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THE RISING DRUG PROBLEM AMONG PRIESTS.

Some Irish priests have a long term reputation for heavy drinking.

But in recent years we have seen a slowly rising drug problem in the Irish priesthood.

During the Maynooth Summer of Love in 2016, we heard of poppers and drugs being used by seminarians.

In the same year Fr. Stephen Crossan, curate of Banbridge was exposed by the Belfast Sunday newspapets for snorting cocaine in his presbytery.

In a statement, Bishop of Dromore Dr John McAreavey said: “In May 2015 Stephen Crossan, a curate in the Diocese of Dromore, requested and was granted leave from his pastoral duties in Seapatrick Parish on health grounds.

McAreavey

“Since then he has been undergoing a period of counselling whilst also considering his own future.

“At the start of February 2016 Stephen Crossan informed the Bishop that he now wished to take an extended leave of absence from the priesthood. “This was acceded to and last weekend a letter to this effect was read out at masses in Seapatrick parish.

“The Bishop had no knowledge of the incident, which allegedly occurred in the Parochial House in July 2015; however he is concerned for the health of Stephen Crossan and will pray for and support him and his family through whatever issues he is facing at the moment.”

The PSNI were asked if they were investigating the incident.

A spokeswoman responded: “Police are aware of the article in a Sunday newspaper and are making enquiries.”

IRISH PRIEST ARRESTED IN NYC DRUG CHARGED FACING SEPARATE LEGAL BATTLE IN IRELAND.

IrishCentral Staff June 13, 2019

Father Michael O’Leary was arrested in Peekskill, NY on St. Patrick’s Day.

As Father Michael O’Leary’s siblings look to settle the dispute over their late mother’s will in Ireland, the priest is facing separate drug charges in New York.

Father Michael O’Leary, an Irish priest who was arrested for drug possession on St. Patrick’s Day in New York, is embroiled in further legal troubles with his family back home in his native Ireland.


Read More: Abolish the priesthood to save the Catholic Church urges leading critic.

The Irish Times reports that Father O’Leary’s four siblings, Nora Harpur, Barry O’Leary, Tadgh O’Leary, and Marie O’Leary, have brought proceedings to the Irish High Court against the priest and their other brother John O’Leary.

The proceedings are related to the settlement of the siblings’ late mother Elizabeth O’Leary, who passed away in September 2014. The plaintiffs believe their mother was not of sound mind when her will was executed and that she was subject to undue influence from Father Micahel and John.


Father Michael allegedly denies these claims.
The will in question dictates that the family home be left to Father Michael and John, and that the residuals of the estate be left to the four plaintiffs.


The presiding Justice Leonie Reynolds was asked to adjourn the case by Father O’Leary’s lawyers, who said it was not possible for their client to attend court due a “somewhat sensitive” matter – the priest is currently taking part in a 90-day drug rehabilitation program in New York, making communication between him and his lawyers difficult.

Despite being “displeased,” Judge Reynolds adjourned the case until next week to allow Father O’Leary’s lawyers to obtain more information about their client’s availability to give evidence.


The court case regarding the O’Leary will was reportedly set to begin last January, but was rescheduled to this month.

St. Patrick’s Day drug arrest

In the early hours of March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, Father O’Leary and another man were arrested in Peekskill, New York after they were found by police to have half an ounce of methamphetamine, two scales and other materials used for packaging narcotics in their vehicle.

At the time of the arrest, Father O’Leary gave his address as Our Lady of Consolation, a home for retired priests in the Riverdale section of the Bronx.

Catholic New York reports that Father O’Leary was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, third degree (intent to sell), a felony; two counts of criminal use of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor; and criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth degree, also a felony.


Catholic New York further reported that Father O’Leary had not been on assignment since November 2018 after the archdiocesan Review Board deemed him not suitable for ministry.


Following Father O’Leary’s arrest in March, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York, where Father O’Leary was based, issued a decree which said in part: “Father O’Leary’s persistent disobedience, his manifest lack of suitability for ministry and his arrest for possession of illegal drugs compel” Cardinal Dolan “to submit the matter to the Holy See (the Congregation for the Clergy) with a firm request that Father O’Leary be dismissed from the clerical state…”

PAT:

I’m aware that a small number of priests in Northern Ireland, in areas like County Down and County Tyrone are getting their drugs from loyalist paramilitaries.

It is mind boggling to think of priests as drug addicts.

Those priests are also very often alcoholics.

If alcohol removes your inhibitions just imagine what drugs do.

I believe there are good priests.

But their drinking, drug-taking, raping and Jack the Lad colleagues are bringing everyone into disrepute.

The good priests need to expose and call out their rogue colleagues.

127 replies on “THE RISING DRUG PROBLEM AMONG PRIESTS.”

Bishop Pat, I have a box full of email and letter communications between / to-and-throw 3 Roman Bishops’ and some priests which more than likely vidences serious offences and cover-up in my possession.
I have contacted the Police only lastweek to ask about getting this evidence collected – I have had no reply.
I do not feel it wise for the box of evidence to be in my possession for various sensible reasons.
Please can you advise as a matter of safeguarding importance regarding correct way toward.
Kind regards,
Peter from Liverpool

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10.27
Make sure you keep a copy and ask for a incident number when you always contact the Police or the Guards.
Serious stuff copy it to the new Papal Nuncio and he should investigate
As it is election time for the new Police and Crime commissioners and new Chief Constable Maybe worth that approach the Archbishop of Liverpool McMahon is not a nice person roll on 2024 and then it is bye bye should go back to his order.

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The Bishop just needs to look at Stephen Crossan’s file unless it has been deleted.
However Dromore does not have a Bishop as Rome appointed Archbishop Eamon Martin as Administrator of Dromore and that is enough said there a very weak man.

That is what Ger and Carey will do in Killaloe hang on like leaches however they will be watched like a hawk and lead a sad life rather than have the balls to quit and move on.

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Pat would you say there is escalating criminality? It looks like there might be judging by your posts of the past few days.

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What’s the latest story on mt Melleray? Are they still digging it in hoping for the best that it would quietly go away or fade away as times pass by??? 🤔🤔🤔🤔

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Fr Stephen is a good, gentle soul. He had a time of struggle with mental health but had the wisdom to step away from ministry. After stepping away from duties he was recorded snorting drugs. He went to recovery. He deserves privacy.
I applaud his strength to step away from ministry when he struggled. Many others need to be thrown out of ministry.

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No. He is a mortgage on the Church. He needs to go. We don’t want immature junkies in the priesthood. He can go stack the shelves at ASDA. Bye 👋

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It’s great being a mortgage on the Church. Nothing to do, all the bills paid for, the plebs in the pew pay for it. What’s not to like. Food and drink in abundance, holidays and sex. Bliss. The devil take the begrudgers.

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If vocations directors were honest and said that being a priest was light duties, no bills, a reasonable disposable income, no bosses as such, endless study opportunities abroad, sabbaticals every few years and as much sex as you want, the closed buildings at Maynooth could reopen and would burst at the seams.

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To step away from ministry? Do you mean he is maintaining himself with his own funds, working in another job, or relying on the church or state handouts? I wonder.

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@10.45 I cannot comment on that as I am not his bank manager. But priests are “self employed” for revenue purposes it would stand to reason that either
A) the diocese could not fund him, or
B) the diocese admitted a liability for salary and by default every diocese in the country has failed to pay employer PRSI and it’s equivalent North of the border.

You might also note that any employer who pays sick pay would have periods of full pay, part pay and no pay which include times of absence due to mental health illness.

I stress strongly; there is no need to double traumatise a person for mental health issues. That only causes reoccurrence.

@11.19 have you evidence of more than this one occasion? It’s a big jump from one line of coke during a mental health crisis to being a junkie.

Ultimately the real question is what type of formation programme was he subjected to? It was the same programme that Fr Ger was formed in. So were these men readied by the formation process which Archbishop Farrell revised, implemented and oversaw while President of Maynooth?

Going after the individual’s reliant on that system for their training is a process of attacking low hanging fruit. Why not get the big guy who had and has ultimate responsibility for the formation they got.

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10.45
Still a duty of care of the Church as he will not resign therefore the Bishop will be taking him though a canonical procedure.
they do not walk away they hang on and on.
Eventually will be liaised.
Most of the c/o or MIA are leaches.

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Holy Goat

I have followed your comments for some time now. I am surprised by your sudden change of heart regarding priests/seminarians that are caught in compromising positions. You were not as kind to the seminarians in Maynooth 2016 as you are to Fr. Ger. This indicates to me that you know him and are trying to cover up for him. I do not remember you blaming formation in the summer of 2016, you were calling for seminarians to make mature decisions and leave. You are making excuses for Fr. Ger and thus enabling him and his bad behaviour.
Priests are self employed but the diocese pays them. You can be sure he still receives wages from them as the diocese has responsibility to him as a cleric. They also pay for his housing and healthcare. He is a mortgage now.
You state “ have you evidence of more than this one occasion? It’s a big jump from one line of coke during a mental health crisis to being a junkie.” Let’s be honest, this was not his first time he done drugs. He snorted it like a pro. Just like a priest caught having sex, it was unlikely his first time. Fr. Ger had access to drugs – this was the first time he was caught. Buying drugs also enables gangs to commit other crimes such as murder and the exploitation of women. There must be zero tolerance for Fr. Ger – claiming metal health issues is the default for liars who cannot take responsibility for their actions.

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@11.50
Thank you for following my comments. I hadn’t realised I have a follower.
Just to note; you seem to be mixing Gar and Stephen up. I do nit think Ger has an issue with drugs?
Regarding the perceived change of stance; I must disagree.
I think those who are not be prepared properly should walk away before making a public stance on commitment to priesthood. They need that preparation to survive. They can find it in other locations or in the orders.
Regarding support for Ger and Stephen; only insofar as they should be allowed deal privately with personal struggles. Just like the Queen’s recent statement on dealing privately with family matters. The nature of the allegations are so personal they require space for mature reflection. Public debate risks people digging in their heels for the sake of appearances.
Is Stephen not in ministry? I was looking at the Dromore website this am but couldn’t find him.
You infer your suspicions in lieu of evidence. Let’s be clear, being caught on one occasion is evidence enough for any bishop with the balls to do what is required. It is not for the public to trial by media.
With regards to your statement on Mental health; with respect to your opinion I must disagree. Your stance is too black/white for the real world. Ministry teaches this. People suffer, and for people without a diagnosis the greatest damage is often being in a power relationship with a person they do not trust.
With respect to wages, how can we honestly be both self-employed and paid by the diocese? And yet are instructed to report as self-employed.

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11.14
So you’re absolving grown men of all responsibility for their predicaments and blaming it on a … system?😕
Isn’t this more of the self-serving juvenile ‘Father is never to blame’ clericalist nonsense we are now so used to hearing when Romanist priests get caught out and publicly called out?

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@3.06
A fair observation.

I do think a priest in these situations needs to accept their portion of responsibility and complete whatever rehabilitation is appropriate – I do not believe rehabilitation is appropriate if it involves child abuse, perpetual sexual misconduct or ongoing addiction problems.

Looking honestly at the clerical system it is well known that many priests might have a lapse in chastity but return to ministry and remain excellent priests, and very understanding in their pastoral ministry. This is like the hurt but forgiving wife scenario. Repeated instances do not deserve repeated forgiveness.

But priests get tempted and being human do seek a human connection, sometimes in the wrong place. There is a difference between a moment of genuine human weakness and people maliciously acting with wreckless disregard for their ordination promises.

However, it is worth noting that an actual solution to any of these problems requires in depth review of the failings of the formation programme. Bad formation sets up men to be bad priests, no matter how solid their vocation. Formation gives the basic insight that priests need to be able to fall back on when having a dark night in their soul. All too often modern formation focuses on one single aspect – the ability to appear obedient. This is not enough never was enough and never will be enough.

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3.37

‘Bad formation sets up men to be bad priests…’ ? Really? So seminarians … grown men … are so like little children, lacking such moral insight and discernment, that they are incapable of personally sifting formation wheat from chaff? This statement by you contradicts what you said about my post on the matter at 3.06: ‘A fair observation.’ If my observation was ‘fair’ (that is, ‘reasonable’), then your statement cannot be true, at least without considerable qualification.

If you are right that ‘all too often, modern formation focuses on one single aspect – the ability to APPEAR obedient’, then you have singlehandedly, and at a stroke, identified Romanist priesthood as a total charade: a moral illusion in which seminarians, grown men, are willing … freely willing … to cooperate, in order to achieve a goal they prize above all others, even the welfare of children: ordination to a globally discredited and shamed priesthood instituted not by Christ, but literally by men.

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@4.04
You sound like you are on the seminary council or friendly with a member.
You write
“Really? So seminarians … grown men … are so like little children, lacking such moral insight and discernment, that they are incapable of personally sifting formation wheat from chaff?”…. Do you realise that there is a formation programme for seminarians? If what you say were true there would be no need for seminaries and we might as well go back 600 years in priestly training.
In reality committing to a chaste life of celibacy involves a psychological adjustment no matter the motivation. A man does not arrive to seminary with this instilled. It must be part of the clerical formation. It is not about knowing right from wrong, it is about being able to put the knowledge into action when a priest is having a dark night of the soul. It is about having the formation to fall back on. No amount of moral theology actually strengthens you for this. Trust me, when you are feeling alone, lonely, having doubts, watching siblings have children, paternal instincts kicking up, hormones high and the option presents itself to connect with another person it is difficult to say no. I once found a young (Adult) woman in my house and she dropped her dress and was completely naked. I was flattered and tempted but knew to ask her to dress herself and have tea so that I could offer more appropriate support (or rather identify what the appropriate support was because it would not have been right for me to minister to a person who was attracted to me). On that day, as on many others, I relied on the wisdom instilled into me by my formators years before, as well as my spiritual director.
You also write,
“If you are right that ‘all too often, modern formation focuses on one single aspect – the ability to APPEAR obedient’, then you have singlehandedly, and at a stroke, identified Romanist priesthood as a total charade:”
With respect, I have not reduced anything to a charade. I have merely called it as it is. The reason people get ordained without proper formation is because they appear obedient. Of course they still have a vocation, but there are increasing numbers of Judas than Peter in the priesthood. By that I mean people with vocations who are being corrupted by temptation. Priest who cannot assimilate Matthew 4.1-11 into their personhood.
If the formation were better than the appearance of obedience could be changed into actual obedience. It is the seminary councils that reduce the process to a charade by not preparing new priests for real ministry – but to be fair to them the formators are all too often young priests with little genuine experience of parish life. They know not what it is like to be a priest. 25 years of parish ministry should me a requirement for any man to be a formator.

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9.31
You didn’t actually refute my point: that you were blaming a formation system, however flawed, for the immoral and criminal acts of Romanist clerics. The very idea is an expression of clericalism, as well as juvenile, cowardly and evasive nonsense. Mature, the lot of you, and take ownership of your own misconduct. Stop casting around, like a naughty eight – year-old, for someone else to blame. It does you no credit at all.
So priests have dark nights of the soul while the rest of us just call our difficulties ‘rough patches’? I suppose your sense of melodramatic exceptionalism here is matched only by your capacity to pass the buck for your sins.
It is always someone else’s fault, or something’s, whether that be a heroic dark night of the soul, or a seminary council.
Grow up.

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@10.16
Wow, there is a lot of anger in your response.
Clearly you do not like The Holy Goat. However I have responded to your point insofar as it is worth replying to.
In your latest comment at 10.16 you don’t actually make any logical sense. I have never said people are not responsible for their behaviour. What I said was people should
1. Be able to contemplate it with the required degree of privacy that allows mature reflection
2. Should be well formed to stand the best chance of achieving the psychological adjustment required for life-long chastity/celibacy.
What you argues boils down to the conclusion that the seminary process does not matter. If this were true then the seminary and every priest in it are but a superfluous mortgage on the church. You say I need to ‘Grow up’. If we are to get personal I say to you that you need to wake up. The priest needs to be responsible for his actions. The seminary needs to supply good formation so the priest stands the best change.
The Holy Goat does not pass the buck for his sins. Do you pass the buck for the seminary council failures? At this stage I think I am responding to a seminary council (ex)member who has lost the belief in what they do/did. Step back and take the space for some mature reflection.

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I would also weigh sems every year. Gluttony is a sign of an undisciplined and addictive personality and indicates a poor attitude to self-restraint and and the ascetic life. A lot of the Maynooth summer of love merchants were overweight, which is unbecoming of any young man, never mind one who is a sem.

The traddy orders won’t admit the overweight.

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Pat the loyalist South Antrim UDA loyalists are on your doorstep too supplying coke and more. I am not accusing you in anyway of anything but it’s not confined to Counties Tyrone or Down but all 32 counties. Most of the white and charlie is brought up over the border by tightly controlled Dublin cartels and they are not all native Irish either. Newtownabbey, Glengormley, Whiteabbey, Carrick and Larne are well known loyalist drug hotspots. Yes, clergymen are buying it all over the place but so are police judges, solicitors, teachers, the ordinary man/woman on the street. I’m not excusing clergy but just pointing out a reality.

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I’m I just being thick or are you rehashing stories that you have already told? I seem to remember both of them.

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If Fr Matt McConville is also a GP does that mean he is a priest who, as part of his work, prescibes contraceptives and even, potentially, refers patients for abortions?

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Talking of Dromore diocese, why is Fr Matt McConville still on their books as c/o bishop’s house. Ordained in 1985, after a few years in a parish he decided he wanted to be a GP and went off and did the whole training. Did parishoners pay? Then he popped up working as a doctor in a Glasgow hospital and may currently be a GP.
Occasionally he moans on the ACP comments section of the ACP website.
Is he still a priest, if so, why?

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I have A levels to study law in Queens Uni. However I cannot afford the associated costs.
Is Priesthood via Maynooth an alternative route to accomplish my goal of eventually become a QC?

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It is – but you may have to provide personal services to priests, bishops, abbots, monks and seminarians.

How do you feel about that ?

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The costs pale into insignificance compared to the psychological damage you will suffer if you go into seminary and onto ordination. Go do your law degree now. You’ll have plenty of work either prosecuting or defending the reprobates within the Catholic priesthood.

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11.45
he has requested not to be liaised and so therefore still a priest of the Dromore dioceses.
He should be living a celibate life and most likely not.
If he gets married then it will be easy to have him laicised.
But after five years Eamon Martin should be applying to Rome.
Although he unlike the rest will not be claiming money from Dromore.
it is up to Archbishop Martin.

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I thought Pope Benedict brought in new laws which introduced an administrative procedure to dismiss clergy through the congregation for clergy. This allows a petition to dismiss a priest from the clerical state if they abandon the ministry for five or more years. All Archbishop Martin would have to do is recall him to the diocese. If he fails to come back then he can initiate the procedure. I understood most dioceses were keen to initiate the procedure as it removes them from any potential vicarious liability claims, and financial obligations once the cleric has been dismissed.

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When Matt’s mother sadly died in 2014, the funeral notice listed the family members and Matt was described as Rev Dr Matt.

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12.00
It takes an Archbishop with guts to stand up and be counted and Eamon martin does not fit that bill.
Look at the time he is taking as Administrator of Dromore ticking it over however Archbishop Okolo is watching him like a hawk.
Pope Benedict reformed the laws to get rid of Clergy and Pope Francis has brought in the laws how to get rid of Bishops.

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If a priest is laicised is he automatically de-ontologicalised ?
Just askin’ like.

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2:47
How does Jim S. know who Okolo is watching. Okolo was on TV saying Mass some time ago with his escutcheon blazoned on his chasuble like one of the knights Templar.

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The Maynooth issue is years old and continues. Many of the sexually active seminarians are active priests now with poppers, drugs and sometimes rape.

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One former seminarian is always on Grindr – topless! He’s only looking for ‘tops’ and is a size queen.

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The Grindr ex-sem is formerly Killaloe and now big into the anti-Catholic social democrats. The Church did well not ordaining him.

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I have a friend who was chatting to him on grinder and was going to meet him, until I gave him the low down on the ex-sem. He asked him about Buckleys blog and the ex-sem denied all the stories about him on here.

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11.46am

What a disgraceful expression of dissonanced bile you have spewed onto this blog. Rendering a serious matter trivial is a sign of the cynical reaching gigantean proportions. It is aberrant, no more, no less. Some cathartic response is required to free from the bonds of error, no matter how unintentional.

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@2.47pm Eamon Martin is not running either Armagh or Dromore. It is being run by Archbishop Mr Gordon, he pulls all the strings. The auxiluary blow in from Cavan (wounded healer county) is as useless as a knitted condom.

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Whatever the dysfunctional behaviour of priests – be it alcohol, drugs, sexual, abuse, financial, whatever – there are other priests around who know about it. But, in the majority of cases they do nothing about it. They use priestly fraternal loyalty as an excuse to avoid bringing the issue to the fore and ensuring that it is addressed. Dysfunctional behaviour has a tendency to increase gradually in seriousness over time and get worse and only gets addressed when something desperate and terrible happens. Priests are clearly complici by their denial, coverup, excusing, minimising and avoiding the dysfunctional behaviours of their brother priests. Where that behaviour is criminal, they too are criminally complicit. There is no getting away from this by nice words and warm excuses. So, dear priests, wake up, look around, and take some considered and responsible action. That means talking to the priest about his behaviour, it means talking to the bishop – and if he won’t listen then he too becomes complicit -, it means talking with various statutory bodies including safeguarding, it means talking to the police. Otherwise, one day you will find a knock on the door and you will be answering questions because you failed to intervene. If the matter is serious enough you could find yourself facing charges of criminal complicity. I’m not joking !

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I remember a young curate who always had red marks around his nose. He would say he was suffering from a bad cold and was always blowing his nose. My son told me it was poppers burn marks. Apparently the EU changed the poppers formula for health reasons, and they are now less potent, so the Maynooth boys will no longer have to worry about that particular problem.

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The actual poppers fluid should not make contact with the skin. It is the vapor the receive needs, not the fluid.
…She looks like she has a nice personality.

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I suppose if you son said it was Hemorrhagic fever you would believe it too. My son said it was an infection from sniffing the arses of sick cows, which I find more believable, as sick cows can give you all sorts of complications

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I am not aware of any priests who indulge in bestiality – though many were raised in the farm so not out with the realms of possibility. Those priests get up to all kind of kinky shite. Archdiocese of Birmingham priest love the kink – Fr Bede Walsh dressed his boy up in nappies and Fr Joe Quiglley used to lock his up in the crypt…

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9.15: It is not surprising that men who are priests may fall into the addiction of drink and drugs, which I’ve never encountered, alcoholism yes. Priests are not immune from human temptations and frailties. Priests commit sin, do wrong and commit crimes – sexual abuse, misappropriation of funds and abuse their role as pastor. So, let us not forget that priests are no different than the rest of humanity vis a vis deathly temptations and misuse of drugs and drink and the perpetrating sexual crimes. No priest is above the civil law. Intervention to save someone from addictions is not just a matter of saying, “hey, you better stop…”. I have on a few occasions supported priests and others to addiction rehabilitation centres. The underlying reasons are often very complex and require professional therapy/counselling. It is not helpful to slam any addicted person or judge them harshly. Unless we are qualified, informed about addictions of any kind, we must be careful that we don’t condemn. That a priest is an alcoholic or misuses drugs for recreational purposes is sad and indicative of the brokenness of priesthoid in its present form. If I was to treat my brother or sister who had addictions in the cruel manner of some on the blog today against priests, I would be behaving very recklessly and could possibly endanger them rather than help them positively. If any of us is unable to help others with addictions of any kind we should do our utmost to find professionals who will do so. Dealing with addictive personalities requires professional training. That any priest is relying on drugs is very sad and perhaps indicative of the dysfunctionality of priesthood today. My approach to all addicts, irrespective of profession is to seek professional help for them, not mock, judge or ridicule. I am fortunate to have worked at Cuan Mhuire Centres where I net people from all backgrounds and professions seeking help and therapy. This experience changed my perspectives completely…As Christians, surely our task is to accompany broken people to wholeness and healing and new beginnings!

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11.53
You hit the nail on the head they need to admit they have a problem however most do not.
The Church has very good access to all sorts of help that people find themselves in however they need to admit it.
As for the sexual double life clergy there is no common decency among them they will be back in the parishes this weekend all Mr clean when some should resign.
The Church helps broken people apart from the state the Churches are the biggest Social Services providers.
The key word is capacity and if you have that then you can make your own judgements about yourself.

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Bishop Buckley. Instead of the usual nonsense and personal attacks you spout on here, I remind you that it is Holy Week. You have driven many a Priest to drink, to a bad place mental health wise or in at least one case to attempted suicide. How about a daily homily to take us through the journey from Palm Sunday through to the death and resurrection of Our Lord. That is the reason Our Lord called you to Priesthood. Why not follow him for at least a week this year?

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If priests are turning to drink, suicide etc then their conscience must be weighed down. They should confess and leave.

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1.46: A very flippant comment. Can only come from a brainless twit. You know nothing about alcoholism, addictions or suicide to make such an 8gnorant comment. You, sir, need confession!!

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6.59
Not by means of a Romanist priest, and never in the case of a child, especially if he is male.
Confess directly to Christ himself. Cut out the middlemen.

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12:26
Nonsense! BS. Our Lords journeying passion death and resurrection takes place every week of the year. Ask yourself, how many victims of clerical sexual abuse attempted suicide or worse. Follow the Lord every week of the year, Fathers.

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Pat Buckley wouldn’t know its Palm Sunday that is leading to the most holy week in the Christian calendar.
He serves his Master by belittling and mocking others.
I’ve just said a prayer for this sad individual.

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I celebrated Palm Sunday Mass and will do the same for the Triduum – all available on Facebook – Bishop Pat Buckley.

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12.26
Father D.E we all know this is Holy Week do you or did you read it on your liturgical calendar.
Bishop Buckley has driven no clergy or seminarians to drink, drugs or suicide and be assured of that.
If any clergy or seminarians have difficulties it is of their own making and it would be easier for everyone Bishops, Tribunal staff and admin staff if they would do the honourable thing and resign.
They all know who they are the MIA, c/o and so on they should remember it is the lay faithful they are robbing not the dioceses.
Father Ger knows he is wrong.
Father Carey has a Criminal sexual conviction and yet hangs on.
So DO NOT blame Pat Buckley tell you and your Brotherhood to be honest and you never know as we approach Pentecost they may examine their conscience and GO.

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Yes they are robbing the ordinary people not their dioceses. Saw a priest collecting two Sunday lunches earlier from the local Spar. The overweight pig demanded the girl put extra roast spuds on both. He then got into his brand new car outside and no doubt the laity have paid for it all, lunches included. Shortage of money because of covid and church lockdown my eye. They are still raking it in. My late wife and I watched these priests boozing and eating in hotels and other eating houses, demanding, gorging, clicking their finger at staff and looking for preferential treatment. Nothing much has changed. They go into these places wearing a collar to get attention and special treatment.

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@3.59pm not you again. I rather hoped you had disappeared. You and your wife snooping on clergy dining out was pathetic. I am sorry she is dead but she clearly wore the trousers and trailed you around with her like some lapdog. Maybe you have become more like her. We don’t need to hear your snooping on clergy as its boring.

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On the contrary @5.45pm. I used to like the couples stories about clergy and dining out and had a chuckle like I did today. I am sorry his wife died, I never knew that. May she rest in peace. I hope he keeps contributing and maybe he hasn’t been able to until now because of his grief.

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Maybe they should have some sort of workplace drug and alcohol testing before each Mass. Helen, a regular on CTS, also suggests a test for “sodomite leanings.”

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Doug Beattie, a Ulster Unionist Meber of the NI Assembly, will this week introduce an attempt to outlaw conversion therapy, AKA “praying away the gay”. What do blog readers think?

I’m generally against banning things, unless it’s for a good reason and I suppose a lot will depend on what he means by conversion thereapy and what is in scope.

For example, a priest in the confessional at Westminster Cathedral told me it was ok to be gay, and even have a boyfriend, as long as we didn’t have any sexual activity of any kind. Would that advice be unlawful if Doug succeeds?

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We all live in a church of yellowbeing(s) Drugs is a strange one. From the wealthy to the oppressed and repressed and on and on. Sure poor auld fadder needs an outlet God help him. Tis tough being a priest. There is more to the story than this many will admit

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HOW- HI FLY
Begorra hi there’s an assortment of colours in the Church.
No harm at all fly butt are there too many yellow packs in the priestly realm.
Cheerful types who think grace comes cheap.
Drugs booze and sex to excess is escapism from pain within and outside.
Fallen humanity the World over.
If the fadders put God first matters might improve.
There’s always more to every story.
The little pictures with the Big picture is only known to GOD.
Anyways cheerful cheap or priestly
May The Force Be With Us. +
Bye Bye Fly Hi.

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Yellow packs ye. I went looking for a Bible yesterday Checked Store room. All sorts of commentaries conversions but .no Bible. Sez much methinks

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HOW- HI FLY.

The Bible is a Lethal Weapon.
Explosive stuff.
Dangerous in the wrong hands.
Maybe why so thin on the ground.
May The Force Be With Us.+
Bye Bye FLY HI.

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Bit disappointed that Fr Ger and the topless Killaloe Grindr ex-sem are not in the “A day in the life of a priest” video produced by Killaloe diocese. Maybe they’ll be in the sequel “A night in the life of a priest”.

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2.46
Both are absent from the video due to not having a TRUE vocation.
Some still lead double shabby lives.
Thankfully the ex seminarian did not get ordained.

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I believe every carefully choreographed and rehearsed word of this video. Makes me wanna be a Romanist priest!😃
‘This is a good life’, said the corpulent priest. And then some, I’ll bet. No shortage of food; that’s for sure.
Aye. ‘Tis a grand life, sponging off others. And it’s even grander if you have no sense of personal shame and disgust at doing so.

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Rome then Oscott. That was a demotion it’s usually the other way round. I don’t know how he got booted out of the VEC which is incredibly difficult.

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He is nursing that paschal candle like a phallus – Isn’t Blackpool the home of that hotel with no locks on the doors? I bet they’d like a cop of the paschal candle in there…what young parish priest address themselves by their surname? The more they cassock up, and put on displays of piety, the more sure you can be that they’re up to something unwholesome.

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@3.59pm Did the overweight priest have an egg stain on his ganzy from his fry up this morning, he often does plus bad dandruff. It shows up worse on black coloured clothing. Sounds like someone I know. Eats like a horse and often covered in food stains. Disgusting.

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Sky History2 tonight at 8pm ‘The Last Pope’ also repeated at Midnight. The prophecy of St Malachy that predicts Pope Francis as the last Pope.

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The end of Romanism, and her failed priesthood too, one hopes.

But-but…😯

I can’t get Sky History! (Waaaaaah! 😢)

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6.36

No; I do have Sky, dearie, but literally cannot get (receive) Sky History. Something to do with my location.

I’m sure you’ll pray for the resolution of this.😇

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Oscott has always been a refuge for those booted from other seminaries. One of them was booted out of Valladolid for pant (or was it bed?) sniffing and found refuge there in the 1990s. He is now a canon!

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7.16: What a lovely programme. I am in admiration of these elderly men in their total abandonment to God. Very touched by the testimony of these monks. Their wisdom, humility and prayerful spirit is inspiring. The death of one of the monks and the prayer vigil and burial were very beautiful. Wish I had something of the inner spirit and Christ likeness of these men…

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8:27 pm

Yes, I agree. An excellent programme accurately portraying Cistercian life.
Dom Erik Varden was ordained a Bishop-prelate of Trondheim, Norway, last October.

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Yes very inspiring. The monk digging the graves is from Liverpool. I remember when he joined around 1999. I am so glad he persevered.

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9.01
Oh, I’m sure it was a warts ‘n’ all exposé.
Nothing but the truth from those guys, eh?😕

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6.56pm
Oh go on give us a clue – he’s a canon of the chapter now – or is he retired or active? I love a quiz and a puzzle – mind you should be easy to figure out.

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The Spiritual Director leaves Oscott in the summer and Monsignor Tom Millar of Motherwell is taking over.
First monsignor Millar was going to Rome but for personal reasons he could not go and now he is going to Oscott and he will not like it as he is not into dressing up and lace.

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Monsignor Millar looks like a good choice, almost sergeant major material. However, he will first have to deal with a couple of camp members of staff if he wants to change the ethos of the place!

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How bad is rcc in Ireland? Are they holding it on a fragile glass or slowly decimating away. Too many bishops and dioceses here for my liking or many lay person liking🤔.

Starting to see its false facade or a front with priests who have problems. If it stand divided as it would not unify it. Some bishops out there who don’t believe jesus christ nor did they experience their supernatural experience? Who was the 1st and 2nd choice before Crean?

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DG
You never know who is on the terna list so most people guess there is every chance Bishop Crean was first and not third no one will every know except the Papal Nuncio (Charlie Brown), Cardinal Marc Ouellet and at that time Pope Benedict who makes the final choice

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8.16pm anon

Thanks. Noticed ouellet and benedict gone which leaves brown. Heard not good things about Brown due to fr Fagan book mentioned here long ago.

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7.11 unfortunately he has been brain washed as per previous blogs about him. He lives with another weirdo Rev Billing who admires him greatly shall we say.

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