There is great confusion in Ennis and Killaloe over the case of Father Ger Fitzgerald.
Fintan Monahan allowed Ger to jump before he was pushed.
There is nothing wrong in itself with this approach – except Ger and others have sought to construct it as a “normal” sabbatical after ten years of service.
No one wants Fintan to go into the gorey details but he could have said something like: “Father Fitzgerald is going on leave as a result of disciplinary matters”.
So the bishop is deliberately leaving the people of Ennis ignorant of the nature of Ger’s absence.
This is playing into Ger’s self-denial and the denial of his most ardent followers who think Ger has been done some kind of injustice.
The Clare newspapers are not helping by carrying the Church version of the story – even though they they have besn supplied with the full truth.
But this, once again, is rural Ireland deferring to the Church.
As similar types were called years ago in the political world – “the bishop’s bum boys”.
COVER UP
So cover up is alive and well in Ireland.
BRADY
Speaking of cover-up – I see they wheeled out Ould Cover Up Brady for the shannigans in Armagh yesterday.
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 