made an error, a real error of analysis that was misleading. All hail ye.

Like

1.18: Pat, I accept your bona fide re: criticisms of the Church. I do not accept that you feel justified and MC particularly in tainting all of us as co-abusers: co-cimpliciters: co-corrupters…Many, many of us have been disturbed by all wrongful, criminal behaviour and corruption. It has forced us to completely rethink our priorities in ministry. In the horrendous climate we now live in as a group (priests) and with the monumental challenges which this pandemic is bringing with it, we know our task will be even more challenging. I think Magna’s presence with his vicious and poisonous twists should be restrained. He is now allowed again to write many comments daily, often responding to his own diatribes and being gratuitously offensive. Your blog is a forum but you should moderate hate inciting commenters.

Like

Thats ok. But remember:

“All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good people do nothing”.

Like

1.45

And you, and your fellow ‘disturbed’ priests, do absolutely SFA about the corruption in the institution you serve over Christ, except whine anonymously on this blog and beat your fattened breasts in mock horror. Your comfortable and easy lifestyles are a greater priority; to Hell with all of that self-sacrificing Calvary nonsense.

To say you hypocrites make me sick would be a gross understatement.

Like

1:45 pm
You don’t say.
Many priests are disturbed by all the wrongful criminal behavior and corruption
having to completely rethink priorities in ministry, now with the monumental
challenge of having to deal with the pandemic fallout. So f****** what!
Are you disturbed enough?
Of course your lives have been disturbed with the corrupt criminal cover up.
I find it incredible, to claim many so called ‘good priests’ in the clerical fraternity
did not know to a greater or lesser extent of abuse and covering up.
It beggars belief. How many priests officiated at funerals of victims of church
abuse/abusers, victims who prematurely died as a direct consequence of clerical abuse?
And, how many priests knew of same abuse or of church abuse/ cover ups but
remained or remain quiet for whatever reasons?
You’ve known for years, like most of us, the great unwashed, and still
continue to bleat on with how challenging life has become.
Meanwhile, the drip, drip, drip, of covered up scandals continues…

Like

2.12 and 3.09 – both from the same bucket of shit. HATERS. If your comments are indicative of anything, it is one word- HATE. Boyos, you can rant with lies all you like, I will never be discouraged to live the opportunities God gives me each day as a priest to help people, to work for their good, to truly care, a caring which reaches out to many people. I imagine that you nasty boyos don’t see beyond your laptop and are quintessentially keyboard warrior haters….You ain’t speaking the truth and may God bless all priest and convert the heart of haters. What great works of mercy, justice or compassion do you light the world with, apart from your vulgarity and pretence concern?? None, I suspect is the answer.

Like

Leave MC alone – he doesn’t need me or anybody to stand up for him or stand alongside him – but I believe in freedom of speech, freedom of expression and the idea (rapidly disappearing) that you don’t have a God given right not to be offended – agree or disagree with MC until the cows come hone – but I will defend his right to freedom of speech and expression with my dying breath – Catholic clergy and the institution hate criticism, they love praise and need adulation – I think MC’s critique/views are mild compared to the venom of other platforms- and I think the blog is fairly and sensitively moderated – no one squeals as much as a Catholic priest when they don’t receive the respect and reverence they believe is their ontological right etc etc. Personae Christi is one of the biggest cons of history – it brings a wry smile to my face when they squeal because Jesus said ‘Blessed are you when people insult you and speak all kinds of calumny against you’ but I’ve never met a Catholic priest who can take the smallest morsel of criticism or insult – get used to it ‘Father’ and get over it – freedom of speech rocks and so does MC!

Like

@ 5:09

Lets do a wee critical analysis of your post, 5:09pm.
Point out ONE lie in my post at 3:09 pm.
Your imagination is working overtime, Father.
Challenging corruption, protecting children, seeking the truth, etc,
are works of justice, mercy, and compassion, while seeking to light shine,
even when carried out on a laptop.
You seem very capable of displaying vulgarity with your throwing proverbial crap
and labeling follow Christians ” haters” who hold contrary views to you.

Father,a humble contrite heart with integrity will not be spurned by God.

Like

5.56: Your assumption that all priests knew and covered up is a lie. In the early/late 70’s, long before there was any reference to guidelines and protocols around child safeguarding in every agency and institution of the state, I suspected unacceptable behaviour by a well acclaimed parish worker and brought my concerns to relevant authorities, including to Gardai. When no adequate response was given I was successful in having said person removed from.all chyrch and parish involvement. Again I notified all authorities. My suspicions were proved to be 100% accurate and eventually no further abuse took place. I wasn’t happy with responses and at every possible opportunity at subsequent seminars for clergy re: child safeguarding protocols, I spoke of my utter disappointment at any negligence towards tjiscserious matter. Many of us, including you, sir and many, many people in general knew little about any procedures. (look how society passed by the institutions knowing what was happening!). I know teachers and Gardai were lacking in any deep awareness of any procedures. Look too what happened in our psychiatric hospitals. Many senior people in many institutions kept their mouths shut in the face of criminal wring doing and obvious abuse. It is very wrong to claim that we all knew and I’m presuming you knew also. What did you ever do to ensure that no wrongs or abuse occur to anyone and if you are/were we are, what have you done? Sir, when we are faced with challenges as priests and as chyrch, the correct response is to REFLECT, OWN RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY WRONG DONE, RENEW and RELEARN. Thankfully, many of us are doing this within our own lives, within our parishes and – with much support, co-operation and good will. Somehow your laptop is a barrier preventing you from actually and factually seeing such in parishes. (That’s your priblem). No amount of your flippancy or vulgarity will persuade me to be being anything other than positive, hope-filled and optimistic. Oh, incidentally, I share your desire for challenging corruption, protecting chikdren, searching for truth and I equally partake in works of mercy, compassion and justice!! And finally, there is a huge difference between legitimate criticism, which is fair, balanced and rational and “hate incitement”. A very big difference. Perhaps the new Oxford Dictionary might help you!!

Like

I am not Magna Carta yet am referred to as such because of a comment I posted above. The cathbots are not concerned with truth or hate, just suppressing criticism. They hate Magna because he knows the inside story but not bought into the club. My own opinion is that they need to hear these criticims, however luckily their refusal to do so indicates they will continue as they are in blessed terminal decline.

Like

@ 3:00pm

I’ve been referred to as MC, as well.
Critics of the Catholic Church are shunned.
Why so, Fathers?

Like

Actually I will admit to a little crush on Magna Carta, although unfortunately I’m not his type 😍

Like

And below they’re actually telling us to go away and have a little pray. It’s hilarious, they genuinely think their golden calf church is god!

Like

3:00pm
Well lucky for you you’re not the dreaded MC but you’re just as bad, you can’t stand anyone with a contrary point of you so like all the haters and buckbots who are not concerned with the truth only your own erroneous views. My opinion is that you need to hear the criticisms and take note before you end up in terminal decline yourself.

Like

3:48 pm

Bella, read your post again. Go away and have a pray.
Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment, to open your eyes, and for a wee bit of wisdom.

Like

8:06 pm

Tell us, Father, how do fraternities operate?
Why all the covering up from Bishops for generations? Did they not know child rape was morally and legally wrong? Did they need procedures to tell them child rape is wrong?
Or what to do; to go to the respective Police authorities.
Why did Bishops in Ireland take out insurance in 1987 to protect the Church against allegations of child rape by priests? Did they know from their Hierarchical colleagues
in the USA what was very likely to be coming down the track?
Does Church canon law claim priests are above the laity, Father?
Was their ever collusion between Church, State and higher professions?
How much navel gazing i.e correct responding – REFLECT, OWN RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY WRONG DONE, RENEW and RELEARN- before you Clerics/Hierarchs learn and respond appropriately as Christian leaders and pastors? Does the clerical preferential option for priesthood, clericalist elitist theology, cloud judgements and capacity to be respond appropriately and responsibly? And are too many clerics brainwashed as a consequence of this elitist notion of themselves?
Would Christ Jesus condone this nonsense of cover up?
I suggest, Father, you are being disingenuous.
Tell the truth, Fathers, and shame the devil.
Perhaps lectio divina on the Word of God might help !!!

Like

8.55: Sir, Fr. or whoever you are, you ask good questions which are thought provoking and ones which I and many, many others ask frequently. There is little point in arguing with someone who will deliberately choose to ascribe the words “disingenuous”, “brainwashed”, “elitist”.. My parents thankfully inculcated a deep set of values and principles into our lives, underpinned by a genuine Christian faith. These have guided me to always acknowledge known wrongdoing, the necessity to be truthful, honest, responsible and just. The example of my parents in kindness and caring for and protecting others less fortunate and vulnerable was also a huge light for me. Whatever impressions you have, you needn’t worry about my conscience or integrity. The ignatian way of daily examen ensures that I don’t become “disingenuous”. I thank God that no one in 45 years has ever cynically used that dismissive word of me! God bless your goodness!!

Like

What gets me most about the RC church is that what it’s followers and clergy say and do is so divorced from reality as to be delusional. And the big picture is the same in the microcosm of the parish.
It is one of the richest organizations in the world but continually asks for money.
It is called holy church but the fact its clergy are regularly caught out in crime indicates that’s the norm.
The slightest criticism and they start moaning they’re oppressed or tell you someone else is as bad. Yet they also tell people to look at themselves!
When they say anyone elses view is considered it’s always at the whim of a cleric who msintains control.
It’s about power is the inescapable conclusion.

Like

4:27pm
I don’t need to ask The Holy Ghost for discernment, but you really need to pray for wisdom that He will open your eyes to the truth, in charity I will pray for you.

Like

6:16 pm

That confirms my comment, Bella.

You don’t need to pray to the Holy Spirit for discernment
having now ascended to become the fourth person of the trinity
thanks to Harrington Rd.

Like

9:58 pm

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
1 Corinthians 13:11.

Father, once again you misrepresent what I actually said.
I suggested, you are being disingenuous.
I have never, in my entire life, been called someone ‘from a bucket of shit’!
Not until today, by you, Father.
I too, like you, was created in the image and likeness of God.
Are you an SJ? Never mind.
It might be worthwhile doing some re-evaluation of values inculcated in childhood
and adolescence while a critical application of gospel values from a liberation
theological perspective on the Ecclesial Community as a whole, taking into consideration Jesus parable of ‘The Good Samaritan.’

I wish well. God bless you in your ministry.

Like

10.34: Rev. Fr. – or whoever… Mr. Anon…In any effort to debunk the many distortions of lived pastoral ministry – as well as faithfully possible – it can be very disconcerting to be continually dismissed, sneered at, ridiculed, name called, be the subject of twisted cynicism and ugly invective and remain passive. Yes, I can be sharp and insulting when unfairly branded and when much of the commentary on this blog is base, low and ignorant and worst of all, facilitated and encouraged. Somehow you and I are entrenched in our own perspectives. FYI, I studied Liberation Theology and all Conciliar Documents and bring their vision and critical thinking into my work. Perhaps we’re not as far apart as we think…I won’t however abandon the solid, life building honourable and eternal principals or virtues my parents gave us. Rather, I will continue to re-evaluate my life through the lens of the gospel. Oh – I am not a Jesuit and I know the sarcasm of your question!!

Like

Magna is like Harry and Meghan. Given far too much airtime. Best to ignore them and they might go away.

Like

7:33 pm

It is Semper Idem in more ways than one, Bella.

Its ever the same since 98 AD when it comes to abuse.
Speaking of wongs tell us what the Vatican are up to in China?

Like

@3:33: It’s interesting to consider an analogy concerning Harry.
Harry had no choice in being born into a life of power and privilege. As the “spare to the heir” of big brother William he “did his duty” in a life of meaningless ceremony. With maturity, his appreciation of the value of this suffocating role diminished, especially with the birth of William’s children. Realising just how vacuous continuing in a royal role would be, he has had the courage to opt out. His military service certainly seems to indicate no lack of courage.
On the other hand, consider the position of clerics who find themselves in roles of power influence and privilege. I have no doubt that many of them come to realise just how empty, meaningless and vacuous their position is in realty. But how many of them have the courage and conviction to opt out from positions of power and privilege? Could it be that many just don’t have the balls to forgo their undeserved positions of power and privilege and are determined to remain in comfortable non demanding lifestyles?
And, on the matter of courage, I often laugh at frequent references in this blogsite to ex seminarians as having been “kicked out” or as losers. I rather think the greater majority have had more sense and courage to quit than those who just “stuck it out” only to find their misgivings later confirmed. Might they be the ones referring disparagingly?
MMM

Like

11:56 pm

Once again, Father, you misrepresent my comment.
I did not encourage you to abandon anything, including
values taught by your parents.

I note, you replied following Bishop Buckley’s putting up
more on the Fr. Marmion, alleged case of cover up.
An observation, Father, that is all, so don’t go all defensive.
I queried if you were an SJ simply because you mentioned
the ignatian daily examen in a previous comment.
My SJ query was for no other reason.

I’m delighted to know you studied Liberation Theology and
all the Conciliar Documents and bring their vision and critical thinking
into your ministry. Maybe…. just maybe…. their vision needs extending,
stretching and development, particularly in the context of the,
euphemistically called, ‘scandals’ or ‘crisis’ in the Church; i.e.,
the collusive covering up of grave corruption and abusiveness,
including very serious grave sinful criminality.

This exposure of the Church’s corrupt culture and underbelly is now in plain sight,
publicly exposed, in the public domain for over 35 years, creating I suggest,
an existential crisis, cognitive dissonance for many faithful Catholics,
while totally undermining the credibility of the Church’s mission in the marketplace.
I’m, therefore, not surprised you are find it very disconcerting to be continually
dismissed, or sneered at, or ridiculed, name called, or be the subject of twisted cynicism
and ugly invective.

While some commentators to this blog can be base, low, and ill informed,
many commentators speak the truth (in love for Christ) from life experience, including
knowledge from inside and outside the institutional Church. Bishop Buckley, through
his blog ,is providing an extremely valuable forum to the Catholic Christian Community.

Like

e.26: Further proof that perhaps we have mire in common than what divides us. Yes, for the last 30 years plus, the narrative if the Church and it’s scandals, criminal abusive behaviour, the cover ups, the tital lack if transparency and disastrous public, honest communication, the lack of empathy, the legalistic approach – have all eroded trust, respect and goodwill from the wider public and have also destroyed our possible relationships with parishioners and our lives as priests are changed and changing in a way that’s almost indefinable. We sometimes struggle to be relevant. I have no problem with criticisms and analysis but when there’s a concerted undermining, cynicism, name calling, generalisations, ugky invective, it is nit easy to remain quiet and say something in defense or to speak my own truth. However, my dauly wirkload presently is ocvupied with many, many funerals that i just focus on the support, kindness and comfort I can bring to the bereaved. By tomorrow I will have officiated at 6 funerals since last Fri. So….when I’m told I’m a parasite by MC and his cohort, that’s iffensive. Can we continue to feel positive in face of this ugliness?.A miracle is required…a miracle of God’s grace…There’s a certain bias snd prejudice perpetuated on this blog which is deliberately and hateful anti-priest. Off I go to prepare for a funeral at 11.30!

Like

ha ha ha….you watch every parish and diocese around the world will plead poverty and no money etc in the wake of COVID-19 whilst sitting on and enjoying fantastic reserves and relying on the ‘plead poverty’ canard to illicit even more moolah!! The funny thing is lay people fall for the same old trick every time – rooted me thinks in that old trope of buying/securing salvation or time off purgatory (a clever management tool if ever there was one!!).

Like

You are living in a dream just like the Scottish people on the trillions that the oil will bring.
Many dioceses have no reserves and others have used them up or in the process of doing so.
The upkeep (and rightly so) for retired clergy is a fortune and growing daily some dioceses will be bankrupt in a few years.
Part of the slow problem to amalgamate dioceses is the debts or shortage of funds in some.
The wealthy Down and Connor does not want the debt or liability parishes of Dromore and other dioceses are in the same position.
The reserves are too low and will be worse post covid

Like

Megan and Harry lamenting lack of privacy whilst courting publicity – Megan and Harry and their Night at the Oprah!!

Like

You certainly are a smart arse. I might even say you are ‘the pants’. I agree with your opinion. Of all places. they went to California as a base for their publicity, no doubt attracting a huge fee. Not a thought for the Queen, a persuasive Christian. Silence would have been their responsible response to perceived (note, perceived) troubles.

Like

I went out and bought some pork scratchings at lunchtime.
Completely unrelated I now have 30 holy relics for sale at €3,000 each. Each comes with a handwritten authentication, ‘Verum praeputium DNJC. Papa Francisco’.
Line up, they’ll soon be gone.

Like

The only genuine comment from a cathbot today is this one:
‘We know who your very few moles are and they are/will be punished’
Who’s let the reality out of the bag!

Like

7:56 pm
Bella, you’re a right charmer.
We’ll all be buried for good sooner or later.

Like

5.17pm
Dioceses in England and Wales have fantastic rseserves – fact – check out the CC website – it’s in the public domain – agreed all money will go on care of sick and elderly clergy – fair enough I get that – but don’t buy the broke/no money in the till – smoke and mirrors my friend – no such thing as a broke diocese even if they claim bankruptcy- follow the money it all leads to the money!

Like

Some of them English & Welsh dioceses have cut the monthly payment to sick/retired priests – over their covid related low funds. Get into the real world.

Like

@6.12pm spot on. Some of the richest dioceses in England & Wales have cut their priests pay already, some by half. Irish dioceses it seems are on luxury.

Like

I’m not a fascist I’m a priest. They dress in black and go around telling people what to do whereas priests…
That documentary becomes more relevant as the years go by….

Like

6.12pm o baby I am in the real world – if they cutting ya pay they taking ya all for a ride baby cuz day got loads of mullah – ya know what I mean!! Same trick fit ya all than – we got no money works every time!!

Like

Leave a comment