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FATHER GER FITZGERALD – THE OUTCOME.

Fr Ger Fitzgerald – who was recently accused of and admitted having sex with a vulnerable lady parishioner has lost his post as a Co PP and a priest of the Ennis area.

Over the weekend he attempted to put a better slant on his position by saying he asked the bishop for a leave of absence.

The truth us that the bishop told Ger: ‘Jump or be pushed”.

He lost his job for what would be called “gross misconduct” in any other walk of life.

Nobody, in any position of trust, would last three minutes, after initiating sex with a client or service user.

They would be summarily dismissed and lose all pension rights.

But Ger has gone on a “sabbatical”.

One Killaloe source claims he is going to a sexual counselling clinic in the USA,?

These are the facts of this case:

1. Ger Fitzgerald had sexual intercourse with a younger, vulnerable lady parishioner.

2. At first Ger denied his behaviour to the bishop.

3. Later he admitted the sex claims.

4. He tried to brazen it out for weeks by recording his daily Masses on Facebook.

5. The woman had meetings with the bishop, the diocesan secretary and the the diocesan safeguarding officer.

6. Everyone who met the woman believed her story 100%.

7. The bishop and Ger had meetings and it was decided Ger had to go.

8. An attempt at a final Mass and a going away party was thwarted by the bishop and the Ennis Garda.

9. Ger has left the people of Cloughleigh believing that the woman lied about him.

10. Certain “elements” in Cloughleigh threatened the woman’s life and safety and the Garda in Ennis are currently dealing with that.

I’m amazed to see women in Ennis defending a man who betrayed his position of trust with a parishioner on Facebook.

How would they feel if it was their sister or daughter?

GER GITZGERALD – THE FUTURE:

Currently Ger Fitzgerald plans to return to a diocesan assignment after his sabbatical.

Given the Church’s very lamentable procedures on returning unsuitable people to ministry, Ger may well return.

The problem is that he is a self confessed womaniser. He has admitted the latest affair.

He also confessed two previous affairs to the latest woman.

Ger has admitted other relationships with women to others.

What information is contained on his file in Bishop’s House, Ennis?

Personally, I do not think that it is safe for any bishop to appoint Ger to another assignment.

Bishops have a duty of care not to place unsuitable pastors to and pastoral situation.

Ger might be best advised to join the “Order of St Joseph – two heads on the one pillow.

152 replies on “FATHER GER FITZGERALD – THE OUTCOME.”

I think it’s time you dropped the Fr Ger stories. I’m sure you’ve plenty other “stories” you can fill your blog with.

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Agreed.
+Pat has hit his target. No need to kick Ger while he is down. Often the priest in these scenarios is also hurting and is ultimately human. He will need time to get his mind together so that he can make an informed decision to leave or stay and genuinely try ministry again. the Church can forgive a priest who breaks his promises just as much as a wife can forgive a husband who breaks his vows.

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Sounds Like St Luke’s in Washington. On arrival he will have his luggage searched and any belts will be removed. He will then be weighed, photographed and have blood taken for tests including HIV. He will have to hand over his mobile phone and no access to the internet. First names are used and surnames avoided. For the first week during initial assessment he will share a room with a fellow inmate, i mean patient, there are no locks on the door to the bedroom, including the en-suite bathroom door in case he attempts suicide. At night there will be regular checks and a guard will shine a torch into his room to ensure he has not attempted suicide. There will then follow an intense programme of psychological assessment. The accusations which led to his being admitted will be put to him and he will be invited to comment. After the initial week long evaluation a zoom conference will be held with his assessors and bishop with him present. The likely recommendation will be a 6 month intensive residential programme. The food is all low fat (so no fish and chips) low sugar and obviously no alcohol. He will not be allowed to leave the facility unsupervised. If he has any sense he will admit he likes sex, leave and find a purposeful life rather than subject himself to this so called therapy and intense supervision for the immediate future.

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Wow…ewe seem to know quite a bit about the process! We’re ewe an inmate urself…or one of the treatment team?

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The reaction of the people of Cloughleigh parish is scandalous but typical. In many rural parts of Ireland the presence of a resident priest is prized as an affirmation of local identity along with a Garda station and a post office. It has nothing to do with any religious zeal even though it is regularly dressed up as such. A community which would sacrifice one of its own in a time of difficulty rather than support them is not a real Christian community. The changing dynamics of rural Ireland need attention and will require a willingness for real structural change on the part of all concerned. However it should be clear to any sensible observer that such internal failure does indeed mark the beginning of the end for any community.

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That would be putting the term politely, sending death threats to that póor girl, using people to entice her into places, contacting guards etc…

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According to the teachings of the RCC, Ger is a serial fornicator. He shouldn’t have been ordained and he shouldn’t be still a priest.

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I’m not being funny but if you go by the teaching of the church – that a man must be hetero and celibate – you’ll either have vanishingly few priests or only self-hating gays in denial.

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The 21st century, where the Catechism of the Catholic Church still teaches those who have ears to hear:

“2353 Fornication is carnal union between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of persons and of human sexuality which is naturally ordered to the good of spouses and the generation and education of children. Moreover, it is a grave scandal when there is corruption of the young.”

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A poor innocent women’s mass was not cancelled Canon Law does not allow cancelations of Holy Mass except in exceptional circumstances. And therefore this was the case
The Mass for this Lady was transferred to Sunday at 11am at the instructions of the Bishop and Father Tom Ryan offer the Holy Mass up for the Lady.
What the Lady was getting was a Mass said by a Priest who admitted have sex with a parishioner and a follow on party so there would be NOTHING Sacred there.
The church World wide take memorial masses very serious for all the families concerned and more so in the month of Holy Souls so what the Bishop did was stop a mockery of a mass being said for a fun club and a party.
Fer Ger will be protected by Canon Law so you have no need to worry about your Father Ger however what should be worrying Bishop Monahan and Father Tom Ryan the email they allowed to be read inflicting more wounds into the Victim.
Holy Mass will be offered for all in this horrendous situation Father Ger Fitzgerald has placed the Dioceses of Killaloe in.

Father Ger should have apologised to his victim (but that will come under safeguarding) also to his Brother priests and Bishop he has let them down none more than himself.

So don’t blame the Dioceses about the situation if anything the Bishop was very good to Father Ger allowing his digging remarks for six weeks during his “masses”.

Why has Farther Ger saying he asked for a sabbatical come on Ger tell the Truth

Bishop Fintan maybe think he is going to Tuam but there is no way he will be till both Ger and Gerry are sorted out and not pass the situation onto another Bishop

Bishop Fintan try and read canon Law as a worthwhile pasttime for you in a learning curve for the future.

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Pat, it concerns me not one jot the breaking of his vow or promise. What is of concern and the reason why he had to go is simple That reason is that he abused his position of trust.
A bereaved and vulnerable woman turned to him, a figure of trust, and he abused that trust. He goes! End of!

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NO EXCUSES: “a figure of trust” you said.
More like a “figure of fun” !
Why would anyone trust the current brand of RC priests?
That question is rhetorical. We very well know why: childhood indoctrination perpetuated by the RCC

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Ennis fear NO more you will see Father Ger in the Cathedral next year for the Chrism Mass we he is “suppose” to renew his vows alongside his Brother priests who maybe in similar situations.
In relationships or active activity then the Priesthood is not for you.
Father Gerry Carey and father Ger Fitzgerald the Priesthood is not nor you and Father Michael you are walking on eggshells and really time is nearly up
So sad for a youngish Bishop to have three cases at once and out his ability to seriously act and allow a disgusting email to be read and Tom Ryan should take a look at himself for reading it.
Few weeks ago they threw vinegar at Our Lord and here we have Father Tom Ryan, Bishop Fintan and of Course the biggest thrower with the vinegar at the victim.

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5.49: You crazy madman. Your comment should not have been printed. VIOLENCE is what you are inciting. I’m sure your cupboard has many skeletons, you gob****e!

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7.39 I am not a man I am the victim of ger and the lady in question!

I can assure you that man will not be back unless anyone else has been sitting in the meetings personally with the diocese that can dictate otherwise!

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Best of luck Fr Ger hope to see you back in Ennis soon. And the person involved wasn’t a child she knew well what she was letting herself in for, if the gossip is true that she was with him it takes two to tango.

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It is NOT gossip it is FACT.
The Lady he was involved with (and not the first) was vulnerable and furthermore Ger Fitzgerald has taken vows and continued to break them.
Instead of the he done a deal with the Bishop he should have told the truth he is going for sexual therapy.
He will not be back in the Ennis group of parishes.

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What a stupid comment. It takes two to shag – but she isn’t bound by a promise of celibacy. He is/was.

He took advantage of her vulnerability and then when he got what he wanted he ditched her. Such despicable and cowardly behaviour and not becoming of a priest. If he was a man of God, at all, he should have stood at his pulpit and denounced those who were vilify this women, apologised for his failings and promise to try and sort himself out.
I also heard from a reliable that this wasn’t the first time this priest???crossed the line.
I’m also absolutely appalled at the ‘Christian’ response to his victim by the parishioners.

I also have to laugh at the idea that there is a ‘clinic’ in America that can help Ger do what he needs to do i.e keep that certain part of his anatomy in his pants.

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Mary Mounsey there’s 6 months of evidance given to the diocese that hasn’t been released to the public including previous relationships he has had, are you seriously condoning he’s behaviour. Priests don’t get removed based on gossip.

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Fintan is supporting Ger in a process of healing and at the same time he has cut of the support for the two former abused seminarians.

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Stalker the two abused ex seminarians are saying nothing and it is only you that brings it up daily so your are mentioned on the blog.

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The two abused seminarians could have had an illegally enforced “Gagging” Order forced upon them by a corrupt District judge and and registered social worker.
Just look at the Liverpool scandle which is about to break!

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Is the poor man ok?
One woman being listened and the town ignored….?

she provided six months of evidence between the pair, that not only was he initially denying, leaving the poor girl subjected to abuse, threats and intimidation, I am certain he is not telling the people of cloghleigh the real truth of what went on or the full extent of it, As there’s alot more to that story than just the intercourse, the public are oblivious and completely unaware of alot facts which haven’t been released.

The diocese removed him with good valid reasons, that are justified, fr Gers behaviour is what resulted in the mass /event being cancelled and I’m sure the Bishop/ger had their reasons, which was reorganised for their family the next day in a beautiful ceremony.

Has anyone asked if this poor girl is OK after all she has suffered and endured….

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12.35
Where is the Bishop he should be addressing the situation and informing the parish.
It was shocking that a Vicar Forane read out a lying email as Ger did not request a sabbatical as during his mass mid week he spoke about the months ahead.
The truth is Bishop Monahan took the cowards way out and set him on a sabbatical that Ger did not want to go on.

This is what Father Ger wanted to do on Saturday night and the Bishop said NO

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Apparently when he shagged her, prior to their relationship, he just got straight up and just left her in complete disappointment and shock and didn’t even wait around nor give a shit the following week!

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Messages coming from Rome. A lapse of a vow can be forgiven. Internal documents of advice for those who might father a child.

There is the priest’s side of the story. There is the woman’s side of the story. There is the truth in-between.

Let your servant now go in peace: https://youtu.be/4vlaORJXLo8

Is mise le meas,

Séamus

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In the case of Ger there are a number of steps that should have been / need to be taken:
1. He should immediately have been suspended upon the receipt of the initial complaint / evidence if there appeared to be any credibility to the complaint / evidence. It took some excruciating time for Lugs to do this, but it looks as though he has finally got there.
2. Ger seems to be heading off for a period of sabbatical / counselling etc. If he goes to the right place, they will not just concentrate of trying to “save” his vocation, as if that is the only thing that matters. Good places will look at the totality, and advise as to where, when and what he should do, which may well include that it is the best course for him, the Church, and for everybody else that he moves on to a new life.
3. Even if it is decided that he should remain a priest. the bishop needs to make the assessment / judgement as to whether and in what kind of circumstances Ger could continue as a priest, and what kind of ministry he should be engaged in. If the bishop won’t appoint him and give him faculties, then he will not minister. Any other bishop to whom he goes will have to resort to Lugs who will tell them chapter and verse to inform their decision.
4. Of course, Ger could just pull the plug and recognise that it might be best for him to move on.
5. All of these steps need to be taken calmly and with time and after due deliberation. It has been a slow start but at least a process is now under way, as it should be.
6. And, of course again, if these matters raise themselves to the level of some criminal / sexual / assault level, then there is a whole level of other trouble and grief coming Ger’s way.

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9.41
Well said.
It is finally underway however Bishop Fintan should never have allowed Ger’s email to be read it was a email of denial and no apology to the victim.
It made Ger look good.
Bishop Fintan was either slow or badly advised.
I would like to think Bishop Fintan did not know about Ger’s email being read but who knows

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‘Abuse of power’: should universities ban staff-student relationships? A UK university banned relationships between lecturers and their students. Should others follow? The culture may be shifting: many universities have introduced policies discouraging relationships between staff and students in recent years. Others have banned “personal and intimate relationships” between students and the lecturers who assess their work and provide pastoral support.

Rome currently forgives a lapse of the vow. A code of conduct is needed if there is to be a shift in culture that the lapse of the vow may also be an abuse of pastoral supportive power. Clergy and lay people will have to be educated.

Let’s look for solutions! Peace be with you all my brothers and sisters in Christ!

Is mise le meas,

Séamus

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10:12 am

Utter Bull ! University lectures are not ontologically altered unless ordained! You are not comparing like with like professionally.The shift in culture needs to take place in Rome, Seamus. The code of conduct is canon law, catholic morality and, more fundamentally,
the gospels. Please, stop trying to pull the wool! There is an obvious power differential between a professional and a student, client, patient…etc.

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I am a Killaloe priest. Three bishops were/are aware of Ger’s “problems”.
A public scandal was only a matter of time.
This should have been nipped in the bud years ago.
Once again, weakness, mediocrity and inaction have hurt the peoole.

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KP
The priests of Killaloe should be saying to Bishop Monahan diocesan money should be be used to send Father Ger on a sabbatical / Holiday as it will be a waste of the lay faithful’s money.

It will be interesting for how long surely the Clergy would have had an ad clerium to inform you what is happening to both Father Ger and Father Gerry as you have a right to know and more so the people of Ennis group of parishes as that is the pastoral are two down in 8 weeks.

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Ger and Gerry should both be put in the same parish house when they return to ministry. Problem solved.

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I am one of the victims and I can assure you this will be nipped in the bud and justice will be served!

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5.54: What’s your role in all of this saga? Are you a scorned woman? Are you jealous of the women whom Fr. Ger enjoyed? There are many hurt people. You should all seek professional counselling instead of issuing threats against one another. Shame on all of you!

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If the church moves in the direction of ordaining married men to the priesthood, those who are not married will still be required to take a vow.

Who Is Eligible to Become a Deacon?
It is the bishop who, in the name of the Church, calls a man to ordination as deacon. Any decision to call a man to the order of deacon must follow from a mature discernment. In other words, it is a decision rooted in faith. The bishop needs to satisfy himself that a man, who has already been called by God in the Sacrament of Baptism, is now called by God to ordained ministry, as a further expression of his baptismal vocation.

Candidates for the permanent diaconate may be married or unmarried. The upper age limit for ordination is sixty years of age.

Married Candidates

The Church is concerned that there should be no potential for conflict between the responsibilities of ordained ministry and the need of a couple in the early years of their married life to devote their time and energy to maturing in their relationship and to caring for young children. For that reason, a married man must have reached the age of thirty five before he can be ordained to the permanent diaconate. He must also have the formal consent of his wife.

Unmarried Candidates

Unmarried candidates must have reached the age of twenty five before they can be ordained as permanent deacons. In keeping with the tradition of the Church, those who are ordained as single men make a solemn promise of celibacy.

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This blog about Fr Ger is unnecessary and unreasonable. You have said much about him and now you rub salt into the wounds. Allow him to reflect and decide on his future. That is the right thing to do.

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I made a comment above. But I’d like to follow it up with this

It is clear that Fr Ger was liked and supported by many in his parish. He appears to have done some great work and it’s easy to see why people might be angry at the nature of his departure.
If the Catholic Church had a healthier outlook on sexuality Fr Ger might have been able to have a loving partner and a productive ministry. Judging by the response of his parishioners to his situation , they appear to accept that ‘a man has needs’ and if Ger had a loving partner they’d continue to support him.

It seems many catholics are happy to accept that this is the case but unfortunately the hierarchy are not ( while hypocritically shagging all and sundry )

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Hold on ! This has nothing to do with a priest and a ‘loving partner”. This has to do with a priest taking advantage of a vulnerable person with whom he had a pastoral relationship, and the priest getting his end away to fulfil his own needs and desires. If anything is abusive, then this situation is that. So, please stop minimising what this Ger priest has done. This is serious and points to him being wholly unsuited to ministry. If he wants to have a “loving partner” then let him do so outside the priesthood, although I suspect that given his past behaviour he is probably only going to find relationships that have an element of control and abuse about them. The man needs to go. Simple. Even if some of his ex-parishioners think the sun shines out of his arse. They are only hearing what he is telling them. If he told them the whole truth and they had the sense to understand it, they would see how unsuitable he is to minister to them as a priest. And, it has nothing to do with celibacy. It has to do with the way in which he used his position and the vulnerability of the other party to fulfil his own needs.

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The woman’s vulnerability is being completely overstated. Many on this blog have grieved the passing of a close loved one. She hasn’t pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes.

The church currently doesn’t see a priest and a parishioner as being an abuse of power. It is simply seen as a lapse of a vow that can be forgiven. The focus should be on Rome for anyone genuinely interested in a long-term solution.

Is mise le meas,

Séamus

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If you read all the contributions to this thread you will see that I am far from sympathetic to Ger or minimising the situation.

I was attempting to highlight the fact that if the church had a healthier attitude and teaching towards sex then these men might,and I emphasise might, have a healthier outlet for their sexual needs- and not end up in hypocritical and dysfunctional relationships.

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Seamus: Well, the Church is far behind the rest of society if it thinks that sexual relations between a parishioner and priest are just a matter of the priest transgressing against his vow of celibacy ! In any other walk of life where there was that kind of professional relationship, such behaviour would end up with the professional being disbarred. So, I think Holy Mother The Church needs to sort itself out, pronto like !

Sony: I’m glad you are not trying to make excuses for this Ger priest. However, while I accept that the Church’s attitude to sexuality and its requirement of mandatory celibacy for priests are not helpful in engendering a healthy and integrated way of life for priests, and that much dysfunction comes from that. But, Ger has not just got his end away, he has transgressed professional boundaries. For me that is the most significant thing that has impact on his suitability to continue in ministry.

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What’s this loving partner to meet Ger’s needs crap? What a disrespectful way to talk about women. Is Ger like a bull that needs servicing?

Also, the only morally licit sex, in the teachings of the Church, is between one man and one woman who are married to each other. Everything else is wrong, morally. If you don’t like that teaching, join one of the 30,000 Protestant denominations.

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What is ‘loving’ about a bag of chips and a quick shag and then straight back to the presbytery after coitus?

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Seamus IX aka Misconcepta the Ironclad, if you want us to blame Rome then you should blame Rome yourself, not the woman. You are only targetting her because she wanted out quicker than the others. Are you their pimp?

The new thing is, there is no doctrine, and church order is solely a matter of outmanoeuvring the bishop. Having mystified us for the last 52 years with all their pointless flip flops, the Vatican has now put the boot into us all. And prior to then the RC view on sex would have been simple if only the priests had stayed out of our consciences.

As for you you think secular rules are the same as morals.

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12.32
You say everyday on this blog why not ask Bishop Fintan Monahan.
Michael Collins seems to turn up on big time 🙂 🙂 🙂

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1:08 pm

Holy Mother Church is incapable of sorting itself out historically never mind pronto.
The Church is the People Of God not Vatican Inc.

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Pat are you continuing to try and make contact with Kevin Connolly in a safe neutral location. Kevin wishes to share his secrets with you.

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There is safeguarding of vulnerable adults. Such matters can be reported to the HSE and Gardaí. The woman in question for having an affair with a priest was foolish but NOT vulnerable.

Celibacy and Appropriate Boundaries ethics were not adhered to by the priest. Such a lapse can be forgiven.

It would seem that the 80 year old woman is in the category of those who will forgive the lapse of the vow and has her female instincts to inform her that the woman was NOT vulnerable.

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Those in that age category have the benefit of wisdom and life experience – an experience that teaches them that life is not all black and white. They have witnessed many changes in the church.

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I bet that 80 year old’s children are all lapsed and her grandchildren are unbaptised/unconfirmed.

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‘The Chipper of Romance’ – a sweeping love story set in County Clare. At its heart is the ill-fated romance of a young woman and the handsome Roman Catholic priest, Fr Fitzgerald. Forced to choose between the woman he loves, and the Church he is sworn to. A tale of heartbreak, division, frustration and decisions. But what will they choose in the end? Cod and chips or a battered sausage?

*coming to a cinema near you*

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Bishop Pat will be played by Andy ♥️https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/NINTCHDBPICT000275113338.jpg

Who will play Ger or Fintan?

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I don’t think he’s agenda was a tale of love, more like he was shaking he’s chips looking for a bit of cod.

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Salthill?? Scariff?? where next? Is there any town with a waterfront car park that doesn’t hold a dark secret about a Kilalloe priest?

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Seamusviii
It is because of people like you that the Church has people like Ger and Gerry which is shocking.
YOU have no respect Women as your attitude priests can do what they want well Thank God that is not the case now as it is NOT acceptable.
I really think you must be an old drunk or someone who has had problems in their ministry.
I wish I knew who you were and what dioceses you were in as you would not be in it long safeguarding would be all over you like the plague.

Bishop Pat may like your constant derogatory comments but be assured they are NOT welcome in the Catholic Church.

People like you Seamus stop people coming forward because of your attitude the Priest as for married clergy in will not happen in Pope Francis pontificate or in his successor so at least for the next ten years Celibacy will be part of the Roman Catholic Church.

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5.39: No, SpanUsh is my first language…get it SpanUsh!!!! 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

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I think Ger’s 52 years old. He’s a bit long in the tooth to be running about like a young buck.

He might be having the dreaded male mid-life crisis. When that happens, take cover. It has wrecked many a marriage and wreaked havoc among priests who should know better.

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Isn’t it a good thing that Fr Ger is gone on sabbatical and that he may make the decision to be a priest or not. If he doesn’t want to be a priest let him be free to marry, if he wants to be a priest let him keep his promises to God and live a holy life. He wanted to have his cake and eat it and it backfired on him spectacularly. He needs time to reflect on his recent behaviour and the hurt he’s caused to the woman, his brother priests, his Bishop, his parishioners, his family, the people of Ennis and the diocese of Killaloe. The knock on effect of his actions are huge and the pain will linger in Cloughleigh if Bishop Fintan doesn’t act to stop it now. These people are hurting and through no fault of their own and it could end up very nasty, just read the comments on their parish page.
I know you all enjoy a laugh at Ger’s expense, chip shop and all that, but spare a moment to pray for him.

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seamusviii How do we know that the woman wasn’t vulnerable? Whatever way you look at it, Fr. Ger was in a position of trust. He had sexual intercourse with her and then ghosted her. And according to posts on this blog, he has done this with a number of women. Are you seriously saying “oh sure, he had a little slip, God love him”?

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Not a good advertisement for them if he is. Didn’t someone think he was a religious?
Come to think of it Magna Carta has shut up completely. Perhaps Seamus VIII is another incarnation of the collective.

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Compassion and healing are needed on both sides and also for the people hurt by these actions. I don’t know if true healing can take place if we don’t first take responsibility for our actions. I’m so glad it’s not in my parish. I’d be shaken.

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The HSE have guidelines for protecting vulnerable people. The woman was not a vulnerable person. If she was, the priest would have been investigated by the Gardaí and would be facing a court hearing.

A priest is in a position of trust. As I said in my earlier post, Celibacy and Appropriate Boundaries ethics were not adhered to by the priest. Some people will forgive this lapse of the vow. Other people will not.

May the 4th be with you! And also with you.

Is mise le meas,

Séamus

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Not sure why the above @6:16 came through as anonymous. To be sure to be sure that it is myself:

The HSE have guidelines for protecting vulnerable people. The woman was not a vulnerable person. If she was, the priest would have been investigated by the Gardaí and would be facing a court hearing.

A priest is in a position of trust. As I said in my earlier post, Celibacy and Appropriate Boundaries ethics were not adhered to by the priest. Some people will forgive this lapse of the vow. Other people will not.

May the 4th be with you! And also with you.

Is mise le meas,

Séamus

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6:38pm

Its a pity the Institutional church cannot take responsibility regarding clerical abuse of children and vulnerable adults. Maybe it explains the lack of compassion and healing to survivors.

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Bishop Fintan and Father Ger were getting very bad advice on this, with phone calls,emails and private visits from parishioners. It was turning into a Father Ted comedy show. Sanity prevails.

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7.13
Bishop Fintan has the Best advice that is needed and it is all in Canon Law and that is what should have happened immediately.
Father Ger should have been suspended pending investigations but he was allowed to continue to add insult to injury through the Facebook and his homilies.

However I see all the hints and and sick digs have been remover from the Cloughleigh facebook but the TRUTH will need to come out for the victims sake as even Ger’s email said he was snow white clean and sought a sabbatical that is not true.

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@1:08 “Well, the Church is far behind the rest of society if it thinks that sexual relations between a parishioner and priest are just a matter of the priest transgressing against his vow of celibacy !”

Romantic relationships between co-workers can be a tricky issue for employers, with a need to balance an employee’s right to privacy on the one hand against a need for robust anti-sexual harassment policies.

There is no law against an office romance, and it is ultimately a question of company policy.

It is best practice to require disclosure of relationships where there is a perceived conflict of interest.

This will undoubtedly arise where there is an imbalance of power, perceived favouritism, or where one has influence over the other’s promotional opportunities, salary increases, etc.

A sensible company policy may also dictate that if employees date within their reporting line, one of them may be moved to an alternative position to remove any perceived conflict of interest. In the United States, it has been reported that employees are being asked to sign a ‘love contract’ if they choose to date a colleague.

This type of contract is a document setting out how they will behave at work, declaring that they have consented to the relationship and that they understand the company’s sexual harassment policy.

The idea is that the company is no longer liable for a claim of sexual harassment because the employees have acknowledged that the relationship is consensual.

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I’d do it all again in a heartbeat if it means making the world just that little bit more safer 😎
NO surrender! x

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@4.30pm

“If I said something wrong, testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”

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It appears to me that many commenters are not at all concerned about the morals of this stiry re: Fr. Ger and the woman. The use of that horrible wird “shag”/”shagged” is indicative of the bankruptcy of morals or human decency in these so called ‘perfect’ men, many if whom much can be said about their own duplicitous lives, married, single or ‘celibate!! Yes, indeed, we quickly spot the sins of others all too quickly while our own soul is rotten.

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It’s a common place word which enables the user to skirt around having to use more sexually explicit words or overly formal words.

That you don’t like the word is acceptable but that you think that it points to the moral duplicity of its users is a bit of a stretch.

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I’m assuming my comment on your last blog on relation to this was deleted, and possibly this will be as well!
Please stop referring to her as young and vulnerable. Your making her sound like a rape victim, and as a survivor, who WAS young and vulnerable, I personally find it very offensive.
Ger is 41, she is almost 34…that’s 7 whole years. She’s not young, and if her vulnerability is because of the bereavement of her dad that you mentioned in the last post. He passed in September 2015, not exactly recent.
Its been almost 18 months since I lost a parent and I don’t class myself as recently bereaved.
Your portraying her as a victim, but she’s not. She knew, just as much as he did, what she was getting herself into. She knew what she was doing before she decided to announce her accusations on Facebook.
She’s a victim of her own demise in this one. It’s very hard to feel sorry for her if I’m being honest. It’s even harder to feel sorry for her when your portraying her as a vulnerable person, when she isn’t.
I’m still waiting to see where Ger has admitted all these affairs, and indeed his affair with her.

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Concept, obviously there is evidence as he’s gone from Ennis, if it was all lies there would be a deformation case.

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I definitely don’t agree with announcing accusations on Facebook. Fr. Ger is also a victim of his own demise and what of the parishioners he ministered to who are deeply hurt by all of this? He admitted the affair to the bishop.

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Not till a long time after he led the long campaign against her. The parishioners were hurt by him. Where’s your proper (not fake) sympathy for them?

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7.51 I’m so sorry for your loss, losing a priest as he’s a liar and a cheater must hit hard, sending you prayers

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No I didnt even need to go to the church to be raped , I had it right across the road from myself

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If you really are a nun, stay in your lane and leave discussion of matters of the heart to lay people.

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Is Ger’s own admission of guilt not enough for you?

Ok so it takes two. She knew what she was getting into. So, let’s reinstate him immediately.

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@8:31 She was not vulnerable and he is at a fork in the road. Commit to the vow or return to lay state.

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Sister Misconcepta:
– every client (social “inferior”) of a person equipped with spiritual intensity should, objectively, be treated delicately and not be toyed with
– as he is a member of your caste only he deserves consideration according to you (zero sum)
– I don’t care about your concept of your bereavement of one of your parents. For human beings 18 months is recent, and all bereavement is bereavement. You have a gaggle of flunkeys pampering you, and she hasn’t.
– the feral mob (maybe his harem which as he is a member of your caste you believe him entitled to) hounded this woman for a long time, where is your criticism of them?
– Your “viewpoint” already got disproved.

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Concepta, ger has been having lapses of vows since 2012, that he disclosed to her, he was also seeing other women apart from yvonne at the same time and he was found out. the mess of the situation is a result of the choices he has made, taking to social media is a mistake, repeat offences since 2012 and playing a couple of women at the same time is not! Thats a dangerous priest abusing hes postion and taking the piss.
She never once preeched or claimed that she was perfect either unlike mr Fitz who is living a lie pretending to be something hes not, fooling people!
She has been shown him up for what he is, which is not a man of god!

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There are lovely priests in Ennis you can turn to, so don’t worry about not having a good priest to chat to and get a mass said. If you don’t like the Ennis priests move towns, lots of them in the diocese of Killaloe.

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8.39
Father Tom O’Gorman who was based at Cloughleigh is still in the Ennis Group of Parishes alongside many others with the Franciscans are there as well.
bishop Fintan has called a Council of priests for tomorrow and then the Diocesan Pastoral Council on Thursday so maybe changes on the Horizon as that is two within a month and they are suppose to be 6 times a year at if needed

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Plus there is more important things to be discussed right now like the Holy Communion and Confirmations that parents are just going bananas to find out when they are actually happening! Id say discussing these things will be a refreshing welcome for them all !

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The randy rev was certainly revved up. In a care providing environment it is gross misconduct. In this particular role is miss lived celibacy a contributory factor? Is the healer also wounded! How will sex therapy help. A reconditioned padre is a unique creation.
Some females can swoon over a holy willy. Ger may find it challenging not to have a warm soutanne to cuddle up in with his bishie bear

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your commentary ill behooves the office you hold in the Anglican Church. I know many of your colleagues.

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Does anybody need a cleaner or fixer for any odd jobs about the place? I come highly recommend! 🙄
Warrington & Manchester areas mostly! Liverpool not so easy for me these days as they are onto me… 🙄 🤣 🤣 x

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While I might have expressed the swooning bit differently to you, I’ve seen some women swoon over priests. It seems to be because of the very fact that they’re a priest. Why? Where is that coming from?

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8.01 Do you recall the Thorn Birds TV show many years ago. There is also a comedy song on youtube Whose in da house

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anto97x It must be. I’m a woman in my 30s and I see some of my peers actually swooning. It’s mad. Is it that they feel some kind of perverse affirmation if they think they can attract a priest? This hasn’t anything to do with the Fr. Ger Fitzgerald story. It’s just a general observation.

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